Opinion

Tiffany: Who Is After Roman Reigns? Let’s Name the Suspects!

So, over the past several weeks, the big story on SmackDown has been “Who in the world is after Roman Reigns?” Tiffany breaks down the suspects!

Published

6 years ago

August 15, 2019

TiffanyMC

So, over the past several weeks, the big story on SmackDown has been “Who in the world is after Roman Reigns?”

The Big Dog narrowly avoided two attempts on his life/career. It looked like we had prime suspects in the form of Erik Rowan and Daniel Bryan, at least, according to Buddy Murphy. However, there is no real evidence pointing to anyone, so let’s break this down.

What We Know

Okay, we know someone pushed some scaffolding onto Roman Reigns on the July 30th edition of SmackDown, right before he was going to issue a challenge for SummerSlam. Reigns escaped with no injuries, but he was very shook up.

On the August 5th edition of Monday Night RAW, Reigns narrowly escaped being run down by a car during a confrontation with Samoa Joe. Reigns suffered a sore shoulder, but was otherwise fine.

At the end of the August 6th SmackDown, Reigns confronted Buddy Murphy, who claimed to have seen the culprit and after a little…persuading, Murphy claimed it was Erick Rowan.

At SummerSlam, Erick Rowan ATTACKED Buddy Murphy during Murphy’s match with Apollo Crews.

On the August 13th edition of SmackDown, Murphy admitted to lying about Rowan being the person who attacked Reigns after getting the snot beat out of him by Erick Rowan. On that same edition, Reigns confronted Bryan and Rowan and Bryan demanded an apology from Reigns and claimed to have solved the mystery.

The Evidence

Outside of Murphy’s unreliable witness statement, we have no ACTUAL evidence that points to anyone. The video footage we have of the backstage incident seems to be from a GoPro on the scaffolding, very convenient, and all we saw was the attacker’s arm. Now, some intrepid fans with better eyesight and more time than I do, did some serious looking at the video footage and spotted Murphy lurking around in the aftermath, but it still doesn’t say anything of hard evidence.

The footage of the car incident didn’t really show anyone behind the wheel and everyone was, rightfully, focused on Reigns and not on spotting the driver.

The Motive

Why would anyone seemingly want to hurt or kill Roman Reigns? Well, Roman, with or without the title, is the top guy. He is the big dog in the SmackDown yard, so he’s naturally going to be the one to gun for by anyone wanting to make a statement.

Reigns has made a lot of enemies in his run, and a lot of them are still on the main roster. However, that doesn’t mean any or all of them want Reigns out of the picture permanently.

Also, despite appearance, I don’t honestly believe the culprit wants to harm Reigns. The scaffold wasn’t solid and the boxes fell off before it, which saved Reigns from being really hurt and he had time to move to avoid serious injury. In the car incident, if the person was actually trying to hurt Reigns, they did a pretty bad job of it. Reigns was able to jump back into the car because the driver door was still open and the car hit the driver’s side passenger door/trunk area. That’s pretty bad aim if you’re trying to hit someone in the driver door of a parked car.

I think whoever is behind this is trying to scare Reigns, not hurt him. Scare him enough to make him paranoid and jumpy, but hurting him or taking him out permanently really accomplishes nothing.

What kind of person would do this? Well, it’s someone who wants attention, specifically Reigns’ attention because Reigns is the ruler of the yard. This is someone who is feeling overlooked and underappreciated by WWE. This is also someone who has a big ego and a serious sense of entitlement to target WWE’s top guy. Which brings us to…

The Suspects

Obviously some suspects have been named, but only one of them has seemingly been eliminated, so let’s look at them.

Likely Suspects

Erick Rowan and Daniel Bryan

These are the prime suspects in this. Erick Rowan was identified by Buddy Murphy as the man who pushed the scaffolding onto Reigns and Reigns seems to have believed him.

Why: Since Rowan has been a professional lackey for most of his career, it stands to reason he didn’t do this under his own initiative, which is why Bryan is included in this, since he’s the leader of the Greenjerks for reasons I’ll go into in the next entry.

Why Not: Rowan is pretty hard to miss, SOMEONE would’ve noticed him lurking around.

Daniel Bryan

Yeah, I already had him with Rowan, but it’s possible Bryan’s doing this solo or with a secret partner. Bryan’s got a big ego and believes that he is sinless, which makes him a cross between a Bond villain and Charles Manson.

Why: For someone like Daniel Bryan, Reigns being on top would rankle greatly. Also, he could be doing it, or capitalizing on someone else’s work to bind Rowan to him. Bryan was very vocal about Rowan not being the culprit and seemed to take great pains to make it look like he was trying to clear Rowan’s good name, something I’m sure Rowan appreciated.

Why Not: The problem is Bryan’s ego. Bryan’s enough of a narcissist to not want to see someone else, even his own disciple, get the credit for his work and he would find it very hard to keep his mouth shut.

Buddy Murphy

Yeah, I’m serious. Murphy was the one who pointed the finger at Rowan, then recanted, both times after getting the snot beat out of him. Murphy is the only person who claimed to have seen what happened and any detective can tell you that eyewitnesses are notoriously unreliable.

Why: Well, since his call up to SmackDown in April, Murphy has yet to be used in any capacity, except maybe as a lumberjack or breaking up a brawl. That would be a tough pill to swallow for someone who was a big fish on 205 Live and a former champion. Going after the biggest dog in the yard would be for him to get the attention he feels he should be getting.

Why Not: The problem with Murphy being the culprit, in terms of storylines, is that he’s not important enough to be put to Reigns’ level, though the match they had on August 13th’s SmackDown should open some eyes to how good Murphy is.

Drew McIntyre

McIntyre was last seen beating Cedric Alexander on August 12th’s RAW, but he and Reigns have had issues with each other for over a year, with Reigns beating McIntyre at WrestleMania and several times after that, culminating in Reigns and the Undertaker beating McIntyre and Shane McMahon at Extreme Rules.

Why: It’s no secret that McIntyre feels he should be higher up on the card than he is and after the bruising defeat at Extreme Rules, he could be trying, again, to make himself the top dog at Reigns’ expense.

Why Not: Like Rowan, McIntyre is extremely hard to miss and since he’s on RAW, someone would’ve noticed him lurking around on SmackDown.

The Fiend

The Fiend made his debut at SummerSlam, but Bray Wyatt and Reigns had a feud back in 2015 with Wyatt targeting Reigns’ family at first, then anyone in the wrestling world Reigns was close to. Reigns finally beat Wyatt in a brutal Hell in a Cell Match and the feud seemed done.

Why: Does Wyatt need a reason to target someone? I’m not sure why he targeted Roman in 2015.

Why Not: Since the wild card rule is slowly being fazed out, there’s no reason for it to be Wyatt since he’s on RAW for now. Plus, there’s no motive for him to target Reigns.

Samoa Joe

Reigns and Joe have been rivals since they met and have put on some fantastic matches during that rivalry. Joe hasn’t been used very much since his debut and only recently won his first title on the main roster: The United States Championship.

Why: It’s no secret that Joe and Reigns don’t get along and with Joe being relegated to the mid-card, it wouldn’t be surprising for him to see a path back to the top in attacking Reigns. Also, Joe seemed to intent on declaring himself innocent despite no one accusing him of anything but having a bad haircut. He was also with Reigns when Reigns was nearly run down.

Why Not: Samoa Joe is a pretty straight-forward guy, heel or not. If he’s got a problem with you, or wants a fight, he doesn’t tend to mess around, he comes right at you. I can’t see him doing all this sneaking around just to get to Reigns.

The McMahon Family

Reigns’ issues with the McMahons go back several years and have had several eruptions, most recently at Extreme Rules. The feud between Reigns and Triple H and Reigns and Shane McMahon have actually culminated in physical confrontations.

Why: Reigns isn’t one to tow anyone’s line if he doesn’t agree with it and he’s repeatedly refused to be a corporate champion. He has also not hesitated to lay out any McMahon, including Stephanie, if sufficiently provoked. Also, the WWE botched the investigation of the first incident, laying the blame on a forklift operator, who was later revealed to have not been at work that day, and Triple H was seen helping Reigns out of the car.

Why Not: The McMahons have pulled off some successful ‘Whodunits’ in their time, including the Higher Power of 1999 and ‘Who Ran Down Stone Cold Steve Austin’. However, this seems a little too risky, even for them, there were too many variables that could’ve lead to serious injuries for Reigns.

“Who Did This To You, Roman???”

Unlikely Suspects

These are guys who have been brought up as possible suspects but ones I don’t buy from the start.

Roman Reigns

DO NOT KILL ME! Hear me out! No, I do not think Reigns is behind these attacks on himself, but I have a feeling that it’s going to come up sooner or later, so let’s put it out there.

Why: For the attention. Reigns’ triumphant return from cancer treatment was quickly overshadowed by the news that Shield brother, and long-time best friend, Dean Ambrose, had not signed a new deal with WWE and would be leaving at the end of April of 2019, necessitating a Shield reunion and farewell match. After Ambrose’s departure, Reigns found himself having to try and get Drew McIntyre over and carrying the Extreme Rules match to cover for Undertaker AND Shane McMahon. After all that, he hasn’t even been considered for a title shot. The closest he came was the Battle Royal to determine who would face Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam and Reigns was eliminated by Seth Rollins. It would be enough to make anyone feel unappreciated.

Why Not: Reigns is a very straightforward man and I find it highly unlikely that he would put his safety and ability to support his family in jeopardy just for attention. Also, he doesn’t need the attention, he is the top guy on the roster, and he knows it.

Seth Rollins

Yeah, seriously. Rollins and Reigns have spent as much time being rivals as they have being BFFS and Shield brothers. They were supposed to have a feud at the end of 2015, but Rollins blew out his knee and missed a lot of time in recovery. They had a brief rivalry on Rollins’ return in 2016, but Reigns’ suspension for a Wellness violation, and subsequent detention in the mid-card, and their reunion, kept that from going too far.

Why: Well, Roman’s the Guy, which is what Seth wants to be and feels he should be. Seth has the Universal Championship, but he never beat Reigns for it, which is probably something that’s never far from his mind. Rollins did beat Reigns in 2016, but then lost the belt to Mr. Money in the Bank, Dean Ambrose, so he didn’t get a chance to crow about his triumph. Rollins has also shown a perfect willingness to turn on Reigns if the price was right or if there was a goal they both wanted.

Why Not: Rollins might want to be THE Man in WWE, or at least, THE Male Man, since Becky Lynch is THE Man, but I don’t see him trying to take Reigns out permanently. Reigns and Rollins are on different shows. Odds are good that, once SmackDown moves to FOX, and the wildcard rule is finished, they’ll only interact at Pay Per Views. That’s not enough reason to try and kill, or look like you’re trying to kill your friend. Rollins has enough people on RAW gunning for him without adding ‘Pissed off Roman Reigns’ to the list.

My Suspects

So, if you’re wondering who I think is behind this, the answer is either Buddy Murphy, or Daniel Bryan on his own, or with a secret partner. Murphy is the one who first accused Rowan of being the culprit, then admitted he lied. He also smirked before giving the initial non-answer that set Reigns off, indicating that he did know but wasn’t going to tell, something he also pulled with Bryan and Rowan.

I initially didn’t really consider Bryan a suspect until I wrote his entry in. Even though I think Daniel Bryan has too much ego to be able to pull off this kind of subterfuge, I wouldn’t put it past him either. The fact that he claimed to know who the real culprit was makes me think some innocent schmuck is going to be blamed while Bryan watches. Why I think that is to destroy Reigns’reputation by having him attack innocent people before revealing that it was him all along.

Honestly, I don’t think who the culprit turns out to be is going to matter in the long run. It’s not going to live up to expectation, but SmackDown has certainly given us a juicy mystery to tune in for every week, which makes the journey a lot more fun.

So, what do you think? Who do you think is the culprit?

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: WrestleMania 41 Las Vegas

Time for The Chairshot personalities to put their money where their mouths are! WreslteMania 41 predictions from the “expert” staff at TheChairshot.com and Chairshot Radio Network.

Published

3 weeks ago

April 18, 2025

PC Tunney

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Chairshot Staff Picks. And what better setting than WrestleMania for this article to return! This 41st edition has one of the most stacked rosters in WWE history. So, without further ado, let us get to the predictions and prognostications…

AJ – The New Day
Andrew – The New Day – No one seems to hold tag titles long anymore.
Dave – The New Day – They have earned it.
DJ – The New Day – Feel tha Powah!
DPP – War Raiders – Big E distraction.
Jason – The New Day – We are not getting E in a working capacity though everyone wants it.
Patrick – The New Day – WWE doesn’t care about this match, so why should I?
Rey – The New Day – Its a New Day, bruh.
Rob – The New Day – New Day rocks and wins!
Greg – The New Day – New. Day wins. New. Day wins!

Tunney’s Take: War Machine – Yes, WAR MACHINE. I have personally had the pleasure of throwing back a few cold ones with these guys on more than one occasion. Not only being tag champs in WWE but defending the titles at Mania and against The New Day is really cool for me as a long-time fan. Would it be fun to see The New Day have another title run.. YES. I think it’s smarter to give the War Raiders a big Mania W.

Chairshot Pick: THE NEW DAY 9-2

AJ – Jade Cargill
Andrew – Jade Cargill – She needs to stay a dominant force.
Dave – Jade Cargill – Gotta gear her up for the long term.
DJ – No contest – Naomi puts another beat down on Jade.
DPP – Jade Cargill – Nervous for how this match will go.
Jason – Naomi – Way more runway with Naomi as a bad guy. Keep it going!
Patrick – Jade Cargill – Jade gets her revenge.
Rey – Jade Cargill – Best non-title feud going. Naomi should win but Jade sneaks by.
Rob – Naomi – Naomi gets help to win.
Greg – Jade Cargill – They ain’t beating Jade here.

Tunney’s Take: Jade Cargill – I imagine WWE sees Jade’s ceiling much higher than Naomi’s. What better way to keep Jade climbing the ladder towards a World Title than to pick up a decisive victory in Vegas!

Chairshot Pick: Jade Cargill 8-2-1

AJ – Jacob Fatu – “AJ does a pretty good LA Knight impersonation” – PC Tunney
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – I’m biased, Jacob for President.
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Getting gold back in the Bloodline is smart.
DJ – Jacob Fatu
DPP – Jacob Fatu
Jason – Jacob Fatu – Thanks for coming pal, YEAH!
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – C’mon cuz! All gas no brakes with it. Yadadamean??
Rob – LA Knight – Solo costs Jacob.
Greg – LA Knight – Solo screws Jacob.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – It has been quite the journey for the Samoan Werewolf. I feel like that journey and the positive turn around it has taken deserves to be rewarded. Let’s see what Jacob can do on his own. Plus, LA Knight is ready to challenge for a World Title.

Chairshot Pick: Jacob Fatu 9-2

AJ – Tiffany Straton
Andrew – Tiffany Straton – I hate Charlotte Flair, no objectivity here.
Dave – Charlotte Flair – Tiffy might be the future, but she kinda failed the litmus test.
DJ – Charlotte Flair – The Queen crowns the freshman.
DPP – Tiffany Stratton
Jason – Charlotte Flair – Tiff wasn’t ready for this spot. Charnos is inevitable.
Patrick – Charlotte Flair – Lol Charlotte wins.
Rey – Charlotte Flair – Tiffany SHOULD win but, if Charlotte can squash, she will.
Rob – Charlotte Flair – Charlotte gets number 15.
Greg – Tiffany Stratton – Lol Charlotte wins. (Actually she doesn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Charlotte Flair – Charlotte needs the title for the first time in her career. Tiffy has had a nice run but now needs to take that all important step of not losing momentum after losing the title. Despite the drama and lackluster build here, I see a really good match coming this weekend from these two.

Chairshot Pick: Charlotte Flair 7-4

AJ – El Grande Americano
Andrew – El Grande Americano – I’d like to see Gable gain some momentum. Rey is Teflon.
Dave – El Grand Americano – He needs a marque win much more than Rey.
DJ – Rey Mysterio
DPP – El Grande Americano – Grande wins with the switcheroo to prove he is not Gable.
Jason – Rey Mysterio – Unmask Grande at the end. It is fun but has a shelf life.
Patrick – El Grande Americano – TOTALLY NOT CHAD GABLE
Rey – Rey Mysterio – Someone’s mask is coming off and it ain’t Rey.
Rob – El Grande Americano
Greg – Rey Mysterio – Hall of Famer wins but doesn’t take the mask.

Tunney’s Take: Rey Mysterio – Go listen to DWI 471. DP, Greg and I lay out exactly what this match should be, FUN! Multiple Americanos!!!

Chairshot Pick: El Grande Americano 6-5

AJ – Jey Uso
Andrew – Jey Uso – Kinda booked themselves into a corner here.
Dave – Jey Uso – It just makes sense.
DJ – Jey Uso – Jey YEETS all over The Ring Genreal.
DPP – Jey Uso – Jey wins after normal Gunther beating.
Jason – Jey Uso – Land the plane man. YEET
Patrick – Jey Uso – Jey has earned this one.
Rey – Jey Uso – YEEEEEEEEEEEET!
Rob – Jey Uso – YEET
Greg – Jey Uso – If Jey loses we riot. We don’t cause he wins.

Tunney’s Take: Jey Uso – ‘Til sweat drop down my balls, ‘Til all these bitches crawl, ‘Til all… YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chairshot Pick: Jey Uso 11-0

AJ – Roman Reigns
Andrew – Seth Rollins – I can see Rollins being the last piece of Team Rock.
Dave – Roman Reigns – I can’t see Roman losing two years in a row.
DJ – Seth Rollins – Paul Heyman is a Seth Freakin Rollins guy.
DPP – Seth Rollins – The Rock helps Rollins.
Jason – Roman Reigns – Seth’s favor is a red herring. Make-A-Wish Brooks got his main, now look at the lights.
Patrick – Seth Rollins – Seth Rollins… Paul Heyman guy.
Rey – Seth Rollins – I smeeeeellllllll a new soul to sell.
Rob – Roman Reigns – Paul Heyman helps Roman win.
Greg – Seth Rollins – Brock Lesnar returns to help Seth win.

Tunney’s Take: CM Punk – I really have no idea here. I picked Punk because nobody else did. This is going to be professional wrestling cinema at its finest. The story is thick and neatly woven. All the participants are legends and so are the potential party crashers. Will The Rock stick his nose in here? Will Brock Lesnar return to play a factor? Obviously, Paul Heyman has a Plan A… but what is it? All these questions and more will be answered Saturday as night 1 will definitely go out with a bang!

Chairshot Pick: Seth Rollins 6-4-1

AJ – Iyo Sky
Andrew – Iyo Sky – Rhea vs Bianca doesn’t need a belt to be compelling.
Dave – Rhea Ripley – Going with Rhea barely, hoping Iyo wins.
DJ – Iyo Sky – Unfinished business.
DPP – Iyo Sky – Rhea and Bianca are too consumed with each other.
Jason – Iyo Sky – More layers to Rhea/Bianca. Iyo rules.
Patrick – Iyo Sky – Iyo stole the build and gets the win.
Rey – Iyo Sky – Smart money is on the underdog champ.
Rob – Iyo Sky – Iyo survives.
Greg – Bianca Belair – Naomi helps Bianca win and turn heel.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – Rhea is the best women’s wrestler in the world. Give her the biggest win on the grandest stage of them all!!! Bianca needs to go full heel. Iyo has been amazing in this build.

Chairshot Pick: Iyo Sky 8-2-1

AJ – Dominik Mysterio
Andrew – Finn Balor – I can see a Judgement Day meltdown incoming.
Dave – Bron Breakker – Bron is about to become a MegaStar.
DJ – Bron Breakker – Judgement Day implodes.
DPP – Dominik Mysterio – Finn take the pin.
Jason – Penta – I literally do not care because the winner is us, the fans.
Patrick – Bron Breakker – The WWE doesn’t care about this matchup, so why should I?
Rey – Dominik Mysterio – Only match without a clear winner. I choose chaos.
Rob – Bron Breakker – Finn and Dom cancel each other out.
Greg – Dominik Mysterio – Dom steals the pin from Bron, on Finn.

Tunney’s Take: Bron Breakker – The case can be made for any of these four to walk away with the most prestigious non-World title in pro wrestling history. The short of it is though that the Main Event picture isn’t really readily accessible for Breakker right now. Let this IC reign go through the summer, to SummerSlam.

Chairshot Pick: Bron Breakker 5-4-1-1

AJ – Damian Priest – “AJ does a pretty good Drew impersonation” – PC Tunney
Andrew – Drew McIntyre – Priest has not been interesting in this face incarnation.
Dave – Drew McIntyre – Time for Drew to get that win back.
DJ – Fuck finish – To be continued at Backlash.
DPP – Drew McIntyre – Physical matchup!
Jason – Drew McIntyre – Either one is fine here.
Patrick – Drew McIntyre – With two eyes, Drew turns the tide.
Rey – Drew McIntyre – Low key match of the weekend.
Rob – Damien Priest
Greg – Damien Priest – Priest wins, Drew tweets about it half hour later.

Tunney’s Take: Drew McIntyre – With the addition of the Street fight rules, these two behemoths have a really good chance to have one of the best matches of the entire weekend (winks at Rey Ca$h-A-Mania)! I do wonder what is next for both of these talents moving forward. Priest has staled since leaving the Judgement Day and Drew seems stuck in the same cycle for a while now. Very interested to see what the summer holds for this pair.

Chairshot Pick: Drew McIntyre 7-3-1

WHO WILL BE RANDY’S OPPONENT?!?

AJ – Nick Aldis – Orton wins
Andrew – Orton and Aldis vs Solo and Tama – Orton and Aldis win
Dave – Someone is getting an RKO!
DJ – A segment w/ the Wyatt s6cks.
DPP – Rusev – Aldis introduces Rusev who defeats Orton.
Jason – Nick Aldis – You got one more in ya, bubba. Aldis wins!
Patrick – Nick Aldis
Rey – Solo then Rusev – Solo in a squash and Rusev MATCHKA(wins)
Rob – Nick Aldis – Aldis proves himself, Orton wins.
Greg – Nick Aldis – Orton beats Aldis, they shake after.

Tunney’s Take: I would really love to see a singles match between Orton and Aldis. More likely this is some type of involvement with Solo and Tama. Rusev as a surprise challenger would be cool but, I feel that would be better left for RAW. An impromptu Goldberg retirement match would be crazy and fun, yet highly unlikely and illogical. Whatever happens, best believe exactly what Dave Ungar said, “Someone is getting an RKO!”.

AJ – Logan Paul
Andrew – AJ Styles – Logan doesn’t need the rub and should stay upper mid card.
Dave – Logan Paul – It’s the smart move and would be a statement win for Paul.
DJ – Logan Paul – Kross gets involved somewhere.
DPP – AJ Styles – AJ wins a great high-flying match.
Jason – AJ Styles – Just enjoy it or get a beer, nerds.
Patrick – Logan Paul – Logan Paul will main-event Mania sooner than later…
Rey – Logan Paul – Pass the torch, my wily vet.
Rob – Logan Paul – Kross helps Paul win.
Greg – AJ Styles – Styles wins after Paul’s cheating backfires.

Tunney’s Take: Logan Paul – Logan seems to really have dedicated himself to becoming great in this business. Anyone with that type of goal must have a World title on their mind. Beating AJ at Mania will be a great springboard for Logan into the Main Event sooner than later (winks at Patrick O’Dowd).

Chairshot Pick: Logan Paul 7-4

AJ – Liv & Raquel
Andrew – Liv & Raquel – Not really a fan of Lyra, she needs more work.
Dave – Liv & Raquel – This Bayley and Lyra team makes no damn sense.
DJ – Liv & Raquel – Bayley crashes out.
DPP – Liv & Raquel – Bayley continues a potential heel turn tease.
Jason – Bayley & Lyra – Finish the story!
Patrick – Bayley & Lyra – The WWE doesn’t care about this matchup, so why should I?
Rey – Liv and Raquel – Bayley want a title but it ain’t the ones in this match.
Rob – Liv & Raquel – Champs retain.
Greg – Liv & Raquel – Liv and Raquel retain thanks to Carlito and maybe JD.

Tunney’s Take: Liv & Raquel – Liv and Raquel need to be kept as the cornerstone of the women’s tag division for a lengthier period of time. Building tag teams in this division is difficult enough, let alone without a North Star.

Chairshot Pick: Liv & Raquel 9-2

AJ – Cody Rhodes
Andrew – Cody Rhodes – They are mentioning it so much, I don’t think 17 happens.
Dave – Joh Cena – Record falls and we head to summer with a built-in storyline.
DJ – John Cena – Some kind of Final Boss involvement.
DPP – John Cena – Cena wins and retires on RAW.
Jason – John Cena – Story’s over, “Captain” BIG MATCH JOHN.
Patrick – John Cena – A record breaking night for Cena.
Rey – John Cena – They’d be really stupid to turn John just to lose. (Post-Mania: Rock, Cena, T Scott, Seth & Drew, TEAM Corporate)
Rob – Cody Rhodes – Cody surprises us with the W.
Greg – Cody Rhodes – Cody wins to piss off Rock and set the table for Cena to turn back face. Crowd is behind Cena all the way through.

Tunney’s Take: Cody Rhodes – They had me until the threat of retirement. Been there. Done that. Didn’t fall in love with it back then. I love John Cena. I love this final run. John will get his 17th just not here. I expect nothing less than an absolute GEM of a match here to close WrestleMania 41. This has all been, is, and will continue to be about Cody Rhodes. WM40 defeats Roman Reigns. WM41 defeats John Cena. WM42 defeats The Rock (The Final Boss).

Chairshot Pick: John Cena 6-5

In closing I want to thank everyone on the panel for participating with their picks! You can follow each prognosticator/podcaster on X @ the handles below. We wait all year for this so remember three things… be respectful of others, comparison is the thief of joy and HAVE FUN!

AJ – @PhenomenalAJB
Andrew – @IWCWarChief
Dave – @AttitudeAgg
DJ – @TheMindlessPod
DPP – @itsmeDPP
Jason – @JediFett
Patrick – @WrestlngRealist
Rey – @itsreycash
Rob – @rbonne1
Greg – @gregdemarco44
PC – @PCTunney
TheChairshot.com – @ChairshotMedia

For the latest, greatest and up to datest in coverage, opinions, and podcasts ALWAYS #UseYourHead and visit TheCharishot.com

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About Chairshot Radio Network

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

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DeMarco: Top 5 Non-Title WrestleMania Matches In WWE History

Not all WrestleMania classics had titles on the line. Dive into the top 5 non-title matches that stole the show & defined legacies. #WrestleMania #WWEHistory

Published

3 weeks ago

April 16, 2025

Greg DeMarco

Shawn Michaels Kurt Angle WrestleMania 21

Not all WrestleMania classics had titles on the line. Dive into the top 5 non-title matches that stole the show and defined legacies.

WrestleMania is the Showcase Of The Immortals, but it’s not always the championship matches that steal the show—or define careers. In fact, some of the most iconic, business-defining, and emotionally resonant contests at the Grandest Stage of Them All didn’t feature a title at all. These matches succeeded because of character work, in-ring execution, and the kind of storytelling that sells tickets and moves merch.

Here are the five best non-title matches in WrestleMania history—at least, according to me!

5. The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan – WrestleMania X8 (2002)

This was never going to be a five-star technical clinic—but it was always going to be the moment. “Icon vs. Icon” was a tagline, sure, but it was also the reality: the biggest star of the ‘80s vs. the biggest star of the Attitude Era. And Toronto turned it into magic. Hogan walked in a heel but walked out immortal (again), with the SkyDome shaking on every punch, every look, every gesture.

What made this work was its self-awareness. Rock and Hogan read the crowd and flipped roles mid-match—Rock became the arrogant aggressor while Hogan Hulked Up to thunderous applause. It’s not often a non-title match headlines a card emotionally the way this one did, but it dominated every headline and highlight reel.

4. Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart – WrestleMania X (1994)

Sibling rivalries don’t usually lead to technical masterpieces, but then again, this wasn’t your average family drama. Owen and Bret opened WrestleMania X with a wrestling clinic that stood tall over a night packed with title changes. Owen needed to prove he was more than Bret’s little brother, and he did it by out-wrestling the best wrestler in the company. Clean. One-two-three.

It wasn’t just a great match—it was perfect storytelling. Owen’s victory, contrasted with Bret’s later world title win, set the tone for an entire year of brother-vs-brother tension. Bret became champion, but Owen had the moral victory—and all the bragging rights. This is proof that opening matches can steal the show.

3. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25 (2009)

If WrestleMania moments could be trademarked, this match would be the reason why. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels wasn’t about championships—it was about legacy. Michaels wanted to be the man who ended The Streak. The build was steeped in biblical imagery: light vs. dark, heaven vs. hell. And the match? Pure perfection. Each man brought everything they had—near-falls, psychology, reversals that had 70,000+ people gasping in unison.

It was 30 minutes of generational storytelling that transcended pro wrestling. And here’s the kicker—it wasn’t even the main event. Yet it dwarfed everything that followed. Meltzer gave it 4.75 stars, fans gave it their hearts, and WWE gave it a sequel the next year. A match so good it forced the company to run it back—because lightning actually struck.

Now, if THIS MATCH is #3, what could possible be #2 and #1…

2. Bret Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – WrestleMania 13 (1997)

This wasn’t just a match—it was the turning point of an era. The Submission Match between Bret Hart and Steve Austin was as violent as it was poetic, with Ken Shamrock enforcing the rules and the Chicago crowd growing more frenzied by the second. The brilliance? The shift. Bret Hart, the traditionalist hero, grew darker and more self-righteous by the second, while the disrespectful anti-hero Austin refused to quit, even when drowning in his own blood. There was no title on the line, but the stakes felt bigger than gold.

The infamous double turn changed the business. Austin’s defiance turned him into the voice of a new generation of fans—blue collar, anti-authority, Attitude Era. Meanwhile, Bret would go on to lead the heel Hart Foundation. WWE didn’t need a championship to create a moment that catapulted Austin into superstardom and ignited the company’s hottest era. This match is business-first booking at its absolute best.

1. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 21 (2005)

Dream matches often disappoint. This one didn’t. At WrestleMania 21, Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle went hold-for-hold and spot-for-spot with Mr. WrestleMania himself, and together they delivered a masterclass in in-ring psychology. Every sequence had stakes, every near-fall had meaning. It was a stylistic war: Michaels’ heart vs. Angle’s intensity.

Angle forcing Michaels to tap was a statement—it told fans that pure wrestling, not just spectacle, could still main-event caliber storytelling without any need for a title. Michaels sold the ankle lock like death, and Angle’s post-match collapse sold the moment as a hard-fought war. This is the kind of match that keeps purists up at night, smiling, and leaves the storytelling fans like myself as happy as can be!

10 Honorable Mentions (Not Honorable, Just For The Heck Of It)

Edge vs. Mick Foley – WrestleMania 22 (2006)
A hardcore war that solidified Edge as a top-tier main eventer. That flaming table spear is still played in every Edge highlight reel.
AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon – WrestleMania 33 (2017)
Everyone expected smoke and mirrors—what they got was a surprisingly technical, high-energy opener that kicked off the show right.
The Undertaker vs. Triple H – WrestleMania 28 (2012)
“End of an Era” wasn’t just a tagline. The Hell in a Cell match, with HBK as referee, was a brutal epilogue to a generation’s legacy.
Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho – WrestleMania XIX (2003)
A student-teacher battle of wills. Jericho’s low blow post-match was the perfect heel punctuation to a career-defining contest.
Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins – WrestleMania 31 (2015)
The greatest RKO of all time. That curb stomp reversal belongs in a museum.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show – WrestleMania XXIV (2008)
More sports-entertainment than wrestling, but a crossover moment that made mainstream headlines and paid off with a great finish.
Roddy Piper vs. Adrian Adonis – WrestleMania III (1987)
A retirement match with big heat, a hot crowd, and Piper walking off into the sunset (for a minute).
The Firefly Funhouse Match – John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt – WrestleMania 36 (2020)
Cinematic weirdness at its best. A meta masterstroke that broke Cena down in layers.
Bad Bunny & Damian Priest vs. The Miz & John Morrison – WrestleMania 37 (2021)
Bad Bunny stunned everyone. He didn’t just belong—he elevated the show.
Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio – WrestleMania 39 (2023)
Father vs. son in a grudge match that played perfectly off real-life drama and Hall of Fame weekend emotions.

Some of these matches shaped legacies. Others shifted eras. But all of them proved that the most memorable moments at WrestleMania don’t need a title—they just need truth in the storytelling and fire in the execution.