Opinion

King: A Reality Check For Wrestling Fans

Chris King is shedding light on the subject of reviews and statistics over just the plain joy of pro wrestling.

Published

6 years ago

October 30, 2019

Chris King

Chris King is shedding light on the subject of reviews and statistics over just the plain joy of pro wrestling.

In 2019, everyone’s focus including mine is solely based around star ratings or statistics on a match it’s no longer about what level of storytelling did the actors convey. There are millions of websites that grade each event critiquing everything a performer does from the way they enter an arena all the way to the manner in which they win or lose said match.

Bleacher Report is my guilty pleasure to read the grades and influence my reaction to certain storylines or matches. This is a terrible disease that we’ve spread all over the world and then, in turn, we ourselves become a wrestling critic and ruin the fun and enjoyment. It doesn’t help that every five minutes there’s a hot topic news story uploaded to social media with someone’s opinion on anything and then all of a sudden a match or a storyline is viewed in a negative light. So, what am I even talking about exactly? It’s pretty simple. Why can we not just watch a wrestling match and purely enjoy the story being told to us by the performers?

In the 1990s WWE had some of the biggest stars in the business such as Hulk Hogan, The Macho Man Randy Savage, and a plethora of others. These megastars would bring in thousands of wrestling fans to watch them perform. The audience would be completely captivated by their larger than life personalities and watch in awe whether they won or not. Nobody was concerned with what rating their match garnished they were just happy to be in the presence of magic.

I remember receiving a VHS tape of WrestleMania XII for my birthday and watching Shawn Michaels challenge Bret Hart for the WWF Championship in the infamous Ironman Match. I watched in amazement as “The Heartbreak Kid” descended from the heavens on a harness flying through the crowd making his Iconic entrance. What followed was sixty minutes of fantastic five-star wrestling between the babyface and the heel champion. I can still hear the boos when the match ended in a draw. Then Gorilla Monsoon restarted the match and HBK landed two Sweet Chin Music’s to win the title. Who could ever forget Vince McMahon’s iconic “The boyhood dream has come true” catchphrase.

Credit: Bleacher Report

Nobody was grading the match back then and I may be wrong but there was no Dave Meltzer star rating if there was I didn’t know about it. The WWE Universe didn’t go home that night and critique the performers over every little thing. They just paid their hard-earned money to go watch a great story unfold as their hero won the gold.

In today’s wrestling world, there is so much emphasis placed on comparing promotions and different matches to add up to a certain expectation that we’ve placed on ourselves. It’s as ludicrous as someone trying to compare the Iconic first-ever TLC Match between The Hardy Boyz, Edge & Christian, and The Dudley Boyz to the NXT North American Championship Ladder Match at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. You can’t do that because it’s in a completely different time and a different story. Yet, we still do it. I’ll give you another perfect example and it’s absolutely baffling.

At this year’s Hell in a Cell match between the Universal Champion Seth Rollins and “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt when the match ended due to referee stoppage almost immediately the WWE Universe compared it to the Iconic Hell in a Cell Match between The Undertaker and Mick Foley at the 1996 King of the Ring. Stating that Foley still continued the match even after being thrown off the cell and through the announce table.

Credit: Sportsbible

So because one man decided to cause his own body an unimaginable amount of pain then Bray Wyatt should do the same? There’s even a rumor going around that the original finish had Wyatt being thrown off the cell and that would have caused the no contest. People would still be complaining and comparing it to Foley.

Folks I’m preaching to the choir here I make the same mistakes every week I watch an insane amount of wrestling and then I compare matches and grade them in my head. I take away the pure childlike joy from myself. I remember watching NXT TakeOver: Toronto’s main event essentially a Three Stages of Hell Match between the NXT Champion Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano. I thoroughly enjoyed the match including the Asylum match at the end feeling that their story was over and it was awesome. Afterward, I went and read bleacher report and read how they criticized the match and compared it to previous takeover main events claiming it didn’t live up to those.

How terrible is it that now we are critiquing takeover main events? Something so amazing that has only lasted for six years is under the same microscope to be scrutinized in every way possible. Why do we do this to ourselves? Why can’t we just get back to enjoying wrestling simply for the story two performers tell inside the squared circle?

I’ve actually been starting to this very recently while I’m watching 205 Live and NXT. Every week I do a recap of the high-flying cruiserweights who have been criminally mistreated from the jump. I feel so bad for them when the show starts it’s typically dead silent and how hard of a job is it for the two performers to not only wake up the dead crowd but also produce a great match?

That’s why it’s so easy for these incredibly-gifted superstars to have terrific matches because nobody expects anything from them. Most of the WWE Universe has already labeled them as unimportant because of how poorly WWE has handled the brand. But I have to tell you that I’ve seen much more enjoyable content in one hour over five hours on Raw and Friday Night SmackDown. It’s also reignited my passion for pro wrestling.

Perhaps, if we all stopped grading and comparing wrestling content and simply enjoy the story being told maybe we could stop complaining so damn much. Why don’t we all try to do that? I implore whoever is reading this to do this next week. Whether you watch WWE, AEW, ROH, TNA, NJPW, or simply all of the above just sit back and get lost in the art of storytelling and let the joy we used to have returned to us.

About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

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THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

Extra, extra read all about it… Chairshot Staff picks are in!!!

Published

2 weeks ago

June 6, 2025

PC Tunney

Sing it with me… money money money money moneeeeeeeeeyeeeeee… everybody’s got a price! MONEY IN THE BANK is here!!! How money will our staff picks be?!?

AJ – Roxanne Perez
Andrew – Stephanie Vaquer – *Bubba Sparxxx Impression* I don’t tell stories, I let them tell theyself.
Dave – Guilia – A stacked field but I just like her here.
DJ – Naomi
DPP – Roxanne Perez
Jason – Alexa Bliss
Patrick – Roxanne Perez
Rey – Naomi – If Naomi loses, we riot!
Rob – Naomi
Greg – Alexa Bliss – Bliss has had huge reactions since returning and is moving a ton of merch. While I can see them wanting to build Roxanne Perez, Giulia, or Stephanie Vaquer, I think Alexa Bliss.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – I’ll make my case short and sweet… Mami in the Bank! You can’t leave that money on the table.

Chairshot Pick – Tie – Naomi 3 & Roxanne Perez 3 (Alexa Bliss 2, Giulia 1, Rhea Ripley 1, Stephanie Vaquer 1)

AJ – LA Knight
Andrew – El Grande Americano – Feels correct given his push and the fact he’s over.
Dave – Seth Rollins – Got to push that new faction.
DJ – LA Knight
DPP – El Grande Americano
Jason – LA Knight
Patrick – Solo Sikoa
Rey – LA Knight – Looks like another push, and he does have history with Cena.
Rob – Solo Sikoa
Greg – Seth Rollins – This company is extremely high in the El Grande Americano gimmick, but this match comes down to Seth Rollins or LA Knight. Given the Rollins storyline, it’s his briefcase to win.

Tunney’s Take: El Grande Americano – Picture this: Chad Gable wins the AAA Mega Championship and El Grande Americano wins MITB! WHAT A SATURDAY in LA!!!

Chairshot Pick – LA Knight 4 (El Grande Americano 3, Seth Rollins 2, Solo Sikoa 2)

AJ – Becky Lynch – Sadly
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I still don’t care about Lyra.
Dave – Lyra Valkyria – Starting to warm up to her and Becky has a lot to do with that.
DJ – Lyra Valkyria
DPP – Becky Lynch
Jason – Becky Lynch
Patrick – Lyra Valkyria
Rey – Becky Lynch – Put some fire on the Irish Beef.
Rob – Becky Lynch
Greg – Becky Lynch – I don’t think you do a rematch here just to have Becky lose again. Unless Bayley shows up to help Lyra.

Tunney’s Take: Becky Lynch – A big part of me feels that winning this title checks off a major box for Becks in her HOF career.

Chairshot Pick – Becky Lynch 8-3

AJ – Cena & Paul
Andrew – Rhodes & Uso – Easy way for Cena to lose without eating the pinfall.
Dave – Rhodes & Uso – Get the QB back on the winning track.
DJ – Rhodes & Uso
DPP – Rhodes & Uso
Jason – Cena & Paul
Patrick – Cena & Paul
Rey – Rhodes & Uso – Heels usually lose these kinds of matches. Logan takes the pin.
Rob – Cena & Paul
Greg – Rhodes & Uso – I hope Jey isn’t an afterthought here like Cody was last fall when he was paired up with Roman. I think Cody pins Cena to set up Cody-Cena 2 at SummerSlam.

Tunney’s Take: Cena & Paul – I don’t think Cena is involved in another loss until he loses the WWE Championship. I also think Logan Paul is NOT done trying to capture Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Championship. …Travis Scott in the house?

Chairshot Pick – 6-5 Rhodes & Uso

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 all enjoy Pro Wrestling 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

prowrestlingtees.com/TheChairshot – a PLETHORA of GREAT designs…MAKES A GREAT GIFT!

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SATURDAY – The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY – Keeping the news ridiculous… The Oddity / The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE’s PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS…IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O’Dowd’s 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

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About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

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SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis

Chairshot Staff picks!!!

Published

1 month ago

May 9, 2025

PC Tunney

May is upon us and with that, so is Backlash from St. Louis! What does the first PLE after WrestleMania have in store for the WWE Universe? Let’s see if the Chairshot Staff can properly interpret the crystal ball of rasslin’ future.

AJ – Pat MacAfee – Gunther has to start losing control and who better than an announcer.
Andrew – Pat MacAfee – Goldberg getting involved does seem correct here.
Dave – Gunther – He’s not losing to a broadcaster.
DJ – Gunther – Pat is sent to the shadow realm until football season is over.
DPP – Gunther – Post match beat down leads to Pat time off.
Jason – Gunther – One massive spot and or bump from Pat.
Patrick – Gunther
Rey – Gunther – RIP MacAfee, t’was a good life.
Rob – Gunther
Greg – Pat MacAfee – Why? Goooooldbeeerrrrrgggggg!

Tunney’s Take: Gunther – Seems like the right pick here. Pat may be getting some time off and Gunther needs more heat.

Chairshot Pick – GUNTHER 8-3

AJ – Lyra Valkyria – Becky’s hopefully putting her over, still mad about Dakota.
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I have no real interest in Lyra currently.
Dave – Becky Lynch – Lyra is boring AF!
DJ – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley interferes.
DPP – Becky Lynch – Becky cheats and steals the title.
Jason – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley costs Becks.
Patrick – Becky Lynch
Rey – Becky Lynch – Story needs to jump up a bit, Becky Charlotte’s Lyra.
Rob – Lyra Valkyria
Greg – Becky Lynch – It’s been fun, Lyra. (It kinda hasn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Lyra Valkyria – Bayley’s interference should set up some type of program with Becky as we head towards Summer(Slam).

Chairshot Pick – BECKY LYNCH 6-5

AJ – Jacob Fatu – Great way to put him over w/ two former WHCs and LA Knight.
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – He’s Jacob Fatu!
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Too soon to pull the belt off him.
DJ – Jacob Fatu – Priest and LA can’t decide who’s is bigger.
DPP – Jacob Fatu – Your hardcore match, tables and chairs involved.
Jason – Jacob Fatu – The Champ retains due to or in spite of Solo.
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – All gas. No brakes. Ain’t losing.
Rob – Jacob Fatu
Greg – Jacob Fatu – Someone from The Samoan Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – Uncle Mo is on Fatu’s side and other than Knight, I don’t see Drew or Priest holding the US title in the current circumstances of this title’s landscape.

Chairshot Pick – JACOB FATU 11-0

AJ – Dominic Mysterio – Judgement Day shenanigans just leading up to Finn turning on Dom later.
Andrew – Penta – Dom’s fine having a short reign, could also work for pushing AAA.
Dave – Dominic Mysterio – He’s probably more over than Penta.
DJ – Dominic Mysterio – Dirty Dom takes home the gold and the girl.
DPP – Dominic Mysterio – Big Head helps Dom pull out the win.
Jason – Dominic Mysterio – By hook and crook.
Patrick – Dominic Mysterio
Rey – Dominic Mysterio – Latino Heat keeps burning. Finn gets closer to the edge.
Rob – Dominic Mysterio
Greg – Dominic Mysterio – Someone from The Guerrero Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Dominic Mysterio – That belt looks good with the king of chicken tendys. I can see Penta and Rey reforming as a tag team sooner than later.

Chairshot Pick – DOMINIC MYSTERIO 10-1

AJ – John Cena – Why? Cena wins, lol.
Andrew – John Cena – Shenanigans ensue so it’s not a clean win.
Dave – John Cena – The last time is now.
DJ – John Cena – Randy hears voices telling him he needs an Attitude Adjustment.
DPP – John Cena – Cena tries to cheat but the ref doesn’t call for a DQ.
Jason – John Cena – Nefarious means, Randy not ready for Evil John Cena.
Patrick – John Cena
Rey – John Cena – Cena just counting down the dates. Should be fun though.
Rob – John Cena
Greg – John Cena – You know they want Cody to be the hero in the end.

Tunney’s Take: Randy Orton – Once upon a time Randy got himself intentionally disqualified and it cost John. Saturday, history repeats itself with a 180-degree twist. Cena retains via Orton DQ victory. This time, Travis Scott’s appearance takes care of that task.

Chairshot Pick – JOHN CENA 10-1