Opinion

Matt’s Weekly Brainbuster: Power Rankings 12/12/19

Matt brings us another installment of his ELO based Power Rankings!

Published

6 years ago

December 13, 2019

Matthew Davis

Welcome to the tenth edition of the Weekly Brainbuster Power Rankings!

What an entertaining week we have, as we learned more about WWE’s TLC on Sunday, and two supercard shows by NXT and AEW next week! We are discussing the week of 12/6-12/12! We will be comparing WWE (RAW and SDL), NXT (205 Live, NXT, NXT UK), and AEW! Not much has changed in NJPW, so, the next NJPW update will be after WrestleKingdom in January.

These rankings are very much based on momentum as well as strength of opponent, weighing out “power rankings” based on head to head results. Each week, I will discuss five difference makers in wrestling and, using science, prove why they had the best week in wrestling! Greg DeMarco and I will compare our lists, giving you all two different types of power rankings!

1) Finn Balor +9 [214 Overall Score]
Finn Balor d. Keith Lee & Tommaso Ciampa [#1 contender], NXT

There was no doubt in my mind after watching that match that the winner of that match was my undisputed #1 spot this week, and that just so happened to be The Real Rock ‘N Rolla, Finn Balor! Balor cements his claim to the NXT Championship, and remains a force atop the NXT Men’s leaderboards. If Adam Cole can stand up to the challenge next week it will be a career defining win, but, Balor wants to become a two time champion and I think he will do just that.

2) NXT Cruiserweight Champion Angel Garza +21 [53 Overall Score]
Angel Garza d. NXT Cruiserweight Champion Lio Rush, NXT

What a shocking title change! There was no one who thought Lio Rush would lose the championship so quickly after winning it in October. What I loved the most about this change, especially the timing, was that it felt very old school. I do like to say that about certain angles and matches, but the shock title change made me feel like I was watching NWA Worldwide in the 1980s. The only thing that was missing was Commissioner Regal reversing the decision! That was an excellent match and a huge win for Garza in the WWE.

3) The Revival +15 [31 Overall Tag Score]
The Revival d. Ali/Gable, Heavy Machinery, Lucha House Party, WWE SmackDown

Okay, so, this was a rather boring pick as the team can not keep any momentum to save it’s life, but this is a list based on momentum gained week to week, and few gained more momentum than Fists Not Flips, as The Revival laid claim to another opportunity to challenge for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. I wish the company would give these guys some more character though. Putting them in a ladder match for the titles, and having them be completely opposed because of their core beliefs about wrestling would be a fantastic promo. I’d love to see them rip apart “sports entertainment” and really define the old school mentality. Hell, I’ve said it for some time, I wish they’d get Cornette as their manager and use NWA rules during their matches. A team born from Dusty Rhodes’ vision and inspiration would only be fitting to do so! I know back to back NWA references, sorry!

4) The Young Bucks +17 [31 Overall Tag Score]
The Young Bucks d. Ortiz & Santana, AEW Dynamite

Well, here is proof that my rankings hold some credence in the grand scheme of things. The Young Bucks moved up to second overall in the AEW Tag Team rankings, ahead of their championship match next week! With Moxley “feuding” with Jericho, it definitely makes me happy to see that these rankings aren’t just statistical noise.

5-tie) Aleister Black +7 [129 Overall Score]
5-tie) Buddy Murphy +10 [161 Overall Score]

Speaking of these rankings leading to matches, we learned this week that these two will meet at TLC match after weeks of “whatever you can do I can do better” squash matches. Both of these men could be challenging Brock Lesnar at Royal Rumble for the WWE Championship. As good as Buddy Murphy is, I don’t think he will stand up to the challenge presented by Aleister Black, who has yet been beaten on the main roster since debuting in April. In eight matches, Black Mass has never been kicked out of. Whoever wins this clash will be regarded as one of the top names on Monday Night RAW!

Runners Up:

6) RAW Tag Team Champions The Viking Raiders +10 (164 Overall Score)
7) US Champion Rey Mysterio +15 (59 Overall Score)

STANDINGS

WWE Men

Seth Rollins 188 (-)
Roman Reigns 171 (+6)
Buddy Murphy 161 (+10)
WWE Champion Brock Lesnar 139 (-)
Braun Strowman 129 (-)
Aleister Black 129 (+7)
Baron Corbin 85 (-)
Ricochet 74 (-)
Universal Champion The Fiend Bray Wyatt 62 (-)
US Champion Rey Mysterio 59 (+15)

OUT: Bobby Lashley 56 (-)

WWE Women

RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch 193 (+4)
Smackdown Women’s Champion Bayley 170 (-)
Charlotte 36 (-)
Natalya 20 (-)
Nikki Cross 0 (-)
Sasha Banks -1 (-)
Lacey Evans -16 (+2)
+Alexa Bliss -40 (+16)
Mandy Rose -66 (-16)
Sonya Deville -72 (-)

OUT: Carmella

WWE Women Tag Team

WWE Womens Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors 92 (-4)
Charlotte & Becky Lynch 41 (-)
Charlotte & Natayla 34 (-)
Carmella & Dana Brooke 12 (-)
Boss & Smug Connection 4 (-)
Bliss/Cross -5 (-)
The IIconics -28 (-)
Fire & Desire -110 (-)

WWE Tag Team

RAW Tag Team Champions The Viking Raiders 164 (+10)
+Authors of Pain 94 (-)
Smackdown Tag Team Champions The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) 42 (-)
+Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado 33 (-15)
The Revival 31 (+15)
Heavy Machinery 17 (-15)
The Street Profits 11 (-10)
Cesaro & Nakamura 1 (-)
Ryder & Hawkins -56 (-)
The O.C. -104 (-)

OUT: Ziggler & Roode (Roode suspended)

NXT Men

Finn Balor 205 (+9)
NXT UK Champion WALTER 165 (-)
Pete Dunne 138 (-23)
Tommaso Ciampa 115 (-9)
Matt Riddle 116 (-)
NXT Champion Adam Cole 116 (-)
Jordan Devlin 103 (+13)
Joe Coffey 94 (-)
Travis Banks 89 (-7)
+KUSHIDA 86 (-)

OUT: Velveteen Dream (injured)

NXT Women

NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler 287 (-)
Toni Storm 135 (+5)
NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray 124 (-)
Rhea Ripley 120 (-)
Io Shirai 83 (-)
Piper Niven 80 (-)
Jinny 54 (-)
Bianca BelAir 37 (+14)
Mia Yim 33 (-20)
Tegan Nox 12 (-)

NXT Tag Team

NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Era 69 (-)
Imperium 47 (-)
NXT UK Tag Team Champions Gallus 37 (-)
The Forgotten Sons 32 (-)
Young Grizzled Veterans 28 (-)
+Breezango 28 (+16)
Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch 0 (-)

AEW Men

Jon Moxley 95 (+8)
AEW Champion Chris Jericho 80 (-)
Kenny Omega 47 (+15)
MJF 33 (-)
PAC 32 (-)
Fenix 31 (-)
Adam Page 13 (-)
Cody 30 (-)
Luchasaurus 28 (+13)
+Shawn Spears 6 (-)

OUT: Darby Allin (injured)

AEW Women

AEW Women’s Champion Riho 77 (-)
Kris Statlander 18 (-)
Hikaru Shida 17 (-)
Britt Baker 15 (-)
Awesome Kong 14 (-)
Nyla Rose 13 (-)
Shanna -1 (-)
Emi Sakura -16 (-18)
Jamie Hayter -16 (-)
+Big Swole -20 (+18)

OUT: Leva Bates

AEW Tag Team

AEW Tag Team Champions SCU (Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) 86 (-)
The Young Bucks 31 (+13)
Ortiz & Santana 17 (-13)
Best Friends 17 (-)
Private Party 15 (-)
The Lucha Bros 15 (-)
The Dark Order 14 (-)
Luchasaurus & Marko Stunt 12 (+12)

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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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Patrick O’Dowd’s 5X5

Classic POD is WAR

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About Chairshot Radio Network

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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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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