Opinion

Cook’s Top 5: NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 14 Thoughts

Cook gives us his Top 5 thoughts after Wrestle Kingdom 14!

Published

5 years ago

January 7, 2020

I don’t watch nearly as much New Japan as I’d like to. The Japanese time zones aren’t exactly helpful to my watching things live, and I usually just end up reading results. I always make sure to check out the annual Wrestle Kingdom event though, as it’s the second biggest show of the pro wrestling year & usually one of the best from an in-ring perspective too. This year’s edition was a two-night extravaganza featuring a little something for almost everybody.

I had a lot of opinions after watching both shows. Many different things to talk about. I’ve narrowed it down to my Top 5 Wrestle Kingdom 14 Thoughts.

5. Retirement done right

Does anybody really want to live in a world where Jushin Thunder Liger isn’t an active professional wrestler? I know that I, for one, felt a piece of my childhood die while watching Liger’s final two matches this past weekend. When many of us think of NJPW or Japanese wrestling in general, Liger is the first name that comes to mind. His appearances in WCW were eye-openers to kids like me that were accustomed to bigger superstars clubbering on little ineffective dudes.

Liger changed the game. He took the torch from Dynamite Kid & Tiger Mask and took things to the next level. And he made sure to pass the torch on his way out. Losing both nights was the right thing to do, especially on Night 2 when current NJPW Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi got the pinfall on him. Takahashi, Ryu Lee & others of their generation are the future. Liger knows how the business works. Night 1 was about getting some of his old friends a payday. Night 2 was about putting the next generation over. That’s how everybody should do it. God bless Jushin Thunder Liger.

4. Will Ospreay > Seth Rollins

Here’s the thing. Will Ospreay does some really stupid stuff in the wrestling ring. Some of his offense makes no sense whatsoever. Those who rail against pro wrestling becoming a gymnastics exhibition scoff at the idea of Ospreay being anything other than the worst thing to ever happen to their favorite interest.

Those who are affiliated with WWE or prefer their brand of sports entertainment to everybody else also dislike Ospreay’s style. And to be honest, I don’t usually go for the flippity floppity style. I make an exception though: when the flippity floppity is the best flippity floppity going. Jack Evans did a lot of stuff that drove me nuts, but he was so good at doing it that I had to respect it.

Ospreay is on the right side of that barrier to me. He is so good at what he does, that even if I think it destroys the business I absolutely love watching it. Take a look at this spot that eventually ended up in a Sasuke Special:

SASUKE SPECIAL!!!! #njwk14 @WillOspreay https://t.co/IKsQw9WMvw pic.twitter.com/G48hygL7gG

— LARIATOOOO!! (@MrLARIATO) January 4, 2020

When it started I was rolling my eyes and muttering in disgust, but by the time Ospreay finished his routine I was totally into it. See, pro wrestling doesn’t encompass one form of simulated violence. Gymnastics can also be involved…as long as its done well. Put it this way: I would rather see more of Will Ospreay bending the laws of physics & the rules of pro wrestling in 2020 than more of Seth Rollins doing the usual Seth Rollins stuff.

3. Bullet Club is still a thing

Our most famous factions in pro wrestling history have gone through many different incarnations. Bullet Club started out as a group of evil gaijin led by Prince Devitt & Karl Anderson. AJ Styles came in a couple of years later to replace Devitt as leader. Kenny Omega replaced AJ. Then we had an Elite sub-group, an OG subgroup, and eventually Jay White took over as the leader. Gedo is now with them too, because when you think of evil gaijin you think of Gedo.

I remember thinking a couple of years ago when they were doing the feuding Bullet Club faction gimmick that the group had probably outlived its usefulness. I figured they were only still around because their t-shirts sold well. Is this still the case? Because it’s the only justification I can think of for a Bullet Club in 2020. Well, that and Gedo’s endless interference in Jay White matches. That doesn’t bother me so much, but I could see getting really tired of it after about a month of shows or so. Defenders will point out how rare it is for matches in Japan to have endless interference, so the Bullet Club act stands out in that regard. Other fans point out that we see plenty of this stuff in North America and don’t watch Japanese wrestling to see North American wrestling. I tend to side with the latter.

The Club doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. While most of the BC had a rough couple of nights in the Dome, White did end the weekend on a positive note while KENTA (another evil gaijin) set himself up to be the new double champion’s first opponent. Expect lots of the typical Bullet Club stuff in 2020, for better & worse.

2. The “Forbidden Portal” remains closed for now

Hiroshi Tanahashi almost made the leap. He had successfully convinced Chris Jericho to give him an AEW World Championship match if Le Champion was to lose in the Dome. It seemed a likely proposition, as Jericho had yet to gain a victory in his Tokyo Dome appearances. He also had one of his worst nights ever there in 1997, when he debuted a “Super Liger” persona that was meant to become a top rival for the aforementioned Jushin Thunder Liger. Jericho had a miserable outing and probably ended up burning the costume. So one could see why Tanahashi planned on making a US trip sometime in 2020.

If he does, it won’t be for an AEW title shot. Jericho got his first win in the Tokyo Dome, adding another item to his lengthy lexicon of achievements. However, let’s not assume this story is over. Jericho doesn’t want it to be.

Chris Jericho really wants AEW and NJPW to work together

pic.twitter.com/7nkLgtRGZO

— Fightful Wrestling (@FightfulWrestle) January 5, 2020

There was a lot to take away from Wrestle Kingdom regarding a potential AEW/NJPW relationship. Jericho wore the AEW Championship to the ring, and English commentary took note of it. (Of course Rocky Romero would be supportive, some of his Best Friends work for AEW.) Jon Moxley’s appearances throughout the weekend contained no AEW discussion, and one name was conspicuous by its absence when commentary mentioned some of Jericho & Tanahashi’s previous Tokyo Dome opponents. From everything I heard, there was no mention of Kenny Omega. Omega & NJPW did not part on good terms, and that’s one of the major obstacles standing in the way of an AEW/NJPW relationship.

Jericho being acknowledged as AEW Champion means something, though. We’ll be keeping an eye on this story.

1. Like most major shows these days, the ending felt a little flat.

Hey World

HERE I AM. pic.twitter.com/me1syy4MoC

— KENTA (@KENTAG2S) January 5, 2020

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about either main event. Kazuchika Okada showed why he was the best wrestler of the 2010s & will have something to say about who the best wrestler of the 2020s it. They were the typical show-closing epics that New Japan has become known for over the past several years. Give them however many stars you choose, then add a star because it’s the Tokyo Dome.

Both shows had ending segments after that felt a bit off. On Night 1, Naito coming down to address Okada after the match didn’t feel as hot as it probably should have, or as NJPW brass thought it would. It was there. Then Okada pretty much begged people to come back tomorrow, which you would think he was above by this point. Apparently not.

Night 2’s didn’t go much better. The idea of establishing KENTA as the top contender was a solid one. The execution…not so much. All of KENTA’s offensive moves on Naito looked pretty lackluster at best. I don’t know if that was due to Naito being way too tired to take anything or if KENTA wasn’t quite going full speed, but it didn’t make me too excited about the next top feud. The selection of KENTA is something I can go either way on. Dude’s a talented wrestler and certainly a legend in Japan, but his stint with WWE/NXT didn’t do much to engage him with the North American audience. It should play well in Japan, but New Japan will have to rely on other things to keep the worldwide audience entertained.

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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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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)

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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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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