Opinion

Cook’s Top 5: Worst Factions

We love wrestling factions but, Cook explores some of the worst factions in history.

Published

5 years ago

January 17, 2020

There’s one thing that everybody can agree on when it comes to AEW: The Nightmare Collective is one of the worst factions we’ve seen in recent memory.

Don’t get me wrong, Brandi Rhodes is a wonderful human being & a beautiful person. But she’s horribly miscast in the role of evil leader of creepy faction. Awesome Kong’s not exactly in her physical prime these days, and hasn’t been able to contribute what she typically does in the ring. Mel is talented, but the head shaving gimmick was a little too reminiscent of the Straight Edge Society for my liking. And I have no earthly idea what Dr. Luther’s purpose is here.

It’s not great. It’s not the worst faction in history though. Here are five that were worse!

5. The League of Nations (Sheamus, Wade Barrett, Alberto Del Rio, Rusev)

This was a fine idea on paper. Four pretty solid WWE Superstars that were capable of talking & were good at getting a heel reaction. Four non-Americans. It should have been a solid faction that served as a foil for WWE’s main event babyfaces. For whatever reason, it didn’t. The chemistry just wasn’t there with the four men as a group.

My theory? The name sucked. Nobody was asking for the return of the United Nations predecessor that Woodrow Wilson set up and his home country refused to join, helping set up an eventual second great war. Another weakness was the lack of variety in performers. There wasn’t a speed guy or a technician in the bunch. You could have interchanged any of these guys and had the same basic match.

4. The New Dangerous Alliance (CW Anderson, Billy Wiles, Erik Watts, Johnny Swinger, Simon Diamond, Elektra, Lou E. Dangerously)

We all know that putting “The New” in front of anything in pro wrestling with the exception of “Daniel Bryan” results in an inferior product. WCW’s Dangerous Alliance was one of the greatest factions of all time that didn’t overstay its welcome. They got in & got out at a top-tier level while featuring some of the greatest pro wrestlers of my era.

To say the least, none of these individuals would be in the same class as Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, Rick Rude, Steve Austin or Larry Zbyszko. Elektra would be nowhere near the same level as Madusa, and Lou E. was obviously no Paul E. I know that the whole idea was for this to be a piss-poor ripoff, but I’m not going to give it credit because it achieved that goal.

3. The Corre (Wade Barrett, Heath Slater, Justin Gabriel, Ezekiel Jackson)

CM Punk taking over the Nexus led to Wade Barrett moving over to SmackDown. Slater & Gabriel would get tired of Punk’s antics and join Barrett on the blue brand as part of a new group. They were the core members of the original Nexus, so utilizing that status in their new faction’s name makes plenty of sense.

That spelling though…yikes. The second you saw that on a t-shirt, you knew it was all over. Zeke was a dude that had a great look but not much else going for him, and the group flamed out pretty quickly. Barrett found success with the first faction he formed, but he kept going back to the well and couldn’t re-create the magic.

2. The Truth Commission (Recon, Sniper, Jackyl, Tank, The Interrogator, The Kommandant)

The WWF had way too many different groups populating their airwaves in the mid-1990s. Some were destined to slip through the cracks, and the Truth Commission never really had a chance at getting over. There were useful pieces, like Don “Jackyl” Callis as a talker, and Kurrgan the Interrogator as a monster, but most of these people were just basic dudes wearing green t-shirts & khaki pants.

The main downfall, though? The subject matter. South African politics was a little heavy of a subject for the WWF to be dipping its toes into, and most of the fans had little to no knowledge of what was going on there. Then once Jackyl took over as leader, the plot was completely lost and they were just out there with no rhyme or reason.

1. X-Factor (X-Pac, Justin Credible, Albert)

This was absolutely doomed from the beginning. In 2001, everybody in the world was tired of X-Pac. Sure, we all look back on Sean Waltman as one of the classic workers of his time now, but back in the day he could be pretty annoying. Justin Credible was one of the most annoying parts of late-period ECW, so he & X-Pac made sense together, and Albert was a solid choice for a heater.

So why is this the worst faction of all time? That Uncle Cracker theme song. Just abysmal, and really an odd choice as a wrestling entrance theme. Any time that song played during 2001, you knew you were in for a bad piece of business.

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

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

Published

1 day 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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About Chairshot Radio Network

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

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

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis

Chairshot Staff picks!!!

Published

4 weeks 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