Opinion

Cook’s Top 5: 1995 Wrestling Memories

Steve Cook continues his trip down memory lane with a look back at 1995, and everything that goes with it!

Published

5 years ago

June 13, 2020

Steve Cook

Steve Cook continues his trip down memory lane with a look back at 1995, and everything that goes with it!

1995 was a pivotal year in the life of your humble correspondent. I graduated from elementary school and made my way to middle school, which introduced me to a new crowd of kids. It was weird. I have nothing but fond memories of my time at my humble little elementary school right down the block from my house. The kids were nice, I felt comfortable expressing myself however I liked and had plenty of friends going back to kindergarten.

That changed when I went to middle school. The new kids I was introduced to…well, most of them were jerks. They weren’t inclined to like a chubby kid with glasses that had nerdy interests & some difficulty opening up to new people. Unfortunately, this included some of the friends that had made the move with me. Folks that had treated me well in 5th grade suddenly wanted nothing to do with me in 6th grade. School politics, I suppose. They wanted to be popular at their new school, and being friends with me wasn’t going to help their cause. (Most of them tried to re-enter my life later on like nothing had happened. I let them, for the most part. I never forgot.)

The only friends I made in 6th grade were some kids that happened to be wrestling fans. And let’s be honest: 1995 wasn’t one of wrestling’s more popular years on the playground. Things would change on that front in a couple of years, but there were some rough times early on at Woodland that I never really recovered from in a social sense. I became more withdrawn, less inclined to associate with other people. I became more inclined to spend a lot of time at home. Which, once technology advanced in my neck of the woods, opened things up for me in other ways. I certainly wouldn’t have spent as much time online reading about pro wrestling if I hadn’t closed myself off socially after sixth grade.

Would I be here doing this series of columns, or any columns, if not for those kids? Probably not, but I’m not going to try to find any of them and let them know what I’m up to these days. We’re not going to dwell on their silliness, instead we’re going to look at my five most lasting memories as a pro wrestling fan in 1995.

5. The Diesel Experiment

The WWF Champion for most of 1995 was a man that had previously been known as Shawn Michaels’ bodyguard. Once Diesel started getting in-ring opportunities, he racked up the victories pretty quick. He managed to win the Intercontinental, Tag Team & WWF Championships during 1994, and seemed to be WWF management’s choice of the future. Big Daddy Cool got off to a good start, but things didn’t quite go the way we hoped.

For one thing, once Diesel won the title, he stopped being Diesel. He became a fun-loving good guy that was all about smiling all the time. That wasn’t how he got over to begin with. He also got saddled with opponents like King Mabel that he wasn’t going to have a good match with, and like Shawn Michaels that were going to overshadow him. It was a nice idea, and you can’t even blame the WWF for trying. But Kevin Nash needed to be Kevin Nash in order to become an icon.

4. The Bodydonnas

1995 saw a lot of ridiculous gimmicks begin to make their way to the WWF. We saw a giant wrestling dentist, a Mantaur, just all sorts of silly things. One that should have pretty much been dead on arrival was The Bodydonnas. Skip & Sunny were here to get us into shape, and a look at my waistline over the next twenty-five years after their debut will tell you they failed on that account. They were later joined by Rad Radford & Zip at various points, and eventually broke up on screen, if not off screen.

So why do I have such fond memories for this gimmick? Well, it was the first time I really had a thing for one of the ladies of pro wrestling. Sure, Allundra Blayze had started defending the Women’s Championship around this time, and I had seen the likes of Sensational Sherri & Missy Hyatt before. Maybe it was something about me hitting the age where one stops worrying about cooties…or maybe it was the way the WWF promoted Sunny. Whatever it was, I was all about it. Lord knows I wasn’t the only one.

3. “The Thrilla’ in Phila”

Pro wrestling wasn’t the only thing I regularly watched as a kid. Another staple in the Cook house was ABC’s TGIF lineup. Family Matters, Step by Step and countless other family-friendly shows made up the lineup through the years, but none struck a chord with me like Boy Meets World did. I found it easy to relate to Cory Matthews and always enjoyed his adventures with Shawn, Topanga, Eric, Mr. Feeny & the whole gang.

The show had plenty of great guest stars, but none provided a bigger “mark out” moment for me than on the May 5, 1995 episode of the show where VADER made an appearance as school bully Frankie’s father. WCW being what it was, the appearance hadn’t been hyped beforehand, so it came as a complete surprise to me. Vader would make a couple of other appearances, most notably during Topanga’s Sweet 16 birthday party in Season 4 while he was employed by the WWF. That one got the full WWF treatment, complete with Cory, Shawn & Frankie appearing at ringside for a match pitting Vader against Jake Roberts.

You gotta love it when one of your favorite wrestlers appears on one of your favorite TV shows.

2. Discovering ECW

I had learned about Extreme Championship Wrestling in the Apter magazines. Of course I did, where else would I have? 1995 was arguably the creative apex of the promotion, coinciding with the re-emergence of Cactus Jack & Steve Austin, who had been released from WCW during that phase where Hulk Hogan’s friends were replacing all the wrestlers that I liked. Once I heard Jack & Austin were in ECW, it just made me want to watch the promotion that much more.

Finally, I found a way to watch it. Low-powered Channel 25 in Cincinnati carried ECW’s weekly show at 8 PM on Tuesday nights. Unfortunately, only one TV in my house had an antenna, and it was a thirteen inch black & white set in my parents’ bedroom. It was one of those ones where you turned the knob on the side too, and it was a tough time picking up most channels on the set. I did manage to catch a year or so of ECW on it before the thing crapped out for good. Kids these days just don’t have these interesting stories of watching wrestling on weird channels with crappy TV sets, do they?

1. The Monday Night War Begins

Up until September 4, 1995, WCW’s main weekly broadcast was Saturday Night, which aired at 6:05 PM every Saturday night. The length of the show depended on whether or not the Atlanta Braves had a game at 7. This was when most of WCW’s major angles would take place and was appointment viewing throughout the Southeastern United States for over a decade. That all changed when Ted Turner decided to give his wrestling promotion a choice prime time slot on his other entertainment cable channel, TNT.

The catch? It was on Monday nights at 9 PM. That just so happened to be where USA had been airing WWF Monday Night Raw for the past two and a half years, and Prime Time Wrestling some years before that. I wasn’t exactly thrilled with the news, as I would have preferred to watch the two shows at different times and my mom usually had the VCR tied up on Monday nights. 90210 & Melrose Place, naturally. So there was a lot of flipping back & forth going on for me the next few years.

What was an inconvenience back in the day is now something I look back on fondly. Switching between Raw & Nitro made Monday nights more interesting than they had been before. I definitely had the fear of missing something important, and I typically would each week. It was a good time. Even if school the next day had its ups and downs.

Join us next week when we look back at 1996! One important milestone for me will be discussed…don’tcha dare miss it!

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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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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)

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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

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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

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