Opinion

Cook: Explaining Cedric Alexander

Steve Cook makes sense of Cedric Alexander and The Hurt Business, and now he’s sharing it! How does it involve Hulk Hogan and Ted Dibiase? Read on, and learn.

Published

5 years ago

September 23, 2020

Steve Cook

Cedric Alexander The Hurt Business WWE Raw

Steve Cook makes sense of Cedric Alexander and The Hurt Business, and now he’s sharing it all with you! How does it involve Hulk Hogan and Ted Dibiase? Read on, and learn.

One thing I’ve noticed during this pandemic era is the fact that things make less sense than ever. People that I used to think were logical have gone a bit off the rails. The more I hear people say, the less makes sense.

Maybe it’s just me. Maybe everything happening here in 2020 makes sense. I might just be behind the times when it comes to basic truths of life, and when it comes to pro wrestling. There was a time when I had my finger on the pulse, but now my finger is as far from the pulse as you can get.

Then again, maybe I should give myself some credit! After all, I was able to figure out why people joined RETRIBUTION while everybody else scratched their heads. If I think about something long enough, I can find an answer. Some of these old brain cells are still working, so let’s think about something that’s been bugging me lately.

Let’s think about Cedric Alexander’s status within WWE.

WWE RAW Cedric Alexander Dive

Cedric is somebody that I’ve always thought had a ton of potential. He needed work in the character department, but the in-ring has always been there. I’m not the only person who sees this, as fellow Internet fans have been complaining about Cedric’s placement in WWE for years now. He’s mostly been confined to 205 Live & Main Event.

The main feud of his that I can remember was with Noam Dar over Alicia Fox. Which tells you all you need to know. There was something else with Cedric & somebody else representing the heart & soul of 205 Live but for the life of me I can’t remember who else was involved. Rich Swann? Could have been.

Anyway, Cedric did get that big call up to Raw, and proceeded to do very little of note. He formed a team with Ricochet that Internet fans got excited about and WWE creative didn’t care at all about. Happens a lot to guys like Cedric.

This was actually leading to something.

Apollo Crews was having some issues with MVP, Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin. Ricochet & Cedric decided to help their buddy out against the Hurt Business. It didn’t go well for them. The bigger guys beat up the littler guys pretty often. Meanwhile, MVP was telling Cedric that he was a talented guy that deserved better, and the Hurt Business wouldn’t mind having him in their ranks. After a few more beatings, Cedric thought it was a fine idea to betray his friends and join the enemy.

Pretty good story, right?

I think so! It helps elevate Cedric to a new level, gives the Hurt Business more things to do, and maybe Ricochet & Apollo get more over in the process. This all makes sense to me.

The only problem: this is all taking place at the same time the Hurt Business are also feuding with Retribution. Individually, if these stories both exist in different vacuums, you might be able to accept the idea that the Hurt Business are bad people that turned a young man against his friends, while at the same time are the only people man enough to stand up for the Raw brand against the group known as Retribution that totally aren’t a bunch of NXT people in silly masks & with goofy new names.

(Speaking of things that I don’t understand: How do Raw’s announcers not recognize Mia Yim? Even with a mask on she has a distinctive look and two of Raw’s announcers were on NXT for years. The other is Jerry Lawler, and we know he’s always keeping an eye on wrestlers like Mia Yim. Come on now!)

For years I’ve been telling everyone what a wretched horrible deceptive evil spiteful disgusting and hateful person @MiaYim really is. Believe me now? pic.twitter.com/M2dPHIVQtd

— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) September 22, 2020

Monday night serves as an example of how confused I am about this whole thing. Show starts with Retribution talking. Hurt Business comes down, gets an early advantage, more Retribution members come down and Hurt Business is left laying to set up a tag match later. Cool. Makes sense.

Around the middle of the show, Cedric comes out to wrestle Apollo and continue that whole thing. Cedric & MVP are obviously heels, when they were obviously faces earlier. Kinda weird.

Then we have the main event, Cedric’s second match of the evening, Hurt Business are faces again, and this time Drew McIntyre leads the entire Raw locker room down to save the Hurt Business. Huh?

It’s one thing to turn heel. It’s another thing to turn heel and join a group acting like good guys against a more evil group, while still beefing with your old friends. The whole thing makes no sense to me.

Unless…

Maybe I’ve read the whole situation wrong. Perhaps the way I interpret things between Cedric and his old friends is different than how Vince McMahon and his writers do, and how the audience sees it too.

Was Cedric Alexander right to leave his old friends behind in an attempt to make more money?

A-ha! Now I get it!

It’s all part of how values have changed during the course of my life. It’s all on perfect display in pro wrestling then and now. Remember when the Million Dollar Man debuted? After showing off his wealth for weeks, he offered to purchase the WWF Championship from Hulk Hogan. Hogan refused, as even though Ted DiBiase said that everybody had a price, being Champion for his Hulkamaniacs was priceless.

Had that same story taken place in 2020, Hulk Hogan would be the heel.

Announcers on television speculated that Hogan might take the money for his family. The difference between then and now: the fans didn’t want Hulk to compromise his integrity for the almighty dollar. Today’s fans…well I hate to say it, but I think a large chunk of today’s fans would want their guy to take the money.

This might fall in line with what Cedric Alexander’s fans are supposed to be thinking. Given the choice between sitting backstage with his friends not getting booked and working with the Hurt Business in featured matches, the latter option certainly sounds better financially. It also sounds better for fans of Cedric’s, as they get to see him on television more often.

So what if he turned his back on his friends? They were just holding him back anyway! Does it make him a bad guy if he values his financial future at the expense of his friends?

Once upon a time, the answer was “yes” in the eyes of most. Today? I think the answer is “no”. At least in the eyes of WWE, and the people that will defend these storylines co-existing.

People say that WWE doesn’t know their audience. I think they do. At least, a heck of a lot more than I do.

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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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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