Opinion

Cook’s Top 5: Reasons People Joined RETRIBUTION

Published

5 years ago

September 16, 2020

SPOILER ALERT: This column is going to contain discussion of people rumored to be part of RETRIBUTION, the group trying to disrupt Monday Night Raw on a weekly basis. If this is something you don’t wish to hear, go ahead and click that “Back” button now. If you’re interested, keep reading…

So the word’s out on some of these Retribution members. Some are pretty obvious based off their speaking patterns & look. We don’t know when or if they’ll actually be revealed, and many people wonder if WWE knows the answers to those questions either. They might never be revealed, or maybe they will next week. That’s part of the fun of the thing.

Something I keep seeing pop up online is folks questioning why these rumored names would have a beef with WWE. I think this is a by-product of people being conditioned to support the large corporations in 2020. See, back in my day, fans were likely to root for people raging against the machine. They loved seeing Stone Cold give Vinnie Mac a Stunner and make his boss’s life a living hell. Here in 2020, we root for the company against the oppressed workers, and deny any notion that the workers could possibly have reasons to complain about their employer. They’re employed, right? Isn’t that all that matters?

Nope.

All five of the rumored names have reason to take up arms against WWE. Let’s break them down one by one.

5. Shane Thorne

Thorne became known as a tag team wrestler in his pre-WWE days. Successful tag team stints in Japan & Australia. He had a knack for forming mighty tag teams, and could surely do the same in WWE. One problem: WWE kept getting rid of his tag team partners. Nick Miller wanted to go back to his family in Australia rather than deal with life in WWE. Then Thorne started teaming up with another of his old Aussie friends, Brendan Vink. They got some run on Raw, looking like they were going to be associates with MVP’s Hurt Business. Instead, they randomly got sent back to NXT, and haven’t done a darn thing since.

How can Thorne get any momentum going if WWE keeps shooting it in the foot? Is it any wonder why he would want to bring WWE to its knees?

4. Mercedes Martinez

Mercedes Martinez WWE NXT Chairshot Edit

17 years. Mercedes Martinez spent 17 years in the indies, scratching & clawing her way to WWE. She’s been on knowledgeable fans radars for a long time, but 17 years is how long it took WWE to use her in the Mae Young Classic. It took them a couple of years after that to actually sign her. If you’re Mercedes, you’re wondering why WWE didn’t sign her when she was young.

Then, you’re wondering why WWE sent you to NXT. As long as you’ve been in the ring, they’re sending you to training camp? Then their big spot for you is with that goofball Robert Stone? It’s no wonder why Martinez hooked up with this anti-WWE faction. Just complete and utter disrespect towards one of wrestling’s most accomplished women of this century.

3. Dio Maddin

Dio started out as a wrestler at the PC. Then WWE wanted him to announce. Gave him a big spot on Raw. Where did that get Dio? On the business end of a Brock Leaner beat down, then booted off TV and sent back to the PC.

I know if WWE set me up to get my ass kicked by Brock Lesnar, I’d be looking to tear down the company. Not to mention completely mess up my preparation for being a pro wrestler by shoehorning me into this announcing business. That’s rough on the mind. I’d be mad too if I was him.

2. Mia Yim

WWE NXT Mia Yim BIanca Belair

Mia could have been NXT Women’s Champion by now based off her skill level. The problem? Friends of her opponents kept getting in her way. When she fought Shayna Baszler, she also had to deal with Jessamyn Duke & Marina Shafir. When she took on Dakota Ki, she had Raquel Gonzalez sticking her nose in her business. Hell, when she fought Candice LeRae she had to worry about Johnny Gargano.

All these outside forces interfering in her matches, and did NXT management ever do anything about it? Of course not. William Regal turned a blind eye along with the rest of management. If WWE/NXT is going to condone that type of behavior, why wouldn’t Mia join up with a group that outnumbers every other one?

1. Dominik Dijakovic

WWE NXT Takeover Portland Keith Lee Dominik Dijakovic

One of Keith Lee’s first acts upon entering WWE was starting a feud with Dijakovic. They’d tussled before on the Indy circuit and had some pretty memorable matches, so one figured that doing the same on NXT would propel both men up the ranks.

It only worked for Keith Lee, who won the feud. After disposing of Dijakovic, Lee went on to win the NXT North American & NXT Championships before making his way to Raw. Dijakovic surely looks at Lee right now and thinks he should be getting a spot in Raw’s main event picture. If only he had won that series of matches with Keith Lee.

So why wouldn’t Dijakovic be part of a bitter group of people that interfered in Lee’s match with Drew McIntyre on Monday night?

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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
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About Chairshot Radio Network

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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