Opinion

Cook’s Top 5: 2016 Wrestling Memories

As Steve Cook nears present day, he looks back at 2016, the year he got sucked back into the world of online wrestling journalism!

Published

5 years ago

November 17, 2020

Steve Cook

As Steve Cook nears present day, he looks back at 2016, the year he got sucked back into the world of online wrestling journalism!

Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in.

My wrestling writing in 2015 consisted of one 411 Wrestling Hot 100 list. That appeared to be my swan song in the wrestling writing field, as I had shifted my attention to other endeavors. Namely, The Ultimate Sports Blog. I look back fondly at the USB’s heyday during this time period. It was a chance to write with a group of friends that had gotten connected through 411mania and just wanted an outlet to write about their favorite sports topics. Dustin James was the ringleader and his football coverage was second to none. Jeremy Lambert & I wrote about an array of sports, typically in a ridiculous manner since we’re both ridiculous. Todd Bergman popped in from time to time, and Samer Kadi was part of the family as well. I’m still not entirely sure how I fell in with these guys, since they were all in 411’s MMA Zone and my favorite fighter of all time was/is Ken Shamrock, but I’m glad I did.

I had a weekly football gambling picks column for a couple of years there, which eventually led to something you see here once or twice a month. In 2016 I did a weekly MLB report. I also did some writing about the Nashville Predators, which would lead to my time with Predlines. It was a fun time as a writer. I could write whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, and the other staff were great people that I still converse with on a regular basis. The fact that I could write whatever I wanted whenever I wanted led to me dipping my toes back into the wrestling writing.

WWE had a draft in 2016. My idea was to talk about the sleepers, and do it in the way that sports draft experts talk about sleepers. It was a fun idea for a column, and Dustin let it go because he let everything go. It was fun. A month later, I had another idea for a column based off of something WWE did, and Dustin let me do that too. It happened to be around the same time that Greg DeMarco was looking for contributors for a site, and even though some folks thought we hated each other, that was only for a brief period of time. We had a blow-up, got over it and became even better friends afterwards. Friendships need that sort of thing to truly blossom. I’ve been on every site he’s run, and if he comes up with more sites I’ll be on those too. That’s just how it goes. I have a loyalty to Greg like I have to Dustin, Jeremy, Todd & Samer. It might be weird to non-Internet writers, but when we click, we click.

2016 was a year where I wasn’t really keeping up with things outside of WWE, which was fine because there wasn’t much going on outside of WWE. Here are my top 5 wrestling memories of 2016!

5. AJ Styles Arrives in WWE

I was high on AJ Styles since the very first TNA PPVs. Dude seemed like one of the best wrestlers in the world back then, but never got that respect. Largely due to the promotion he worked for, and was loyal to. AJ Styles was always a draw among hardcore wrestling fans. Whether he could cut a promo or not, he was always on point in the ring. He got better at talking over the years, much like Bret Hart back in the day. Give them enough time, they’ll figure it out.

Styles had no problem meshing into WWE. Why would he have? Man was one of the best wrestlers on the planet for a very, very long time. Once he got to WWE, he fit the company like a glove. Anybody employed by WWE that wanted to look good would want to work with him. His superior in-ring ability was obvious the moment he walked in the door. He could make good guys great, and he could keep John Cena interested enough to work some of the best matches of his storied career.

AJ Styles was exactly what WWE needed at the start of 2016. The man has just kept producing since then.

4. NXT Steals WrestleMania Weekend

In hindsight, we shouldn’t have been surprised. We weren’t surprised at the time, either. Shinsuke Nakamura showed up here in the United States after signing with WWE. His first match was with Sami Zayn, a man regarded as one of the best workers in the world. It was the night before WrestleMania, and everybody on this NXT show wanted to steal the show. These two men had the ability to, and did.

We also had one of those American Alpha vs. Revival matches the peeps loved, along with Asuka vs. Bayley & Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe. An awesome show that didn’t go way too long, so pretty much the opposite of WrestleMania. No doubt people took note of that.

3. Divas No More

2015 had seen the beginning of the “Divas Revolution” after the Internet asked WWE to #GiveDivasAChance. New talent emerged from NXT to boost WWE’s Divas division to a new level. Eventually, somebody realized that the term “Divas” needed to go away.

WrestleMania 32 saw the end of the Divas Championship & the beginning of a new Women’s Championship. Later in 2016, WWE’s brand split led to Raw & SmackDown each having their own championship for women. Neither belt was shaped like a butterfly, so it was definitely a step in the right direction.

2. Bryan Retires

At the time, Dave Meltzer called Daniel Bryan’s farewell speech “the single greatest segment in the history of modern televised pro wrestling”. I’m not sure if I’d go that far, and now that we know Bryan was able to return to the ring two years later, it doesn’t quite have that same emotional sting to it. It was still easily among the most memorable moments of 2016.
Also of note during this was Vince McMahon & Titus O’Neil getting into a bit of a scuffle that led to Titus being suspended. You don’t want to grab Vince at the wrong time, that’s for sure.

1. Eva Marie!

To me, Eva Marie is one of the biggest cases of squandered potential in the history of wrestling. The woman could have been champion for years in WWE and driven the company to new heights of popularity. 2016 seemed like it was going to be her time. Her spectacular debut was hyped for weeks on SmackDown, but things kept getting in the way. One week, Eva had a wardrobe malfunction. There was a week where she got stuck in traffic. A leg injury during her entrance prevented a scheduled match. The world wondered when Eva’s debut would happen.

It never did. Eva got a Wellness suspension, the push died and she was never seen again on WWE television. Much to the dismay of myself and millions of wrestling fans, Eva Marie found other things to do. A shame for all of us.

A couple of columns I wrote about Eva Marie during this time period ended up being somewhat important to my wrestling writing career. One got me on Greg’s new site at the time, which led to me doing weekly columns again. Another, in which I ranked the Top 11 Eva Marie Matches of 2015-16 as a rib on random match ranking columns that were a big thing online at the time, got me back on 411mania.

Without Eva Marie, who knows where or what I’d be writing right now.

About Chairshot Radio Network

Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

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!

Related Topics:2016 AJ Styles Daniel Bryan Featured Featured Big Sami Zayn Shinsuke Nakamura Steve Cook Women's Evolution WrestleMania WWE

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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!

About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY – Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY – 4 Corners Podcast (sports)

WEDNESDAY – The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY – POD is WAR (Los Tres Friends)

FRIDAY – DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY – The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY – Keeping the news ridiculous… The Oddity / 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

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About Chairshot Radio Network

MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)

TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)

WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)

THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

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

2 months 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