Opinion

Bodeen’s Top 5 Moments: WWE RAW (5/10/21)

With WrestleMania Backlash this coming weekend, Bodeen lists out his Top 5 moments from WWE Raw!

Published

4 years ago

May 13, 2021

With just a few days to go until WrestleMania Backlash, Monday Night RAW once again came from us from the ThunderDome as the go-home show for WrestleMania Backlash. While not as bad as previous weeks, Raw once again felt slow and painful to go through as RAW once was again hurt by rematches from previous RAW episodes, multi-person tag team matches, as well as a slow pacing as RAW’s three-hour time slot, continued to hurt the flagship show. Despite all the negatives, I am here to once again bring you the positives for RAW as I once again bring you the top 5 moments from this week’s edition of Monday Night RAW ahead of WrestleMania Backlash.

5. Humberto Carrillo and the United States Champion, Sheamus push each other to the limit

Before Humberto Carrillo and Sheamus could face each other, The United States Champion would cut a short promo just before the match on his Championship reign as well as talk about Humberto Carrillo and Mansoor talking about how dominant he was after giving both men a Brogue Kick last week on RAW. Humberto would start the match strong against The United States Champion as he sent Sheamus outside the ring, however, The United States Champion would quickly regain the advantage as he threw Carrillo over the barricade near the timekeeper’s area as RAW went to an ad break.

Sheamus would continue to inflict pain on Humberto Carrillo with Sheamus taking Carrillo to the rope to hit the Beats of the Bodhran on Carrillo. However, Carrillo would fight back and would eventually hit The Celtic Warrior with a slingshot sunset flip powerbomb with both men landing outside the ring awkwardly as Sheamus’s body landed on the knees on Carrillo. This would eventually lead to the referee calling for the bell as the match was called a no-contest with Carrillo’s status being unknown as it was not clear as he suffered a legitimate injury after the referee called the match off.

While it is unfortunate that the match was called short due to a booking decision or a legitimate injury suffered by Carrillo. Both men still put on a solid effort in the short time they had with Carrillo looking like a legitimate threat as he pushed The United States Champion to his limit. With Carrillo potentially being injured after the bump, it will be extremely interesting to see who the next challenger for Sheamus’s United States Championship will be.

4. Randy Orton, Riddle, Xavior Woods and Kofi Kingston take on AJ Styles, Omos, Elias and Jaxson Ryker in an eight-man tag team match

After Jaxson Ryker and Elias were defeated by Riddle and Randy Orton and Omos and AJ Styles defeated The New Day all eight men would have a chance to face each other in an eight men tag team match. All eight men would put on a solid match as the massive Omos continued to look strong once again as he dominated The New Day once again. The match also did a solid job in advancing the tag team story of Riddle and Randy Orton as Riddle and Orton continue to rise up the tag team division as they continue to work well together. Before the match started, Riddle would talk to The New Day backstage talking about his reaction to seeing The Viper get tomatoes thrown at him by Ryker and Elias last week. This would lead to Orton confronting The King Of Bros telling him how he found killing legends and burning people fun showing his sadistic side to Riddle.

Riddle and Elias would start the match off for their teams with The King Of Bros getting the early advantage over Elias. However, the momentum would quickly change as Elias tagged in the giant Omos who dominated Riddle despite Riddle’s best efforts. Omos would then once again dominate The New Day making quick work of Woods and Kingston. The Viper would confront Omos as both men stared at each other to send us to the ad break. After the ad break Elias, Styles and Ryker would continue to work over Riddle. Riddle would then tag in Woods but the heels would quickly get the upper hand over Woods.

Woods would continue to fight on for his team and would eventually get the hot tag to Riddle who took the fight to the team of heels, leading to Riddle hitting the Bro-Derek on Elias. Omos would stop the pin with the match breaking down with Riddle tagging Orton in the chaos. Orton would then wait outside the ring as The New Day distracted Omos by attacking AJ Styles outside the ring. This would allow Orton to hit the RKO on a vulnerable Elias to get the win for his team. After the match, Orton would show his true colours as he gave an RKO to Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods before leaving Riddle in the ring as RK-Bro remains to be undefeated despite the massive difference in attitudes between Orton and Riddle.

3. John Morrison and Damien Priest fight for the stipulation ahead of The Miz’s match with Priest

After Damien Priest beat John Morrison in a solid match last week, Priest would talk to WWE official Adam Pearce this week with Damien Priest adding high stakes for his rematch against Morrison this week with the stakes being the winner gets to choose the stipulation for the match between The Miz and Damien Priest at WrestleMania Backlash. Despite The Miz’s objection to this, John Morrison would accept the challenge further creating miscommunication between the two men as The Miz cost John Morrison his match against Damien Priest last week on RAW after Miz accidentally distracted the referee when Morrison had Priest pinned for a three count. Both men would exchange strikes early in the match with both men showing off their agility in the process, however, the numbers game would hurt Priest as Morrison sent Priest outside the ring allowing The Miz to hit a cheap shot on The Archer Of Infamy outside the ring with Morrison following the cheap shot up with a neck breaker for a close nearfall.

The Archer Of Infamy would then fight back against Morrison hitting Morrison with a roundhouse kick then would hit Morrison with the Shinjiro Otani spinning wheel kick. Both men would continue to go back and forth late in the match Preist hitting Morrison with a diving spinning wheel kick late in the match for another nearfall. Unfortunately for Morrison, The Miz would once again cost him the match as The Miz distracted the referee when Priest tried to connect with Hit The Lights, however, Morrison would reverse it into a crucifix pin for a 3 count only for The Miz’s distraction to cost Morrison, allowing Priest to connect with Hit The Lights to pin Morrison for the win with Priest later going back to Adam Pearce later in the night and making his match against The Miz a lumberjack match so that The Miz cannot run away from Priest in their match.

This was a great match from two men who work extremely well together as their agility and style mix incredibly well. The continued miscommunication between John Morrison and The Miz continues to be an interesting dynamic as both men continue to get in each other’s way. It will be interesting to see if this will lead to either The Miz breaking up with John Morrison, or Morrison breaking up with The Miz and becoming a singles star for the first time since his recent return to WWE.

2. Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander face each other in a grudge match

Shelton Benjamin would have a chance to get revenge on his previous tag team partner as Benjamin took on Alexander this week after Alexander insulted Benjamin, breaking up with his tag team partner, blaming Shelton with their recent poor form. Both men would put on a great match as they told a simple but effective story in the time they were given. Alexander would start off the match strong against Benjamin with Alexander taking out the knee of Benjamin after hitting him with a dragon screw through the ropes then locking in a heel lock on Benjamin, inflicting more pain on the injured leg of Benjamin.

Despite Benjamin’s best efforts, Cedric Alexander would cut off Benjamin every time he tried to get back into the match. Benjamin would continue to get dominated by Alexander as Alexander began to insult a hurt Benjamin. Alexander would continue to run his mouth as he even called out the announce table. Unfortunately for Alexander, his ego would cost him the match as it allowed Benjamin to recover to hit the t-bone suplex on Alexander for the win over his former tag team partner.

This short match told a simple but extremely effective story as it made Cedric Alexander look strong in a sense as he dominated his former tag team partner, while still showing the inexperience of Alexander as his ego and trash-talking cost him the match. Hopefully, this is not the last we see of Alexander and Benjamin on tv as both men struggled to remain relevant before joining The Hurt Business despite both men being extremely talented and gifted.

1. Drew Mcintyre and The All-Mighty Bobby Lashley face each other in a WrestleMania rematch

Drew Mcintyre would have a chance to get revenge on the All-Mighty WWE Champion Bobby Lashley this week on RAW as both men main evented RAW this week in a rematch to their match at WrestleMania this week. Before the match happened MVP, would once again play a factor heading into the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania Backlash this Sunday as MVP confronted The Monster Among Man, Braun Strowman. MVP would talk about Drew Mcintyre costing Braun Strowman his match against Bobby Lashley the previous week. MVP would then suggest that Strowman and Bobby Lashley should team up and take out Drew Mcintyre making their match at WrestleMania Backlash a singles match. Strowman would tell MVP to leave with Strowman not giving a straight answer. MVP would later get more time on the mic as he talked about how Bobby Lashley beat Drew at WrestleMania and how Lashley will stay WWE Champion at WrestleMania with MVP once again doing a great job at being the manager for Bobby Lashley as his skills on the mic are a highlight for RAW every week.

Things would start off hot between Lashley and Mcintyre as Lashley tried to put Drew in The Hurt Lock early up in the match with Drew reversing. Both men would go back and forth, showcasing their incredible strength as they put on a great main event. Late in the match, Lashley would throw Mcintyre into the ring post face first. Lashley would then attempt a spear only for Drew to send Lashley into the turnbuckle and do a Ric Flair flip in the process. Mcintyre would then hit the leaping neck breaker and would try to hit the Future Shock DDT only for Lashley to block it. Lashley would then attempt to put Drew in the Hurt Lock, once again with Drew reversing and surviving a fisherman suplex from Lashley to hit the Claymore on Lashley only for The Monster Among Men, Braun Strowman to come out and attack Drew.

Strowman would then go and help Lashley to his feet and looked ready to accept the offer from MVP earlier in the night, however, Strowman would show he wanted to side with no one as he suddenly hit Lashley with a running powerslam. Strowman would then hit another powerslam on Drew, however, Strowman wasn’t done there as he hit Lashley with a powerslam through the barricade and would hit another powerslam on Drew as he stood tall against Lashley and Strowman as RAW went off the air.

These were my top 5 moments from an average but improved edition of Monday Night RAW this week. What were your top 5 moments from Monday Night RAW this week and what are your predictions and thoughts for the RAW matches heading into WrestleMania Backlash? Let us know in the comment section down below.

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: WrestleMania 41 Las Vegas

Time for The Chairshot personalities to put their money where their mouths are! WreslteMania 41 predictions from the “expert” staff at TheChairshot.com and Chairshot Radio Network.

Published

3 hours ago

April 18, 2025

PC Tunney

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Chairshot Staff Picks. And what better setting than WrestleMania for this article to return! This 41st edition has one of the most stacked rosters in WWE history. So, without further ado, let us get to the predictions and prognostications…

AJ – The New Day
Andrew – The New Day – No one seems to hold tag titles long anymore.
Dave – The New Day – They have earned it.
DJ – The New Day – Feel tha Powah!
DPP – War Raiders – Big E distraction.
Jason – The New Day – We are not getting E in a working capacity though everyone wants it.
Patrick – The New Day – WWE doesn’t care about this match, so why should I?
Rey – The New Day – Its a New Day, bruh.
Rob – The New Day – New Day rocks and wins!
Greg – The New Day – New. Day wins. New. Day wins!

Tunney’s Take: War Machine – Yes, WAR MACHINE. I have personally had the pleasure of throwing back a few cold ones with these guys on more than one occasion. Not only being tag champs in WWE but defending the titles at Mania and against The New Day is really cool for me as a long-time fan. Would it be fun to see The New Day have another title run.. YES. I think it’s smarter to give the War Raiders a big Mania W.

Chairshot Pick: THE NEW DAY 9-2

AJ – Jade Cargill
Andrew – Jade Cargill – She needs to stay a dominant force.
Dave – Jade Cargill – Gotta gear her up for the long term.
DJ – No contest – Naomi puts another beat down on Jade.
DPP – Jade Cargill – Nervous for how this match will go.
Jason – Naomi – Way more runway with Naomi as a bad guy. Keep it going!
Patrick – Jade Cargill – Jade gets her revenge.
Rey – Jade Cargill – Best non-title feud going. Naomi should win but Jade sneaks by.
Rob – Naomi – Naomi gets help to win.
Greg – Jade Cargill – They ain’t beating Jade here.

Tunney’s Take: Jade Cargill – I imagine WWE sees Jade’s ceiling much higher than Naomi’s. What better way to keep Jade climbing the ladder towards a World Title than to pick up a decisive victory in Vegas!

Chairshot Pick: Jade Cargill 8-2-1

AJ – Jacob Fatu – “AJ does a pretty good LA Knight impersonation” – PC Tunney
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – I’m biased, Jacob for President.
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Getting gold back in the Bloodline is smart.
DJ – Jacob Fatu
DPP – Jacob Fatu
Jason – Jacob Fatu – Thanks for coming pal, YEAH!
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – C’mon cuz! All gas no brakes with it. Yadadamean??
Rob – LA Knight – Solo costs Jacob.
Greg – LA Knight – Solo screws Jacob.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – It has been quite the journey for the Samoan Werewolf. I feel like that journey and the positive turn around it has taken deserves to be rewarded. Let’s see what Jacob can do on his own. Plus, LA Knight is ready to challenge for a World Title.

Chairshot Pick: Jacob Fatu 9-2

AJ – Tiffany Straton
Andrew – Tiffany Straton – I hate Charlotte Flair, no objectivity here.
Dave – Charlotte Flair – Tiffy might be the future, but she kinda failed the litmus test.
DJ – Charlotte Flair – The Queen crowns the freshman.
DPP – Tiffany Stratton
Jason – Charlotte Flair – Tiff wasn’t ready for this spot. Charnos is inevitable.
Patrick – Charlotte Flair – Lol Charlotte wins.
Rey – Charlotte Flair – Tiffany SHOULD win but, if Charlotte can squash, she will.
Rob – Charlotte Flair – Charlotte gets number 15.
Greg – Tiffany Stratton – Lol Charlotte wins. (Actually she doesn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Charlotte Flair – Charlotte needs the title for the first time in her career. Tiffy has had a nice run but now needs to take that all important step of not losing momentum after losing the title. Despite the drama and lackluster build here, I see a really good match coming this weekend from these two.

Chairshot Pick: Charlotte Flair 7-4

AJ – El Grande Americano
Andrew – El Grande Americano – I’d like to see Gable gain some momentum. Rey is Teflon.
Dave – El Grand Americano – He needs a marque win much more than Rey.
DJ – Rey Mysterio
DPP – El Grande Americano – Grande wins with the switcheroo to prove he is not Gable.
Jason – Rey Mysterio – Unmask Grande at the end. It is fun but has a shelf life.
Patrick – El Grande Americano – TOTALLY NOT CHAD GABLE
Rey – Rey Mysterio – Someone’s mask is coming off and it ain’t Rey.
Rob – El Grande Americano
Greg – Rey Mysterio – Hall of Famer wins but doesn’t take the mask.

Tunney’s Take: Rey Mysterio – Go listen to DWI 471. DP, Greg and I lay out exactly what this match should be, FUN! Multiple Americanos!!!

Chairshot Pick: El Grande Americano 6-5

AJ – Jey Uso
Andrew – Jey Uso – Kinda booked themselves into a corner here.
Dave – Jey Uso – It just makes sense.
DJ – Jey Uso – Jey YEETS all over The Ring Genreal.
DPP – Jey Uso – Jey wins after normal Gunther beating.
Jason – Jey Uso – Land the plane man. YEET
Patrick – Jey Uso – Jey has earned this one.
Rey – Jey Uso – YEEEEEEEEEEEET!
Rob – Jey Uso – YEET
Greg – Jey Uso – If Jey loses we riot. We don’t cause he wins.

Tunney’s Take: Jey Uso – ‘Til sweat drop down my balls, ‘Til all these bitches crawl, ‘Til all… YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET YEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chairshot Pick: Jey Uso 11-0

AJ – Roman Reigns
Andrew – Seth Rollins – I can see Rollins being the last piece of Team Rock.
Dave – Roman Reigns – I can’t see Roman losing two years in a row.
DJ – Seth Rollins – Paul Heyman is a Seth Freakin Rollins guy.
DPP – Seth Rollins – The Rock helps Rollins.
Jason – Roman Reigns – Seth’s favor is a red herring. Make-A-Wish Brooks got his main, now look at the lights.
Patrick – Seth Rollins – Seth Rollins… Paul Heyman guy.
Rey – Seth Rollins – I smeeeeellllllll a new soul to sell.
Rob – Roman Reigns – Paul Heyman helps Roman win.
Greg – Seth Rollins – Brock Lesnar returns to help Seth win.

Tunney’s Take: CM Punk – I really have no idea here. I picked Punk because nobody else did. This is going to be professional wrestling cinema at its finest. The story is thick and neatly woven. All the participants are legends and so are the potential party crashers. Will The Rock stick his nose in here? Will Brock Lesnar return to play a factor? Obviously, Paul Heyman has a Plan A… but what is it? All these questions and more will be answered Saturday as night 1 will definitely go out with a bang!

Chairshot Pick: Seth Rollins 6-4-1

AJ – Iyo Sky
Andrew – Iyo Sky – Rhea vs Bianca doesn’t need a belt to be compelling.
Dave – Rhea Ripley – Going with Rhea barely, hoping Iyo wins.
DJ – Iyo Sky – Unfinished business.
DPP – Iyo Sky – Rhea and Bianca are too consumed with each other.
Jason – Iyo Sky – More layers to Rhea/Bianca. Iyo rules.
Patrick – Iyo Sky – Iyo stole the build and gets the win.
Rey – Iyo Sky – Smart money is on the underdog champ.
Rob – Iyo Sky – Iyo survives.
Greg – Bianca Belair – Naomi helps Bianca win and turn heel.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – Rhea is the best women’s wrestler in the world. Give her the biggest win on the grandest stage of them all!!! Bianca needs to go full heel. Iyo has been amazing in this build.

Chairshot Pick: Iyo Sky 8-2-1

AJ – Dominik Mysterio
Andrew – Finn Balor – I can see a Judgement Day meltdown incoming.
Dave – Bron Breakker – Bron is about to become a MegaStar.
DJ – Bron Breakker – Judgement Day implodes.
DPP – Dominik Mysterio – Finn take the pin.
Jason – Penta – I literally do not care because the winner is us, the fans.
Patrick – Bron Breakker – The WWE doesn’t care about this matchup, so why should I?
Rey – Dominik Mysterio – Only match without a clear winner. I choose chaos.
Rob – Bron Breakker – Finn and Dom cancel each other out.
Greg – Dominik Mysterio – Dom steals the pin from Bron, on Finn.

Tunney’s Take: Bron Breakker – The case can be made for any of these four to walk away with the most prestigious non-World title in pro wrestling history. The short of it is though that the Main Event picture isn’t really readily accessible for Breakker right now. Let this IC reign go through the summer, to SummerSlam.

Chairshot Pick: Bron Breakker 5-4-1-1

AJ – Damian Priest – “AJ does a pretty good Drew impersonation” – PC Tunney
Andrew – Drew McIntyre – Priest has not been interesting in this face incarnation.
Dave – Drew McIntyre – Time for Drew to get that win back.
DJ – Fuck finish – To be continued at Backlash.
DPP – Drew McIntyre – Physical matchup!
Jason – Drew McIntyre – Either one is fine here.
Patrick – Drew McIntyre – With two eyes, Drew turns the tide.
Rey – Drew McIntyre – Low key match of the weekend.
Rob – Damien Priest
Greg – Damien Priest – Priest wins, Drew tweets about it half hour later.

Tunney’s Take: Drew McIntyre – With the addition of the Street fight rules, these two behemoths have a really good chance to have one of the best matches of the entire weekend (winks at Rey Ca$h-A-Mania)! I do wonder what is next for both of these talents moving forward. Priest has staled since leaving the Judgement Day and Drew seems stuck in the same cycle for a while now. Very interested to see what the summer holds for this pair.

Chairshot Pick: Drew McIntyre 7-3-1

WHO WILL BE RANDY’S OPPONENT?!?

AJ – Nick Aldis – Orton wins
Andrew – Orton and Aldis vs Solo and Tama – Orton and Aldis win
Dave – Someone is getting an RKO!
DJ – A segment w/ the Wyatt s6cks.
DPP – Rusev – Aldis introduces Rusev who defeats Orton.
Jason – Nick Aldis – You got one more in ya, bubba. Aldis wins!
Patrick – Nick Aldis
Rey – Solo then Rusev – Solo in a squash and Rusev MATCHKA(wins)
Rob – Nick Aldis – Aldis proves himself, Orton wins.
Greg – Nick Aldis – Orton beats Aldis, they shake after.

Tunney’s Take: I would really love to see a singles match between Orton and Aldis. More likely this is some type of involvement with Solo and Tama. Rusev as a surprise challenger would be cool but, I feel that would be better left for RAW. An impromptu Goldberg retirement match would be crazy and fun, yet highly unlikely and illogical. Whatever happens, best believe exactly what Dave Ungar said, “Someone is getting an RKO!”.

AJ – Logan Paul
Andrew – AJ Styles – Logan doesn’t need the rub and should stay upper mid card.
Dave – Logan Paul – It’s the smart move and would be a statement win for Paul.
DJ – Logan Paul – Kross gets involved somewhere.
DPP – AJ Styles – AJ wins a great high-flying match.
Jason – AJ Styles – Just enjoy it or get a beer, nerds.
Patrick – Logan Paul – Logan Paul will main-event Mania sooner than later…
Rey – Logan Paul – Pass the torch, my wily vet.
Rob – Logan Paul – Kross helps Paul win.
Greg – AJ Styles – Styles wins after Paul’s cheating backfires.

Tunney’s Take: Logan Paul – Logan seems to really have dedicated himself to becoming great in this business. Anyone with that type of goal must have a World title on their mind. Beating AJ at Mania will be a great springboard for Logan into the Main Event sooner than later (winks at Patrick O’Dowd).

Chairshot Pick: Logan Paul 7-4

AJ – Liv & Raquel
Andrew – Liv & Raquel – Not really a fan of Lyra, she needs more work.
Dave – Liv & Raquel – This Bayley and Lyra team makes no damn sense.
DJ – Liv & Raquel – Bayley crashes out.
DPP – Liv & Raquel – Bayley continues a potential heel turn tease.
Jason – Bayley & Lyra – Finish the story!
Patrick – Bayley & Lyra – The WWE doesn’t care about this matchup, so why should I?
Rey – Liv and Raquel – Bayley want a title but it ain’t the ones in this match.
Rob – Liv & Raquel – Champs retain.
Greg – Liv & Raquel – Liv and Raquel retain thanks to Carlito and maybe JD.

Tunney’s Take: Liv & Raquel – Liv and Raquel need to be kept as the cornerstone of the women’s tag division for a lengthier period of time. Building tag teams in this division is difficult enough, let alone without a North Star.

Chairshot Pick: Liv & Raquel 9-2

AJ – Cody Rhodes
Andrew – Cody Rhodes – They are mentioning it so much, I don’t think 17 happens.
Dave – Joh Cena – Record falls and we head to summer with a built-in storyline.
DJ – John Cena – Some kind of Final Boss involvement.
DPP – John Cena – Cena wins and retires on RAW.
Jason – John Cena – Story’s over, “Captain” BIG MATCH JOHN.
Patrick – John Cena – A record breaking night for Cena.
Rey – John Cena – They’d be really stupid to turn John just to lose. (Post-Mania: Rock, Cena, T Scott, Seth & Drew, TEAM Corporate)
Rob – Cody Rhodes – Cody surprises us with the W.
Greg – Cody Rhodes – Cody wins to piss off Rock and set the table for Cena to turn back face. Crowd is behind Cena all the way through.

Tunney’s Take: Cody Rhodes – They had me until the threat of retirement. Been there. Done that. Didn’t fall in love with it back then. I love John Cena. I love this final run. John will get his 17th just not here. I expect nothing less than an absolute GEM of a match here to close WrestleMania 41. This has all been, is, and will continue to be about Cody Rhodes. WM40 defeats Roman Reigns. WM41 defeats John Cena. WM42 defeats The Rock (The Final Boss).

Chairshot Pick: John Cena 6-5

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 wait all year for this 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

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Blog

DeMarco: Top 5 Non-Title WrestleMania Matches In WWE History

Not all WrestleMania classics had titles on the line. Dive into the top 5 non-title matches that stole the show & defined legacies. #WrestleMania #WWEHistory

Published

2 days ago

April 16, 2025

Greg DeMarco

Shawn Michaels Kurt Angle WrestleMania 21

Not all WrestleMania classics had titles on the line. Dive into the top 5 non-title matches that stole the show and defined legacies.

WrestleMania is the Showcase Of The Immortals, but it’s not always the championship matches that steal the show—or define careers. In fact, some of the most iconic, business-defining, and emotionally resonant contests at the Grandest Stage of Them All didn’t feature a title at all. These matches succeeded because of character work, in-ring execution, and the kind of storytelling that sells tickets and moves merch.

Here are the five best non-title matches in WrestleMania history—at least, according to me!

5. The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan – WrestleMania X8 (2002)

This was never going to be a five-star technical clinic—but it was always going to be the moment. “Icon vs. Icon” was a tagline, sure, but it was also the reality: the biggest star of the ‘80s vs. the biggest star of the Attitude Era. And Toronto turned it into magic. Hogan walked in a heel but walked out immortal (again), with the SkyDome shaking on every punch, every look, every gesture.

What made this work was its self-awareness. Rock and Hogan read the crowd and flipped roles mid-match—Rock became the arrogant aggressor while Hogan Hulked Up to thunderous applause. It’s not often a non-title match headlines a card emotionally the way this one did, but it dominated every headline and highlight reel.

4. Owen Hart vs. Bret Hart – WrestleMania X (1994)

Sibling rivalries don’t usually lead to technical masterpieces, but then again, this wasn’t your average family drama. Owen and Bret opened WrestleMania X with a wrestling clinic that stood tall over a night packed with title changes. Owen needed to prove he was more than Bret’s little brother, and he did it by out-wrestling the best wrestler in the company. Clean. One-two-three.

It wasn’t just a great match—it was perfect storytelling. Owen’s victory, contrasted with Bret’s later world title win, set the tone for an entire year of brother-vs-brother tension. Bret became champion, but Owen had the moral victory—and all the bragging rights. This is proof that opening matches can steal the show.

3. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 25 (2009)

If WrestleMania moments could be trademarked, this match would be the reason why. The Undertaker vs. Shawn Michaels wasn’t about championships—it was about legacy. Michaels wanted to be the man who ended The Streak. The build was steeped in biblical imagery: light vs. dark, heaven vs. hell. And the match? Pure perfection. Each man brought everything they had—near-falls, psychology, reversals that had 70,000+ people gasping in unison.

It was 30 minutes of generational storytelling that transcended pro wrestling. And here’s the kicker—it wasn’t even the main event. Yet it dwarfed everything that followed. Meltzer gave it 4.75 stars, fans gave it their hearts, and WWE gave it a sequel the next year. A match so good it forced the company to run it back—because lightning actually struck.

Now, if THIS MATCH is #3, what could possible be #2 and #1…

2. Bret Hart vs. “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – WrestleMania 13 (1997)

This wasn’t just a match—it was the turning point of an era. The Submission Match between Bret Hart and Steve Austin was as violent as it was poetic, with Ken Shamrock enforcing the rules and the Chicago crowd growing more frenzied by the second. The brilliance? The shift. Bret Hart, the traditionalist hero, grew darker and more self-righteous by the second, while the disrespectful anti-hero Austin refused to quit, even when drowning in his own blood. There was no title on the line, but the stakes felt bigger than gold.

The infamous double turn changed the business. Austin’s defiance turned him into the voice of a new generation of fans—blue collar, anti-authority, Attitude Era. Meanwhile, Bret would go on to lead the heel Hart Foundation. WWE didn’t need a championship to create a moment that catapulted Austin into superstardom and ignited the company’s hottest era. This match is business-first booking at its absolute best.

1. Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels – WrestleMania 21 (2005)

Dream matches often disappoint. This one didn’t. At WrestleMania 21, Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle went hold-for-hold and spot-for-spot with Mr. WrestleMania himself, and together they delivered a masterclass in in-ring psychology. Every sequence had stakes, every near-fall had meaning. It was a stylistic war: Michaels’ heart vs. Angle’s intensity.

Angle forcing Michaels to tap was a statement—it told fans that pure wrestling, not just spectacle, could still main-event caliber storytelling without any need for a title. Michaels sold the ankle lock like death, and Angle’s post-match collapse sold the moment as a hard-fought war. This is the kind of match that keeps purists up at night, smiling, and leaves the storytelling fans like myself as happy as can be!

10 Honorable Mentions (Not Honorable, Just For The Heck Of It)

Edge vs. Mick Foley – WrestleMania 22 (2006)
A hardcore war that solidified Edge as a top-tier main eventer. That flaming table spear is still played in every Edge highlight reel.
AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon – WrestleMania 33 (2017)
Everyone expected smoke and mirrors—what they got was a surprisingly technical, high-energy opener that kicked off the show right.
The Undertaker vs. Triple H – WrestleMania 28 (2012)
“End of an Era” wasn’t just a tagline. The Hell in a Cell match, with HBK as referee, was a brutal epilogue to a generation’s legacy.
Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho – WrestleMania XIX (2003)
A student-teacher battle of wills. Jericho’s low blow post-match was the perfect heel punctuation to a career-defining contest.
Randy Orton vs. Seth Rollins – WrestleMania 31 (2015)
The greatest RKO of all time. That curb stomp reversal belongs in a museum.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show – WrestleMania XXIV (2008)
More sports-entertainment than wrestling, but a crossover moment that made mainstream headlines and paid off with a great finish.
Roddy Piper vs. Adrian Adonis – WrestleMania III (1987)
A retirement match with big heat, a hot crowd, and Piper walking off into the sunset (for a minute).
The Firefly Funhouse Match – John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt – WrestleMania 36 (2020)
Cinematic weirdness at its best. A meta masterstroke that broke Cena down in layers.
Bad Bunny & Damian Priest vs. The Miz & John Morrison – WrestleMania 37 (2021)
Bad Bunny stunned everyone. He didn’t just belong—he elevated the show.
Rey Mysterio vs. Dominik Mysterio – WrestleMania 39 (2023)
Father vs. son in a grudge match that played perfectly off real-life drama and Hall of Fame weekend emotions.

Some of these matches shaped legacies. Others shifted eras. But all of them proved that the most memorable moments at WrestleMania don’t need a title—they just need truth in the storytelling and fire in the execution.