Opinion

AJ’s “Million Dollar” Ideas

AJ has been a fan of Eli Dr-wait, L.A. Knight for quite a few years. So it makes sense that once he gets his hands on a championship, AJ drums up some ideas. Let’s see where this motivation has taken him!

Published

4 years ago

June 17, 2021

Adam Balaz

With the resurgence of the Million Dollar Championship, this has me thinking. What would be an actual way to make this work other than getting heat on LA Knight from attacking a legend in Ted DiBiase and continuing a feud with Cameron Grimes? There are a decent amount of ways for the Million Dollar Championship to create some ideas for it’s revival of the typically meaningless championship.

Million Dollars for Nothing

One massive way if you want to portray LA Knight as possibly the top heel of NXT it is quite simply, have him not care of it. We don’t typically see “destruction of championships” in the current era of professional wrestling. The best portrayal of someone not caring for the championship they hold has been Tetsuya Naito and the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. He used to toss the belt high in the sky with no regard for it and resulting in the championship belt chipping, getting scuffed and even at one point, broken in the gold side plating due to throwing it. Why? He got his first G1 Climax Main Event snubbed from him because of the Intercontinental Championship being newer and held by the two best of New Japan at that time in Shinsuke Nakamura and Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Something not seen on WWE Television in a good amount of years is disregarding the Championship. LA Knight is already money on the microphone, mint in the ring and looks like… well… A million dollars. He doesn’t need a championship to show that off, he can do it with his charisma and charm alone and after losing the chance to become a number one contender for the North American Champion, why should he care for this title. A program after doing away with Cameron Grimes might show the cocky powerhouse have himself above the championship. It’s a long shot but, it’s something that can be tempted with since fans have been thinking things are “stale”.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Now the opposite of the first idea is actually instating the championship as an official championship, almost like making it the workhorse championship. We usually hear the “workhorse championship” moniker with the WWE Intercontinental Championship. For everyone that thinks LA Knight is just a jerk or too cocky to the bubble that has only seen LA Knight and not Eli Drake or Shaun Ricker, this way could show the crowd he can actually go and could even have him slowly transition to a babyface role down the line. Granted, the current tag team champions in MSK and North American Champion, Bronson Reed are doing good as babyface champions, the top prize is still in the hands of a chaotic and destructive Karrion Kross with the NXT Championship.

Maybe showing that Knight can go and build himself as the one that can turn heads and take the NXT Championship away from Kross possibly. Doesn’t have to be LA Knight, of course, if he loses it to Cameron Grimes or someone else down the line, they can show they can step up to Kross since there seems to be no end in sight of his reign.

…that is unless they want to go with the next idea.

Buy Your Way To The Main Event

The main roster already has their version of getting a potential championship opportunity with the Money In The Bank briefcase. Why not make the Million Dollar Championship an equal to that? Yes, I’m talking about the Million Dollar Champion, who was in TNA/IMPACT Wrestling doing something with the championship to the current NXT Champion, also a former TNA/IMPACT Wrestling talent doing a TNA/IMPACT idea, especially with Samoa Joe taking a slight managerial role in NXT and one of the bigger named alumni of TNA/IMPACT Wrestling.

I’m talking, of course, of Option C.

Option C, for those they may not know, was an idea made by the Hogan times of TNA when then X Division Champion, Austin Aries, wanted to vacate his championship so in exchange he can have a match against the World Heavyweight Champion, who at the time was Bobby Roode in the company’s longest reign with the championship. It helped put the X Division Championship in it’s premier match type with Ultimate X Match, which are always exciting and Austin Aries would defeat Roode to be World Champion in the main event.

Now that I explained, it’s simple for this. You want to make the card special for this type of an idea? The champion exchanges the Million Dollar Championship, after defending it for an amount of time or an amount of matches, for an opportunity to face the NXT Champion… make the event War Games or one of the TakeOvers before a Big Four for the Main Roster. You will have all eyes on the championship match and if it’s at War Games, the sole survivor or surviving team can have a true claim to the championship. The Million Dollar Championship becomes a fixture in NXT for a “Million Dollar Opportunity”.

The Gold Brand Grand Slam

You can already guess what I mean by this but if not, allow me to explain.

Since 1992, anyone who has had a reign with the World, Intercontinental, a Tag Team and either United States/European Championship (depending on the format and era) is deemed a Grand Slam Champion. Shawn Michaels was the first one to do so and it’s been somewhat of an impressive feat in each major wrestling company since. Since Bayley won every women’s championship in WWE, she was called the first Women’s Grand Slam Champ with Charlotte, Asuka and Sasha Banks following suit. NXT however, is different.

Not counting the Cruiserweight due to the limitations of maintaining a weight of 205 pounds, NXT proper (since not many can go to the UK right now) realistically has three championships among it’s ranks. The NXT, The North American and Tag Team Championships and there are only two wrestlers with the title of NXT Triple Crown Champion, Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole.

With a fourth title to come into the mix, that might tempt the forever cocky Adam Cole to go for more gold or maybe even Johnny finds his Way to a championship reign. The ongoing saying since the attitude era is, “Everyone wants to be the next Shawn Michaels.” What better way then doing something that HBK did on then WWF programming and winning the four championships to make yourself the NXT Grand Slam Champion?

Those are my fun little ways to actually put eyes on the Million Dollar Championship. Often the “joke” championship, it can do a lot in the confines of NXT and make something out of nothing. Maybe I’m just being hopeful, maybe I’m just being a dummy (YEAHHHH!) but hey… we want to try to make wrestling exciting, right? Gotta do as our saying says. “Always Use Your Head.”

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

Extra, extra read all about it… Chairshot Staff picks are in!!!

Published

3 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)

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