Opinion

NXT Minus 6: The End of an Era, Part II

Brad continues to reminisce as we turn off the lights on the old NXT as NXT 2.0 takes over.

Published

4 years ago

September 16, 2021

Brad Abel

The last three years of NXT have been the most fun I’ve had watching wrestling since the Attitude Era. Let’s look back and remember when NXT was the Black & Gold Standard of professional wrestling. Here is the best of the best.

WWE Cruiserweight Classic Results - 8/3/16 (Johnny Gargano vs. Tommaso Ciampa closes first round) -

6. Best Rivalry: Tommaso Ciampa versus Johnny Gargano Years from now when colleges offer courses on professional wrestling, they will use this rivalry to illustrate how to tell a long term story. From their first match in the Cruiserweight Tournament to their reunion match against Mustache Mountain, everything was perfect. It produced three MOTY candidates and turned Tommaso Ciampa into one of the best heels of the last 20 years. It was all so good, I won’t even let the debacle of One Final Beat tarnish what they created.

NXT TakeOver: WarGames II Results – Nov. 17, 2018 – Ricochet, Dunne, War Raiders vs. Undisputed Era – TPWW

5. Best Takeover: War Games II The mantra of NXT was always “less is more.” It makes sense that the best Takeover only had four matches. I’m not counting Matt Riddle versus Kassius Ohno. Tommaso Ciampa versus Velveteen Dream and Aleister Black versus Johnny Gargano were both MOTY candidates. If not for the overbooked ending, Kairi Sane versus Shayna Baszler would have been a MOTY candidate. The War Games match itself was a glorious car crash with action from start to finish. Less is more, and War Games II is the most.

Aleister Black def. Johnny Gargano | WWE

4. Best Match: Aleister Black versus Johnny Garagno, War Games II People talk about being moved to tears by a piece of music or a painting. When this match was over, I had tears in my eyes. I couldn’t believe two wrestlers could tell a story so good with such flawless execution. There were at least four spots I thought someone legit lost their teeth or their consciousness. Black Mass is one of my favorite finishers, and the one to end this match might be the best that Black ever hit. I give this match 6 stars, and I stand by that.

10 best matches of the Women's Evolution: photos | WWE

3. Best Female Match: Sasha Banks versus Bayley, Takeover Brooklyn I This is the match that introduced me to NXT and rekindled my love of wrestling. There are other matches just as good in terms of physical execution. However, nothing can touch these characters, the story, the moment, the historical impact of this masterpiece. Its importance to wrestling, not just women’s wrestling, cannot be overstated. If you aren’t a fan of this match, you aren’t a wrestling fan.

Shayna Baszler makes her NXT in-ring debut tonight on WWE Network - YouTube

2. Best Female Wrestler: Shayna Baszler The easy answer is undefeated Asuka. In my opinion, Baszler is the pioneer. She brought a tough, gritty reality to the ring that previously wasn’t there. Her feud with Kairi Sane is one of the best in NXT history. Her feud with Io Shirai gave us arguably the best women’s cage match in WWE history. Even her lesser feuds with Ember Moon, Dakota Kai and Nikki Cross gave us great matches and moments. The Queen of Spades was pure evil. Long live the Queen.

WWE NXT TakeOver recap: Johnny Gargano finally reaches the top of the mountain

1. Best Male Wrestler: Johnny Gargano Garagno is NXT. He went from unsigned walk-on in a random tag team to the main event. He was such a whitebread babyface we thought he couldn’t be anything else. He became the Chris Jericho of NXT. Everything he did got over. Weasel heel. Overprotective father. Cocky bastard. Wearing headbands. Snapping pencils. No look high fives. It all worked for the Wednesday Knight, the Heart and Soul of NXT, Johnny Takeover, Johnny Freaking Wrestling. Maybe he is destined to be Crash Davis. I don’t care. He is without question the best wrestler ever to come through NXT.

Kevin Owens shocks WWE Universe with NXT return: TakeOver: WarGames (WWE Network Exclusive) - YouTube
Bonus: My Favorite NXT Moment, Kevin Owens at War Games III I was at this show. After War Games ended, Owens left the ring without his team. I thought that was odd, so I kept my eye on him. He walked up the ramp and kissed the NXT logo on the stage backdrop, then took a bow with his team. This simple, almost unnoticed gesture says a lot about a man who could main event any promotion in the world. It says just as much about what the Black and Gold standard means to the wrestlers who made it the best wrestling on the planet.

No matter what happens moving forward, we are lucky we had this NXT for as long as we did.

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NXT Minus 6: Good bye

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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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Classic POD is WAR

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About Chairshot Radio Network

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

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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