Opinion
News From Cook’s Corner 11.8.21: Release
Cook touches on some of the bigger stories lately, a passing of classic wrestler and Twitter drama! Check it out!

Hi, hello & welcome to News From Cook’s Corner! It’s pretty amazing…I take a week off from this nonsense and everything just piles up! You got WWE releasing people, ROH releasing their entire roster, AEW folks taking time off…if this was the old days when sports printed transactions in their own section, you could have a whole page dedicated to wrestling transactions this week. Do sports pages still do that? I haven’t actually looked at one in years because I’m one of those dang millennials.
Since football didn’t happen over the weekend, we can skip right to the wrestling news & information you need to get through your day.
A Quarterly Tradition Unlike Any Other
Shayna Baszler injury angles for women are the equivalent to a Randy Orton insult for the men#wwereleases pic.twitter.com/3EaLLBYVOv
— 𝔾𝕒𝕣𝕪 ℍ (@garyh3k) November 5, 2021
WWE released their quarterly financial report last week and had their conference call to talk about how great everything was going. Let there be no doubt that things are going great for WWE financially. We online experts tend to focus on the merit of the product that the company produces. What nobody can deny is the fact that WWE knows how to make money.
What also can’t be denied is a trend that’s developed recently. Here’s how it goes: WWE releases their financial report & has a conference call where they talk about how much money they’re making and all the fun projects they have planned going forward. Shortly after that, we find out who’s getting released from the talent roster. This time, eighteen names were released into the ether, many of who were featured in NXT over the past couple of years. John Laurinaitas informed the roster that these were “budget cuts”, while sources told the Kellers, Sapps & Satins of the world all of the bad things about the people that got released.
Keith Lee, for example, had “attitude issues”. You know, I can’t imagine why Keith Lee might not have been the happiest camper over the past year or so. Maybe having serious health problems, being told to change your wrestling style because it’s not what the boss wants, and constantly having your presentation changed from week to week weighs on a person? For what it’s worth, Lee was just out here a week or two kissing Vince McMahon’s backside & talking about how neat it was having Vince be so involved in developing the “Bearcat” persona. But yeah, “attitude issues”, sure, ok whatever. Reports magically came out about Karrion Kross’s “backstage heat” as well. How about that? Again, shocking to believe that somebody presented the way Kross was from the moment he made the move to Raw wouldn’t be all sunshine & butterflies. Mia Yim & Scarlett were both released as well, to make sure everybody in their households were on the same page.
Both Lee & Kross were the victim of a poor transition from NXT to Raw. We’ve seen the changes to NXT lately, and hopefully for the new talents being brought in, one of the changes that will become evident in the future is a smoother transition from NXT to the main roster. However, if the treatment of B-Fab is any indication, where she was called up to SmackDown with Hit Row, reportedly signed a new contract, and was released in near-record time, it might not be wise to expect such a thing.
Perhaps the most surprising of the releases was Nia Jax. We’ve written about many of the issues surrounding her over the years, but assumed she was untouchable due to her familial connection with The Rock & Roman Reigns. Nia had been on a leave of absence to take care of her mental health, and had requested to extend that leave prior to her release. Pretty harsh.
Other notable releases included Franky Monet, Ember Moon, Oney Lorcan, Gran Metallik, Lince Dorado, Harry Smith & Eva Marie. Eva had taken time off to do a movie, unfortunately her second run with WWE wasn’t nearly as fruitful as her first.
There had been a report that the releases had something to do with the vaccination status of the wrestlers. Some of the wrestlers involved have refuted this claim, and given that the company is still owned by the McMahon family, I tend to dismiss the idea without much thought.
This is going to be a pretty regular thing. Dave Meltzer reported that most of the new talent (minus the top prospects) will be signed to sixty-day trial contracts to see how things go. It’s a different approach from what WWE did for most of the last decade, holding on to talent as long as they possibly could. It’s an overall shift from experienced pro wrestlers to hopeful stars. We’ll have to wait & see how it goes. In the meantime, WWE’s just added to the glut on the pro wrestling free agent wire.
Ring of Hiatus
LETS TEAR THIS MOTHAFUCKA DOWN ONE MORE TIME!!!https://t.co/jwCBXxNfJv#FinalBattle pic.twitter.com/YoBFKkPYqu
— DEM BOYS (@jaybriscoe84) November 5, 2021
ROH’s Final Battle event will be the last the company undertakes, at least until April 2022. Talent is being relased from their contracts at the end of the year, and they can start working for other promotions before Final Battle. The idea is to make changes to the business operations, come up with a new mission, strategy & presentation, and bring ROH back with live events starting on WrestleMania weekend with freelance talent.
Given Sinclair Broadcast Group’s recent problems (a ransomware attack stealing data and causing disruption to many of their stations, regional sports networks not providing the revenue hoped for, millions of dollars of debt), it’s easy to understand why their professional wrestling operation is being put on the backburner. Sinclair did right by ROH employees throughout 2020-21, keeping them on the payroll through the heaviest part of the pandemic & running shows in the safest manner possible. Unfortunately, these things didn’t lead to revenue, or a considerable amount of interest from wrestling fans.
I’ve been reviewing ROH’s weekly broadcast for 411mania, and while I’ve enjoyed a lot of what I’ve seen, there is a certain lack of energy without a live audience of some sort. The wrestlers really try. It just isn’t the same, as was noted when WWE & Impact Wrestling did their shows with no audience. I’ve also noticed that the comment section isn’t quite as active as it is for most of the TV recaps, and that can’t just be because the 411mania readers hate me. Granted, that’s part of it, but it isn’t the whole story.
Joe Koff, COO of ROH, swears that the company will be back. He has to do that, and I’m sure he believes what he’s saying. I can’t help but be skeptical, considering Sinclair’s financial issues & the general landscape. Sinclair stations already made a deal with the Women of Wrestling re-launch, so it’d be real easy to stick those shows in the ROH timeslots. Hope I’m wrong, as I would prefer there to be as many viable wrestling companies as possible, and many of my best wrestling memories involve Ring of Honor. Even if Sinclair’s Ring of Honor is different than the ROH of the 2000s in many ways, it’s still three letters that I have something of a connection with.
What can I say? I’m a wrestling romantic.
As for the talent involved, all we can hope is that they find good working situations. WWE would be much more of an option if Paul Levesque was still running NXT. He had a thing for signing ROH kids. Since he isn’t signing people anymore, I don’t see most of these people landing there. AEW probably has their eyes on some folks, as does Impact Wrestling. (A pity Danhausen is on the injured list, as he’d fit Impact’s television show like a glove.) Game Changer Wrestling has already started using some of ROH’s top talent like the Briscoes & Jonathan Gresham. PWG has been using ROH wrestlers for its entire existence and I doubt that’ll change. Then there’s some guys with NJPW deals that will keep working those Strong shows.
As for the video library, there’s been varying reports on it, but it doesn’t appear to be for sale at this time. They’ll probably be using the heck out of it for at least the next few months.
Not the Jon Moxley news I expected to be touching on.
Jon Moxley had a pretty big week planned. His autobiography was released, he was starting the process of moving back home to Cincinnati, along with his usual AEW responsibilities. Instead, he entered an inpatient alcohol treatment program, and will be out of action until further notice. From a purely business perspective, this takes one of AEW’s top draws off of the roster at a time where people are already making note of television ratings & other metrics that may or may not be trending in AEW’s favor. One can wonder how the lack of Mox will affect things.
From a more human perspective, which I try to present here from time to time in spite of my inability to function as a normal human, one hopes that Moxley is able to defeat his demons & become the type of person he wants to be. That’s all one can hope for here, as a happy & healthy Jon Moxley is a great thing for professional wrestling. What Moxley is battling is certainly something I can relate to, and I wish him the best.
We Are Here For Trolls Getting Owned.
Mike Tyson had one of the most accurate quotes of recent memory when he stated the following: “Social media made y’all way too comfortable with disrespecting people and not getting punched in the face for it”. Can anybody argue against this? Shit-talking clowns have always been a part of life, one look at some of the letters Hank Aaron got while chasing Babe Ruth’s home run record will tell you that. Social media has given these people a wider platform to display their idiocy. It’s never been easier to put public figures on blast, and more & more of these delinquents seem to think that there shouldn’t be consequences for their actions.
It’s about time some of these people got what they had coming to them, am I right? Ulysses Diaz, bare knuckle boxer/MMA fighter/fiance of Dana Brooke, got arrested this week for something that I would claim is anything but a crime: showing up at an Internet troll’s house and punching him in the mouth. Dude went all Jay & Silent Bob on this fool.
Unfortunately we don’t have any details on what this troll said, whether he was going after Diaz himself or his fiance. I’ve seen some people write some vile things about Dana Brooke & her wrestling ability, and I wouldn’t blame Diaz for punching them in the face either. Fuck around & find out, as the kids say.
Then there’s Lince Dorado and one of the folks that regularly attend NXT shows. I’m sure most of you are familiar with Izzy, in fact, I’m sure most of you are more familiar with her than I am. She was a big fan of Bayley, dressing up like her at most NXT events during that time period. Turns out now she’s trying to get into the business, and her parents are very supportive of the endeavor. Some people are a bit weirded out by it, since America isn’t one of those places where pro wrestlers start at a very young age. You won’t see any Ice Ribbbon-type promotions featuring pre-teenage girls here. Different sensibilities for different cultures.
Izzy wanted to start young though, and her parents are all about it. She’s found people willing to work with her and has done some things for public consumption. A clip online of her taking a chokeslam a couple of years back when she wasn’t in high school yet drew a ton of online criticism from folks in the business. Her parents were very active online and had those rabbit ears where they heard everybody that had anything to say about what their daughter was up to. They’ve done what they can to get at those folks, including the good kids of MSK, who get booed at NXT shows by Izzy’s parents and their friends. Lince was another critic of Izzy’s, and her mom & dad took a particular delight in his being released on Friday.
Lince’s response was to invite Izzy’s dad to meet him in person to continue their discussion. This led to Izzy’s dad posting an apology, as even though he might be a jerkoff, he also knows that pretty much any wrestler with any kind of training could wipe the floor with him. As it turned out, Dorado had entered a Brazilian ju-jitsu tournament, which he won, and planned on dealing with Izzy’s dad afterwards.
It’s a shame Lince Dorado never got to do anything this interesting on television. I’m more invested in him now than I ever have been. As for Izzy’s dad, for the sake of his daughter’s future in the wrestling business I hope he stays far away from social media. He also might want to stay away from NXT shows, in case those MSK kids get any ideas from Lince Dorado or Ulysses Diaz. I don’t know if they’re as legitimate as those guys, but they could probably handle Izzy’s dad.
Angelo
Thanks and goodbye, Angie.#RememberingMosca pic.twitter.com/k2cOKaXlrq
— x – Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats) November 6, 2021
We close by noting the passing of Angelo Mosca at the age of 84. Mosca was one of many in his era that made the transition from football to wrestling. He was known as the meanest player in the Canadian Football League, spending most of his Hall of Fame career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Eddie Quinn, promoter of the Montreal territory, brought him into wrestling during his football career, and he would wrestle during the off-season because people did that back then.
Mosca was typically a heel during his career, including during a stint with the WWF in the early 1980s where he would regularly challenge Bob Backlund for the WWF Championship or Pedro Morales for the Intercontinental Championship. He also feuded with Pat Patterson after Patterson insulted him while working as a commentator.
While Mosca didn’t win any gold in the WWF, he was a title holder pretty much everywhere else he went. Mosca held championships in the AWA, San Francisco, Florida, Georgia, Toronto, Mid-Atlantic, Stampede & Puerto Rico. As wrestlers & football players found out over the years, King Kong wasn’t one to be trifled with.
That’s all for now! Looks like we’ll have some AEW Full Gear Gambling Picks to make this week in addition to the usual NFL shenanigans. Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.
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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.

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
For the latest, greatest and up to datest in coverage, opinions, and podcasts ALWAYS #UseYourHead and visit TheCharishot.com
Prowrestlingtees.com/TheChairshot plenty of GREAT t-shirt designs! Makes an awesome gift!!
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!
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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
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Patrick O’Dowd’s 5X5
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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!
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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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

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.
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!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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