Opinion

AJ’s WrestleMania 38 Sunday Results & Review

It’s WrestleMania Sunday, and AJ Balaz continues his diligent duties with another special Results & Review!

Published

3 years ago

April 4, 2022

Adam Balaz

WWE WrestleMania 38 Roman Reigns Double Champ

It’s WrestleMania Sunday, and AJ Balaz continues his diligent duties with another special Results & Review!

Alright. The first day was full of fun and a bunch of surprises but we still have some big matches going on with Edge and Styles, McAfee showing if he can beat Austin Theory and of course the massive Main Event, Winner Take All. Reigns and Lesnar for one more WrestleMania Main event.

Results:

The Street Profits vs Alpha Academy vs RK-Bro(c) for the RAW Tag Team Championship: RK-Bro wins via RKO – *** TITLE DEFENSE!!

Omos vs Bobby Lashley – Lashley wins via Spear: ** ¾

Anything Goes: Sami Zayn vs Johnny Knoxville: Johnny Knoxville wins via Literal Mouse Trap Cover – **** (It was fun. It was stupid. Don’t you judge me. That’s Andrew’s job)

Rhea & Liv vs Naomi & Sasha vs Shayna & Natalya vs Zelina & Carmella (c) for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Naomi & Sasha Banks win via Codebreaker/Facebuster Combo – ** ¾ –TITLE CHANGE!!!!

Edge vs AJ Styles: Edge wins via Spear – *** ¾

Sheamus & Ridge Holland (w/ Butch) vs The New Day: Ridge wins via Northern Grit – *

Pat McAfee vs Austin Theory: Pat McAfee wins via School Boy Roll Up – *** ¼

Pat McAfee vs Vince McMahon: Vince wins via Onside Kick – N/A (Entertaining but N/A)

Winner Take All: Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar for the Unified World Championship: Reigns wins via Spear – *** ¾ TITLES UNIFIED!!!!!!

Review:

We start the show off, not with a match but the Game, The King of Kings showing up to give a Thank You to all of the fans and welcoming everyone to WrestleMania leaving the boots in the ring before our first match comes to happen.

The Street Profits vs Alpha Academy vs RK-Bro-

Riddle, Ford and Gable are the three to start and beat Gable out of the ring and all hell breaks loose as everyone each other out of the ring and we get Gable and Ford as the last two and Ford takes out everyone with a Tope over the corner and Gable takes the pile down with a Moonsault to the outside. Alpha Academy gets the tag in and takes out Riddle with Otis the legal man now and continues the assault on Riddle. The Academy goes to take care of business on Riddle until Ford comes in and becomes Gable’s target until Ford gets the tag into Angelo Dawkins and gets the hot tag in until Otis tags himself in and breaks a tag from Dawkins and Riddle claws to reach Randy and finally does.

Randy comes in at the right time, taking it to Montez Ford to the outside, Back Suplexing Ford and one for Gable as well as he comes back into the ring and both Riddle and Orton hit Hangman DDT’s. As RK Bro coil up, Alpha Academy pull the champs out of the ring and take out The Street Profits to take them apart with the Steiner Bulldog to the Profits and after more fighting, The Profits hit a Electric Chair/ Blockbuster and almost puts it away before Riddle hits an RKO to Montez Ford to stop his victory and Randy RKO’s Gable to get the victory.

Aftermath: The Profits come in, hand a Red Cup to RK-Bro and invite Gable Steveson to the ring for a solo cup and Chad Gable slaps it out of his hand, does his stupid shuuuuuush before getting some Gable on Gable violence.

Omos vs Bobby Lashley-

Lashley tries for a kick and Omos blocks it and hits some clubbing forearms to knock him down and Lashley tries to come back but gets dominated over and over again, even attempting to try to overpower Omos but failing. The only way Lashley gets the better of Omos is to step out of the way and get some strength in but each time he gets the edge, Omos gets the stength and stops Lashley’s attempts. Even as Lashley gets beaten down each time, he comes back with something up his sleeve and even gets a suplex on Omos. He spears the giant in the back to take him down again and delivers another to finish it off and take down the giant with one more Spear.

Johnny Knoxville vs Sami Zayn:

Sami starts off with a Helluva Kick and tosses Knoxville in the barricade in front of the Jackass crew and Sami investigates a little bit and gets sprayed with Fire Extinguisher and Sami gets back and hits Johnny with a cookie sheet, a crutch and trash can as Sami gets a nearfall and gets more weapons out. Sami gets more weapons out, even a Mouse Trapped Table and Knoxville grabs two trash can lids to play the symbols between the head of Sami. Johnny sets up the table in the corner and gets instantly reversed and we get some fun started with the Jackass crew and Ponis distracts Zayn until Knoxville goes for a roll up and a nearfall. Sami kicks the Partyboy under the rign and gets absolute shit kicks out of him by Wee Man, getting punched over and over and even gets fucking body slammed by Wee Man but Sami kicks him out of the ring.

Knoxville starts to get some Jackass props in, rolling a bowling ball to the nuts, kick to the nuts… the giant hand and even a tazer to the nuts as Sami Zayn goes into the Mouse Trap Table before pulling a giant mouse trap and gets the victory over Sami Zayn.

Rhea & Liv vs Naomi & Sasha vs Shayna & Natalya vs Zelina & Carmella-

Rhea and Sasha start it off with a test of Strength and after Sasha fails, they go for each others finishers for a bit until Liv tags in and the others come in to take apart the girls on the apron and Liv and Sasha go to do dueling Suicide Dives to take the match to just get it to a One on One. This match goes all over with tags, finishers and everything good and fun. Even got two Tower of Doom spots back to back is perfectly but the finish was the special moment because as Naomi and Sasha get frequent tags in to take down Carmella and we get new tag team champions and the first win at Mania for Sasha Banks.

Edge vs AJ Styles-

AJ starts to rush Edge but, Edge ducks out to play mind games with Aj before getting a Colalr and Elbow in and backs Edge into the corner, going for a wild strike and goes back to a collar and elbow but both are even until AJ gets the drop down into the Dropkick to take Edge down but Edge keeps it with the mind games and dodges each other’s move after a while, dodging a Clash and Spear before getting back to zero.

Edge starts again with the strikes and countering each other’s moves yet again until Styles gets a sliding knee onto Edge on the outside, beating him down until AJ takes Edge to the ring again, setting up a 450 Springboard and lands into the knees of Edge, taking over and beating Styles down, targeting the ribs of Styles. Styles able to escape an abdominal stretch and gets some form of an escape as Edge grabs Styles for a Shoulder Breaker and takes the control back but hurting his leg further as Styles attempts to get something but misses a wild charge at Edge and eats the Corner Turnbuckle and Edge goes to prop a Superplex but Styles blocks it into a Suplex and starts to attack Edge quickly, getting blood flow back into Styles’ arm but Edge keeps going for the shoulder and ribs as Edge regains the control and takes some form of control but Styles blocks an apron attack and does a burst like DDT and attempts to go to the top and blocks whatever attempt AJ has but Styles fights back and lands a Torture Rack Powerbomb for a nearfall. Edge pops up after the Ushiguroshi but Edge floats over and hits the Edge-O-Cution to take AJ down.

Edge goes for a few strikes and AJ catches him with a German Suplex off a rebound and they get to a slug fest which AJ gets the better of the fight and Pele kicks Edge, going for a Calf Crusher now but Edge rolls out more and lands another Crossface to stop Styles and regains the tempo of the match and go to the apron. Edge looks to do something to the floor from the top rope but Styles comes in and stops it and AJ superplexes Edge on the apron, gets back in and actually lands the Superman 450 to get yet another nearfall. Styles readies the Phenomenal Forearm but misses. Edge runs to hit the spear but also misses into Styles hitting a Styles Clash for YET ANOTHER NEAR FALL.

Aj goes to set up another Phenomenal Forearm but, Damien Priest pops up to catch Styles off guard and Styles gets his Forearm caught with a Spear and a victory for this new Demonic Embrace.

Sheamus & Ridge Holland vs The New Day:

The pub lackeys jump The New Day instantly and pull Xavier out of the ring and the bell finally rings. Kofi hits the Trouble in Paradise, trying to get an early victory. Shaemus pulls Ridge out and Butch starts going insane to distract The New Day and… does surprisingly. Sheamus hits a Brogue Kick to stop Xavier, Ridge goes and hits a Northern Grit (Emerald Flowsion).

Pat McAfee vs Austin Theory-

Pat McAfee knocks the teeth out the little punk at least four time until Theory cheap shots Pat and takes McAfee dahn. Theory tosses Pat into the corner for Pat to dodge it, hitting a leaping European Uppercut like Shane and land a damn good Hurricanrana for a nearfall. Theory comes back and backbreaks McAfee and takes McAfee dahntan with more attacks to the lower back. As the match continues, the crowd starts to come alive for Pat and does actually get a reversal on a Suplex to stun Austin Theory. Theory gets up with the rope and rocked to the outside as McAfee grabs a headset and announces his own match and bounces Austin Theory’s head off the announce table.

As the match goes back to the ring, Pat takes too much time to the rope, going for a Swantahn Bomb but misses it. Theory goes to the top this time and Pat catches him, attempting the Superplex and Theory pushed him off, McAfee backflips off and box jumps up to land the Superplex. Pat gets a nearfall and goes to finish it with a Punt but Austin Theory starts to hit harder and goes for the A- TownDown but McAfee reverses it to take Theory dahn for the 1-2-3.

Aftermath: Pat celebrates and calls Vince into the ring and Vince tears the suit off, peeling the tie off and gets the shirt off with the Black Muscle Shirt. The match looks to start before Theory attacks Pat’s before the bell rings.

Vince McMahon vs Pat McAfee-

Vince lands two clotheslines and takes Pat down in the corner now too as Vince wipes his hands and smiles. Pat gets up every time, telling Vince lets go before Theory pulls Pat’s legs out and has him hit the post. Vince toys him, kicks over and over as Theory gets a football and has Vince parade around with it before punting the football into Pat’s ribs as Vince gets the pin. Pat should have enjoyed the first half and knew the second half would have been bad… y’know… like against the Saints.

Aftermath: Austin comes to the ring and we all know Austin can’t enjoy a McMahon’s success as Theory tries to attack Austin but gets hit with punches and Stunner. Vince realizes what is going on and Austin asks for some brews… and Vince doesn’t remember everytime Stone Cold hands him a beer and stuns McMahon (poorly… you take the move for 25 years and never can take it right). Pat is invited into the ring and drink some beers For The Stone Cold IPA Brand before getting kicked in the gut and takes by far the greatest Stone Cold Stunner sell I have ever fucking seen.

Roman Reigns vs Brock Lesnar-

Lesnar starts to undo his gloves and hamemrs away on the back of Roman, getting him to the corner and keeps beating the hell out of Roman, goes for a German Suplex but Roman slips out and lands three Belly to Belly Suplexes before lariating Roman out of the ring and following him out but hunts down Heyman for a good amount of time until Roman spears Lesnar through the barricade and Roman rolls back into the ring. Lesnar comes into the ring at the count of 9 and Reigns gets speared for a near fall. Roman goes to the corner and loads up for the Superman Punch and connects two suplex and the third gets countered into five German Suplexes until he takes Roman up for an F5 until he catches the third Superman Punch before readying the Spear, caught into the F5 and gets a nearfall. Lesnar picks Roman up for another but, rakes Brock’s eyes and spears Lesnar into the ref, setting up the championship title hit. Reigns wakes up the ref in time to get another nearfall. Roman gets himself back hyped and bounces off the ropes to spears Lesnar to the back and goes for the pin but Brock grabs the ropes. Roman goes for another spear but Lesnar catches the spear and has Reigns in the Kimora Lock. Paul Heyman comes to push the ropes into Reigns’ hand. Heyman pleas to get up and fight back and Lesnar gets one more F5 countered to get speared for us to acknowledge the Unified Champion.

Final Thoughts:

This was insanely entertaining and lived up to the hype that it was given so let’s run it down. Sasha and Vince are both no longer winless at WrestleMania with tonight, Edge seems to be getting some form of a New Brood going, Triple H introduces us to Mania with his boots in the ring, signifying that he is officially retired and McAfee lived his dream because if you tell me that whole thing wasn’t Pat being the happiest person ever in the world, you can find me in a canal with my phone dead with water damage and somehow Six-Hundred Dollars in my pocket with FuBu clothing.

This just goes to show that wrestling in 1999 reigns supreme. Cmon… Stone Cold wrestles one night and stuns a McMahon, Triple H, Undertaker and celebrity matches are some of the better matches on the card along with a Samoan coming out on top with the Main Championship? That’s 1999 in a nutshell. Great two nights, I might… I don’t know. The Newsies coming out over the New Day and the fustercluck of a Women’s Tag kind of saturated how good this night was compared to the other. I’ll give them equally 7 out of 10s.

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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 weeks 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

For the latest, greatest and up to datest in coverage, opinions, and podcasts ALWAYS #UseYourHead and visit TheCharishot.com

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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

3 weeks 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.