Opinion

AJ’s WWE WrestleMania 38 Night 1 Results & Review

The greatest spectacle known to professional wrestling has returned… AJ’s back to reviewing shows and what better show to write about than WrestleMania!!!

Published

3 years ago

April 3, 2022

Adam Balaz

The greatest spectacle known to professional wrestling has returned for two nights… AJ’s back to reviewing shows and what better show to write about than WrestleMania!!!

We have the first night with some surprises in Seth Rollins’ opponent tonight, some championship matches obviously going on and a whole lot more to kick off the first night of Mania so let’s get started to see everything that will go on for Saturday.

Results:

Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs vs The Usos (c) for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship: The Usos win via 1D – ** ½ – TITLE DEFENSE!!
Drew McIntyre vs Happy Corbin (w/ Madcap Moss): Drew McIntyre wins via Claymore Kick – ** ¾
Los Mysterios vs The Miz and Logan Paul: Miz and Logan Paul win with Skull Crushing Finale – *** ¼
Bianca Belair vs Becky Lynch (c) for the RAW Women’s Championship: Bianca Belair wins via Kiss of Death – *** ¾ – TITLE CHANGE!!!!!!
Seth Rollins vs ???: ??? wins with “The Queen’s Crossbow” – ****
Ronda Rousey vs Charlotte Flair (c) for the Smackdown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair wins via Big Boot – ** – TITLE DEFENSE!!
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Kevin Owens- Stone Cold wins via Stunner – *** 1/6

Review:

Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs vs The Usos-

Shinsuke starts off hot with some Enziuris and some Good Vibrations but the Usos get the first tag and change the pace to take apart Shinsuke’s momentum after his quick burst. Nakamura gets put in a grounded sleeper and after breaking out of it, Boogs gets a hot tag and takes it to a newly tagged Jey Uso and Boogs shows his strength against Jey and almost gets a pinfall from a hesitation Suplex.

Rick has Jey in a Fireman’s Carry and Jimmy tries to stop Boogs from doing anything as Boog’s knee buckles and it’s a 2 on 1. Shinsuke gets another fire in him and looks to win with a Kinshasa but gets caught to a Superkick and Splash. Shinsuke gets a small attack again but the numbers are too much and the Usos win with a 1D and the retain the Smackdown Tag Team Championships.

Drew McIntyre vs Happy Corbin:

McIntyre starts off hot but Corbin tries to go blow for blow with Drew but Drew gets the upperhand, getting him out of the ring even as he takes over. After some damage to the outside, Corbin comes back a little and takes him back into the ring to take Drew McIntyre down and has been taking over, taking it to McIntyre’s neck and knee.

Madcap accidentally gets in the way of Corbin’s assault as he goes for a third strike when Drew was down and McInytre gets the momentum back, taking it to Happy and hitting some hard hits until a Claymore attempt gets countered into a Deep Six and a nearfall. Corbin goes to chokeslam Drew but to no avail as the Scotsman gets back and readies another Claymore until Moss pulls Corbin out of the ring. We have to remember though, he’s a Scottish Psychopath and he does a Tope to take both Corbin and Moss down. As Corbin goes back into the ring, Drew goes for another move from the top and with a quick exchange and lands the End Of Days. Good night. One… Two… Thr—Drew kicked out of the End of Days… DREW KICKED OUT OF THE END OF DAYS?!

Corbin is beside himself and rages. This is the first person to EVER kick out of the End of Days… and the Lucky Streak of Corbin and hits a Claymore to get the win.”

Los Mysterios vs The Miz and Logan Paul:

As a Pokemon fan, I respect the necklace and the drip but… It’s still Logan Paul so mehhhhhh.

MIz and Paul actually taking it to the Mysterios very effectively, taking down Dominic often as the frequent tags to knock down Dominick and they look good. Hell, Logan actually hit one of my favorite flying moves in wrestling with a Blockbuster. After too much wasted time, Dom gets the tag into his dad after some separation and is a house of fire, taking out The Miz and hits everything in his bag of tricks and after a Splash and nearfall, Logan Paul comes in to break it up and even with the possible two on one, Dom comes back in to stop the duo and takes them down. Miz gets a separation and tags Logan Paul in.

Logan Paul pulls off the Three Amigos onto Rey and even a Frog Splash to him for a nearfall as Dom breaks it up. Dom gets mad and wants to take it to Logan Paul but Miz tags himself to confuse the Mysterios and as Logan Paul gets the Double 619 and back to back Frog Splashes, Miz comes in to take out Dom and lands the Skull Crushing Finale on Rey to steal the win.

Aftermath: Sadly for Logan though, there is only one spotlight and it’s Miz’s Spotlight and Skull Crushing Finale to end the match.

Bianca Belair vs Becky Lynch-

And for the first different/special entrances, Bianca gets… a marching band? I mean… okay. There have been worse but, they played well. It kind of works. I don’t hate it persay, plus they are playing Bianca’s theme song so… 6/10.

Bianca tried to be cute and use the SummerSlam way Becky won before and landing the Manhandle Slam for a two count and snapping as Becky lands a bunch of strikes and pins to try to win fast and failing as Bianca comes into the match and starts some offence as Becky keeps going for early wins. Becky tries big move after big move, and Bianca has a response after that, even attempting her own Dis-Arm-Her, neither getting a massive advantage until they go outside and Becky gets it with a whip into the steps and proceeds to take it to the challenger in and out of the ring. Becky has the match all to herself until Bianca overpowers Becky in a Dis-Arm-Her and they go outside after and the match changes tides, Bianca showing the quickness and power of her and takes it to the champion. Getting a few nearfalls of her own with the Handspring Moonsault and more feats of strength but she tries to keep going with another big move to the top but Becky comes in, to stop her but Bianca gets a counter into stop her and goes back to the ropes to land a 450 from the Middle Rope for yet another nearfall.

Bianca tries too much in the ropes as Becky rolls away and hits a top rope Cannonball for a nearfall of her own but we are back to Square One as each women go back and forth between them. As Bianca gets the advantage, she hits a KOD, launching Becky out and after being roll back in, she rolls out and baits Bianca, using the hair as a weapon against Bianca and hitting a Manhandle Slam to the steps, getting a 9 count. Once Belair comes in, she baits Becky herself this time, back flipping out of the Manhandle Slam and landing the Kiss of Death to win the RAW Women’s Championship from the one that ruined her first Women’s Championship Reign.

Seth Rollins vs ???

Some pyro goes off. Lights darken and we are reminded… Wrestling has more than one Royal Family. CODY RHODES IS BACK!!!

They stare each other down in the middle of the ring and start it up with a traditional Collar and Elbow tie up and the ball gets rolling as they figure each other out and Cody just shows his ring IQ and proves he can still go and he’s not just a load of Dynamite. Seth gets a cheap shot in as Cody then rushes him, gets caught together and they suplex each other. We go back into the ring after some form of balance, Cody shows his technical skills again but Seth gets the comeback for a bit, targeting the ribs of Cody but to no avail for a bit, taking over again and taking Rollins out to the ringside and hits the Suicide Dive.

Cody brings the match back into the ring, hitting a… very awkward Moonsault to take Rollins down but gets two after that as Seth powders out and catches Cody Rhodes with a Buckle Bomb into the Barricade and goes back in to take the control back to damage Cody, beating him down to ready the Stomp but dodges it twice and hits a Cross Rhodes to Rollins but for another nearfall as he ascends to the top again and gets caught by Rollins as Rhodes fights off Rollins at first but Rollins comes in to hit a Reverse Superplex and lifted inverted DDT but to a nearfall of his own. Rollins goes for a Phoenix Splash but misses as they go to play the counter game for a Pedigree and Cody gets the advantage in it for a Butterfly Bomb and lands a Springboard Corner Cutter for yet another near fall. Rollins kicks Rhodes in the stomach from the nearfall and lands a Pedigree, also a nearfall and we are back to zero.

Cody gets the fight back into him and starts a comeback but Rollins catches him with kicks over and over but as Seth gets cocky, possibly going for a V Trigger knowing Rollins but, gets hit by two Cross Rhodes before he stands Rollins up, Flip, Flop and Fly and lands the Third Cross Rhodes to take down Rollins.

Ronda Rousey vs Charlotte Flair-

Ronda uses her MMA background to get an advantage and the ref separates them the ropes and Ronda gets annoyed and sucker punches Ronda over and over but Rousey actually tries to hold her own with the grapples and targeting the arm constantly for the armbar but Charlotte gets the control back each time, taking down Rousey’s attempts to holds as the fight is continued outside of the ring and Flair picks apart her opponent in the ring again, holding her down and quells any attempt of a comeback the Ronda has. Ronda gets a quick burst of offense in, even getting a nearfall but the cunning of Charlotte is too much until we see Ronda hit a Tornado Flatliner and takes the control of the match back as she takes down to pull the arm out of Flair and after some trash talking, Charlotte spears Ronda to break that offense of Flair’s.

Charlotte sizes up for a Natural Selection, getting caught into more arm drags but Charlotte comes back to the offense and lights Rousey up, getting a moonsault out as Flair takes over for a bit but, Ronda showing that she has more wrestling knowledge and even starts taking Charlotte for a fight while in a tree of woe and does a super Arm Drag to Charlotte to maybe damage the arm more, hitting her Swinging Samoan Drop and a possible Armbar but Charlotte grab the ropes, boots Ronda away and we are even yet again.

As more fighting back and forth, each woman setting for an Ankle Lock, Ronda catches Charlotte into the bottom corner, catching a second wind now as she tries to get the Flying Armbar started but Flair is too strong and powerbombs her down to get another nearfall. Ronda catches Charlotte and goes for an armbar but Charlotte counters to a Figure Four, that gets countered into a Grapevined Ankle Lock and Charlotte breaks it up with her long legs. Charlotte gets the Figure 8 in after countering an Armbar and somehow breaks out of the Figure 8 into an Inverted Deathlock as Ronda goes to the outside and Charlotte follows, attempting a moonsault but Ronda catches her with an armdrag to the outside. Ronda gets her bearings and gets caught to get an Exploder into the barricade.

The fight gets back into the ring and Ronda catches Charlotte in another Piper’s Pit and gets a three count but the referee sees the foot on the ropes and calls it off. The match goes on and there is a struggle for power, Charlotte hits a Natural Selection and goes for another Figure 4 but Ronda kicks her off into the referee and Ronda lands the Flying Armbar and notices the ref is down once Charlotte taps out. She goes to wake up the referee and gets a massive cheap shot with a boot and Flair retains.

The KO Show kicks off with a “We Want Austin” and KO starts to trash talk Texas a little bit until he introduces Stone Cold to the ring, insulting him prior to it thinking he won’t show up and thinks Stone Cold will just take the beating as we hear the glass shatter. 3:16 shirt on, jorts and the knee pa—knee pads… short wrestling boots? He walks back to gorilla and… here comes the ATV! He makes his normal salute to the fans, kicking down to KO Show posters and easels out of the way his entrance before KO cuts him off, saying it’s his show before Stone Cold decides to walk over and Owens starts to tell him what to do which the world knows… Stone Cold doesn’t take orders. He does sit shortly and starts to say that he is not here for a conversation as he runs down that he isn’t here just for talks. Kevin Owens starts to shit talk Texas again saying that everything is stupid and they should just move. Austin tells him that the world will call him an asshole and Kevin again makes another thing about why Canada is better and Owens says he lied to Austin and said he only did this because he is looking for a fight and CHALLENGES AUSTIN FOR A MATCH AND NOT JUST ANY TYPE OF MATCH, A NO HOLD BARRED MATCH!

Austin looks out, mean mugging the camera as Owens starts more shit talking saying Austin knows he is scared to fight KO and tells him to get out of the ring and go back to his ranch but Austin stares Owens down, the crowd on his back as Stone Cold speaks saying his first match was in Dallas and his possible last match could be in Dallas so he shouts, “If you want Stone Cold in a match give him a hell yeah!”

Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Kevin Owens-

They eye each other up and shit talk each other before they tee off and trade punches into the corner for Kevin Owens and getting a Mudhole Stomping down and flipping him off after, whipping him into the ropes, even asking for a beer to pour on KO and stomps yet another Mudhole in the sum-a-bitch and goes to the outside of the ring, getting another beer and lighting Owens up again with a Lariat and off the barricade. Stone Cold thinks things are coming up but he reverse a whip attempt into the post and starts to get the momentum and beating down Stone Cold with punches, the easel from the show and bringing out a table on the outside as Kevin tries to whip him into it and Austin goes through table but Austin reverses, putting Owens through the table and then over the barricade.

Watch close if you see @TheRealCPlatt because they are in the crowd and Kevin Owens reverses a Suplex on concrete to get something going for him in this pit of snakes with the crowd but Austin still fights back, shot after shot though, KO gets the better of him until Austin catches Owens on the barricade and tosses him on the table and grabs two more beers, chugs them down and begins a nice ground and pound beat down on the announce table. Grabs another beer, drinks yet another beer, spits some in KO’s face and gets him back into the ring. Owens tried to powder out and bait Austin into an attack on the ropes and gets it, trying to escape on the ATV. Austin gets out and starts beating up KO, driving the ATV to the top of the stage and suplexes KO on the stage, bounces his head off the ATV, goes to the other side for yet another Suplex.

Stone Cold tosses KO down the stage ramp, beating him down and taking him back to the ring, grabs two more beers, drinks both down as KO sees the amount of time taken and hits a Stunner on SCSA and only getting a two count. KO gets frustrated and grabs a steel chair, swings it and it bounces off the ropes, hits him in the head and Stone Cold goes up and flips him off and stuns him for one more Mania victory.

Aftermath: What do you think the aftermath is from a Stone Codl Steve Austin moment? Chug down them Steveweisers, Stone Cold IPAs, get that sum-a-bitch out of Stone Cold’s ring and that’s the Bottom Line cause Stone Cold said so. Oh and Bryon Saxton gets a stunner too.

Final Thoughts:

Okay… I was thoroughly impressed with Night One.

I noticed that something might have gone on too long and we lost New Day, Sheamus and Ridge but eh… its fine. Bianca gets her title off of Becky, Seth got his moment turned into a Nightmare, Charlotte proved why she is the Queen of all WWE and I never thought I would ever review a Stone Cold match but here I am. Day One of WrestleMania, WrestleMania Saturday, whatever they want to call it was damn good with some duds here and there but we have another day folks. I can’t just over shadow the next day. With that being said, you WILL see a Day Two out of the Trickster of Chairshot and I can guarantee that.

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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

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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.