Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
My Qualifications, Vince Russo, Samoa Joe & More
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. We’re looking for websites and groups to be a part of so if you’d like to add the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A to your site, give me a shout and we’ll see what we can make happen. It’s time to grow and expand. I’m Doug, your resident Party Host and Guiding Light. Are you ready to do this? Let’s roll.

Do you think WWE didn’t realize how popular Joe Hendry was? He got one of the biggest pop’s in NXT history then got eliminated with zero showing in the battle royal. To me, it seems, they had no idea what they had at the time.

Or maybe the decision to include Hendry was last minute and they wanted to gauge his reaction with the WWE/NXT fans without changing the already-made plans for the Battle Royal. Whether they did or didn’t know just how much Hendry is over, they do now and can prepare appropriately for future appearances. We haven’t seen the last of Joe Hendry in WWE/NXT.

Do you think that the chances of an annual Starrcade PLE are more likely under Triple H as Booker and Cody as Champ?

For NXT, possibly. As for using the Starcade name on a WWE PLE, it’s probably more of a possibility under the Paul Levesque era, but I still wouldn’t hold my breath.

Wahoo McDaniel versus GUNTHER. Who wins?

Both men would have chests that looked like raw hamburgers at the end of this match. It would be epic. And Gunther would most likely win. Wahoo was a true legend and as tough as they come, but Gunther is a special breed that I can’t see losing to anyone really.

Would you prefer a WWE/AEW cross-promotion event for just one night or a year’s worth of inter-promotional alliances and events?

If it’s well done, I’d prefer the long story culminating in a one-night special event. Have a lot of crossover and build to the one big moment and then enjoy the pay-off event.

Why do you think you are qualified to answer questions about wrestling?

Why am I qualified? I’ve been a fan for over fifty years, have been to hundreds of live events, have been writing about wrestling for nearly twenty-four years, long-time friends with many active and retired professional wrestlers, have helped with independent shows numerous times, helped write promos and storylines for various independent wrestling events, did show recaps for RAW, Smackdown, Heat, and AWA Wrestling for numerous wrestling sites, and I love this business/sport. I may be a smart-mark to some, but I do research, know the product, and know my shit. And what I don’t know, I take the time and try to learn.

You’re told to assemble a cast of pro wrestlers to remake the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Who would you cast in the starring roles?

I love questions like these, but to be truthful, I would never participate in a remake of the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I’ve been a card-carrying member of the official RHPS Fan Club since 1979 and to try to remake this classic movie would be blasphemy. But that being said, let’s give it a try. For Frank N’ Furter, I would go with LA Knight. For the roles of Brad & Janet, how about Chad Gable & Bayley? Riff Raff & Magenta would be Matt Cardona & Chelsea Green. Rocky would be played by Joe Hendry. We’d see Professor Scott portrayed by Paul Heyman, while the narrator would be William Regal. And there you go.

Given the fallout of McIntyre quitting WWE, should a brief stint in TNA be on the horizon for the Scottish Psychopath? It would be a shame if Da Punker were to screw him out of a title there as well, culminating in a match at Summerslam.

While that doesn’t seem to be the direction that WWE is headed, it’s a good idea and I would have enjoyed seeing it happen. It would have been a great boost for TNA as well. Maybe, during the interim between now and SummerSlam, Drew can be fired, go to TNA, and we can see something like this happen. It would truly be good television and make things more interesting for WWE and TNA.

Magnum TA versus Kevin Owens. Who wins?

Magnum was the man in his day, but KO is the prize-fighter now. I’ll go with Kevin Owens on this one.

What’s your opinion on Samoa Joe? Is he worth all the hype?

Honestly, I don’t think so. He’s a good wrestler and legit tough as a two-dollar steak, but I’ve never been overly impressed by Samoa Joe. I appreciate his talents and what he’s capable of in the ring, but when I look at Joe, I don’t see a big star. Mid-card at best.

Vince Russo said that he was better on camera than 80% of the WCW roster. Thoughts?

It was pretty common for a booker to give himself the top spots because he knew what he wanted to do and how to do it without having to constantly explain to the wrestlers what to say and how to do this or that. I remember hearing Ole Anderson explaining that in his excellent book, Inside Out: How Corporate America Destroyed Professional Wrestling. Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff often did the same thing, as did Jerry Lawler and Jeff Jarrett in Memphis and TNA. But that being said, every person I’ve named thus far was also an excellent wrestler and in-ring talent or promo. Well, everyone but Vince McMahon, but Vince was Vince so he’s the exception to the rule. Russo though? Russo was an interesting character and did well on the mic, but that’s because the stories were so out there, more often than not, he was the only one who knew what was going on. Better than 80% of the roster? He wasn’t a bad talker, but I think he needs to recheck his math. Those numbers are way off.

And there you go. My thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and any questions are welcome and appreciated. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. And with that, let’s wrap things up. Take care and be well, my friends. Watch out for foreign objects and I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!