Tossing Salt – Worldwide News Presents:
Wrestling Fact Or Fiction
January 16, 2014

A lot of things to address so I’ll skip the small talk and get ‘er done. Let’s do this…

Wrestling Hall of Famer and legend Johnnie Mae Young passed away yesterday at age 90. This is a sad day for all wrestling fans and anyone who loves the world’s greatest sports because there truly is no one more iconic and deserving of the title, “The Queen of Wrestling” than this true wrestling legend. Mae started training and wrestling, I believe, in 1929 and had her last match just a few years ago. And never slowed down along the way. Her last televised appearance was for the WWE at the “Old School RAW” show for 2013. She was scheduled to appear at the “Old School RAW” episode a couple of weeks ago, but couldn’t due to illness, which unfortunately ended up being her last great battle. Coldolences and prayers go out to the friends, family and fans of this oh so very tough woman woman. She didn’t make it to that infamous match she was hoping for at age 100, but no doubt, if there’s a wrestling heaven, she and best friend Fabulous Moolah are teaming up in the main event tonight, kicking ass and taking names. I’ve always looked forward to her appearances on RAW and for the WWE because I knew that no matter what she would be doing or what role she would be playing, it would be entertaining and I knew she was having a blast doing it. Mae Young loved wrestling, loved the fans and loved entertaining us. Rest In Peace.

In other news, the Ultimate Warrior was announced on Monday as the first name for the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2014. Other rumored names for induction this year, who seem to be locks, include Jake “The Snake” Roberts and Paul Bearer. If it was my decision and I was able to pick the rest of the Class of 2014, including the three already named or strongly speculated on, here’s who I would have: The Ultimate Warrior, Paul Bearer, Jake Roberts, Cyndi Lauper (as the celebrity inductee), Kamala, Stan Hansen, “The Living Legend” Larry Zbyszko and current TNA star / Icon Sting.

Of course, I’ll probably change my mind a million times between now and April, but as of this moment, that’s the group I’d put in. All deserving. Oh wait – and I forgot Ivan Koloff. Why isn’t he there yet? He should have been inducted a long, long time ago. He was the 3rd WWWF Champion and beat Bruno. So take out Zbyszko and put Ivan in there instead. The Living Legend is still fairly young and can wait a few more years. So there you go with that. Moving on…

Tonight on Spike TV, it’s TNA and they’re having a big night with their latest (not a) pay-per-view offering. It’s TNA Genesis 2014. And since I do it with the WWE big shows, I may as well do it with TNA too. And of course, I’m talking about predictions. So far, only five matches have been announced, so let’s tackle those and see if we (I) can predict what’s going to happen. Here goes…

TNA Genesis 2014 Predictions

Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Roode in a Steel Cage match

Angle is reportedly needing surgery and is also working out the last eight months of a contract,which if he follows the examples of so many others, will not be renewed when it expires in August. Roode is loyal to the regime and is a helluva talent. Kurt hasn’t really been back long, so I don’t think he’ll lose the match. How about this? Kurt manages to win the match and take home the win, but in a post-match attack, Roode attacks Kurt and sends him out on a stretcher (injury angle), so Kurt wins the match, but Roode can claim he won the war. Works for me.

Winner: Kurt Angle.

Sting vs. Ethan Carter III

Carter is the new big guy and the apple in Dixie’s eye. Sting? Who knows if he’s even going to be around in a few months. The new kid wins through shenanigans.

Winner: Ethan Carter III

Gunner vs. James Storm in a Ladder match for Gunner’s World Title Feast or Fired Briefcase

I love to watch Gunner wrestle and he’s a great guy, but in the charisma department, he’s not quite there yet. For top level main event challengers, it’s sizzle and spark over actual ability. Storm is thought of as a top guy and they want to keep him in the top guy roles, thus he’s going to win, by whatever means necessary, and get that contract. And as for Gunner, sorry about your damn luck!

Winner: James Storm

Gail Kim (c) (with Lei’D Tapa) vs. Madison Rayne for the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship

Madison won on the tv a couple of weeks ago. Thus, using wrestling logic, plus the fact that she’s pretty much maintaining a stranglehold on that Knockout’s Championship, Gail Kim keeps the belt and wins. And Madison, she meets de’feet!…

Winner and STILL TNA Knockouts Champion: Gail Kim

Mr. Anderson vs. Bully Ray

Should be a good match and lots of brawling and craziness. Either man can win and it wouldn’t be an upset in the least, but I never have been a big fan of Mr. Anderson… Anderson and I think Bully is one helluva talent who has done a great job of reinventing himself and earning his spot at the top, so I’m going to pull for and say Bully Ray… just because.

Winner: Bully Ray

And there you go with my predictions? Am I right? Am I wrong? Guess we’ll find out tonight.

And now (finally), it’s time to do that infamous “Wrestling Fact Or Fiction” thing that I know that all of my loyal readers (both of you) came here to read. It’s a very special “king sized edition” of the column with sixteen questions. As usual, eight of these questions (the last eight) came from a column over at 411mania.com/wrestling. The other questions (the first eight) come from deep inside that twisted little thing that I call my mind. And the answers? Who the hell knows where they come from. Probably deep in the heart of Texas or something like that… lol. Okay, let’s do this.

..

Jesse Sorenson is right to badmouth Dixie Carter in recent shoot interviews.

FACT: Jesse was injured in a TNA ring, on a TNA show, while under the employment of TNA. He should never have even seen a hospital bill, much less have had his mother forced to declare bankruptcy trying to keep up with said bills. Dixie promised that he’d be taken care of and she lied. So he should feel free to say whatever he wants now. He doesn’t owe TNA or Dixie Carter anything.

TNA was correct to terminate the contracts of Jay Bradley and Wes Brisco.

FACT: And add Mike Knox and Garrett Bischoff to the list too, if rumors are to be believed. TNA is cutting costs and slashing bills and if they can’t use the person and have no plans for them, let them go so that they can try their hand somewhere else. If TNA won’t even pay hospital bills for their employees who get hurt on the job (Sorenson, Dafney), then why pay checks to people they’re not using. Let them go now.

The WWE should reach out to former announcers and commentators to work on the WWE Network.

FACT: It’ll be great from a nostalgia point of view and who knows better about the old shows and historical points of the WWE and WCW and ECW than the men who where there and originally called the action. Besides, it would be good to see folks like Scott Hudson, Todd Pentigill, Matt Striker, Larry Zbyszko, The Coach, etc on TV again.

Matt Hardy will be a surprise at the WWE Royal Rumble.

FICTION: I’d like to see either Matt or Jeff return to the WWE at the Rumble and it would a great moment, but I don’t think it’s going to happen… yet!

Triple H was the reason that the New Age Outlaws walked out on CM Punk on RAW this past Monday night.

FACT: It will all be revealed in the storylines over the next few months, but HHH and Punk are going to end up wrestling and what better way to set it up than to use HHH’s friends?

Daniel Bryan will win the Royal Rumble.

FICTION: It would make sense and be great, but it’s too predictable. Always look for the swerve. I’m still hoping for Bryan to take on HBK at the big show in April.

The WWE should go back to the forty-man format used for the Royal Rumble a few years ago rather than the traditional thirty-man match currently used.

FACT: More guys get to compete. More spots for surprises. And it just makes it a bigger deal than ever. I liked the 40 man deal and wish it was the regular thing.

WWE should unify the United States and Intercontinental Championship titles.

FICTION: With the elimination of the World Championship, there are only three singles titles in the WWE right now. That is a good number and works well if properly booked, giving all the WWE talent something to strive for and work for. It should always be about titles and money. Spread things out so that the champions defend against a variety of challengers and build the titles that are there. Eliminating or consolidating the belts will just cut more potential challengers from the picture and in my opinion, that’s definitely not what’s “best for business”.

Judging by what has been announced, you have faith that the WWE Network will be a success.

FACT: Based on everything I’ve read and heard so far, I have no doubt that the WWE Network is going to be a huge success.

If there is so much heat on Ryback for being reckless in the ring, WWE should release him immediately.

FICTION: How much of this is real heat and how much is just hearsay and speculation being blown up for storyline purposes? Accidents happen in the ring. That’s just how it is and while Ryback might not be the safest guy in the WWE, he’s not the worst either. If he doesn’t pick up his game and continues to work recklessly, then they might want to take another look at his contract, but for now, I think it’s mostly hype and storyline and should be treated as so.

You have no interest in Chris Jericho returning for WrestleMania.

FICTION: Anytime that Jericho is in the mix, it’s entertaining and good for the WWE. If it’s true that he’s coming back for a while, I’m happy and more power to the WWE and to Jericho for making it so.

WWE running a live NXT event the week of the WWE Network launch is a good idea.

FACT: Absolutely. A live show will draw fans and help put over the NXT product while also promoting the network. It’s a great business move and makes perfect sense.

The Ultimate Warrior deserves to be in the WWE Hall of Fame.

FACT: He’s not one of my favorites, but he’s a big name who made a big impact during his time in the ring. He deserves the spot.

The booking of last week’s Impact main event was a complete mess.

FACT: It took what… eight men to help Magnus win the TNA Championship? This is supposed to make him look strong and dominant? *sighs* It was a total cluster-f*ck that made Magnus and TNA look like idiots. It was just plain dumb!

Daniel Bryan is the most over guy in all of wrestling.

FACT: At the moment, I would be inclined to agree. The fans love their bearded warrior.

You marked out for Jake “The Snake” Roberts appearing on Old School Raw.

FACT: Damn skippy I did. It caught me totally off guard and I popped like a nymphomaniac prostitute at a novelty toys sales convention. It was definitely a great moment for the WWE and RAW.

And with that, I think this is the end for today. Let’s see. Talked about Mae Young. Check. Mentioned the Hall of Fame. Check. Did some predictions for the TNA Genesis event tonight. Check. And did the whole Fact or Fiction deal. Check. So I’m through and out of here for now. Thanks for reading and I’ll catch you on the flip side.

Ubuntu!