Wrestling Fact Or Fiction
February 27, 2014
Doug Maynard

It’s Thursday so it must be time for that “Wrestling Fact Or Fiction” thing that I like to do. As per usual, eight of the statements come from my friends over at 411mania.com/wrestling. The other four come from dep inside my slightly-demented little mind. And the answers, do I agree or not agree, that comes from me… period. But before I tackle the various topics, I wrote a little piece yesterday about how to “save” Wrestlemania XXX, and I think I’d like to share it here. So if you’d like, go check it out at https://tossingsalt.wordpress.com/2014/02/26/how-to-save-wrestlemania-xxx-february-26-2014/. Thank you.

And now, time to jump on to the project at hand. It’s pretty simple. If I agree with the statement, it’s fact. If I don’t, it’s fiction. And I still want to see Disco Inferno and Alex Wright crash Wrestlemania XXX, get the mics, look into the camera and loudly proclaim that the only reason that anyone is buying Wrestlemania XXX is just so they can watch Disco and Alex, aka “The Boogie Knights”, dance. Make it happen Vince! Let’s do this…

1. Hulk Hogan serving as the host of WrestleMania 30 is the perfect way to use him at the event.

FACT: Hogan can’t wrestle a match and as TNA proved, he’s not much of an “Authority Figure”, so have him work as the “Host”. We get the Hogan promos and nostalgic moments to keep the fans happy and it doesn’t have any real effect on any of the matches or current WWE storylines. It’s a win-win deal for both Hogan and the WWE. I would like to see Hogan take part in a special “Piper’s Pit” if possible. That would be cool, but regardless if that happens or not, being the “Host” is the best role for Hogan at this point and time.

2. Roman Reigns is the favorite to either be champion or win the WWE World Title at WrestleMania 31.

FICTION: I think Reigns might be a possible WWE Champion at some point and time in the future, but it won’t be as soon as Wrestlemania 31. Reigns (and Cesaro for that matter) are still roughly unproven as singles stars and with only one major title available, it will take a while for these guys to climb that ladder and earn that spot. If there were still two titles (WWE and World), it would be more likely to see Reigns with a title run in the near future, but with only one title now, he has a long ways to go before he gets to that spot.

3. WWE running NXT and Superstars on the WWE Network against TNA Impact on Thursday nights will have no effect on TNA’s ratings.

FACT: TNA fans (all five of them) are nothing but loyal to the TNA product and brand and they’re not going to give up watching “The DIxie Carter Show” in order to watch something they can go back and watch later on the WWE Network replays. TNA will be watched live and the other programs (NXT, Superstars) will be watched when time permits.

4. You are excited for Season Two of Total Divas.

FICTION: Didn’t watch the first season and have no plans to watch the second. If they throw a wild card, like one or two former WWE Divas, like Ivory (hint hint) or Maria or Victoria (she’s available) into the mix, I’ll start watching, but as it is now, I don’t think so.

5. Judging by his performances thus far, you are concerned that Batista cannot deliver in the ring for a WrestleMania main event.

FACT: The match against Del Rio on RAW this past Monday was terrible and Batista has never been a great in-ring perfomer anyhow. He has five weeks to get ready, but it’s going to take a lot of hard work and effort by Randy Orton (and / or Daniel Bryan) to make the match at Wrestlemania XXX anything special. Batista, thus far, just hasn’t shown that he can still cut it in that ring and I will be surprised if he is able to pull it off and deliver come Wrestlemania XXX.

6. CM Punk would choose to go and work in Japan before working for TNA.

FACT: I just can’t see Punk ever going to TNA. Japan is a place that respects wrestling and he would thrive in such an enviroment, so that’s always a possibility, but I actually think that if and when he returns to the ring, it’ll be back in the WWE. Anything else would be too much of a step down for “the best in the world”.

7. You are personally excited for the Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar WrestleMania feud.

FACT: It’s probably not the match I would have booked, but it should be a good match and deliver. And with the history these two men have with each other, it has a great backstory that can be built upon, so it makes sense. I’d much rather be seeing Taker face John Cena or Sting, but if it’s going to be Brock, no complaints. I’m just ready to sit back and enjoy the action.

8. The announcement that some of the stars of New Japan Pro Wrestling (Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shinsuke Nakamura, Kazuchika Okada, Jushin Liger, Gedo, Jado and Kushida) will be coming to Ring of Honor in May makes you more likely to check out those show.

FICTION: I like what I’ve seen of ROH so far and the addition of the stars of New Japan can’t hurt and will add excitement and intrigue to the ROH product, but my time is limited and it’s just not possible for me to watch ROH in addition to the few shows I already watch and my crazy schedule and they haven’t had that breakthrough moment that makes me want to adjust my schedule and tune it. It’s good stuff and I don’t have any problems with ROH, but I just can’t do it.

9. You’re excited for a potential John Cena versus Bray Wyatt match at Wrestlemania XXX.

FACT: I hate it that they felt a need to cheapen the angle before it even gets started with the injury angle on Cena. Now, when and if Cena loses (and I hope he does), they have an excuse why Superman fell to the power of he who follows the Buzzards. This should be a good match and it’s a chance for Bray, to do as Cesaro did last week on RAW in his match with Cena, to prove that he belongs among those at the top of the pecking order. It’s a great opportunity for Wyatt to strut his stuff and earn his spot and I think that’s exactly what he will do.

10. WWE needs to attempt to get CM Punk back before Wrestlemania.

FICTION: I was going to say “Fact”, but if the WWE plays their cards right, they can work around his absence and put on a great and memorable show. (See the link to my piece about how to “Save Wrestlemania” above for ideas on how to do that.) CM Punk is missed and they’re having a rough time working around his non-presence and getting things back on track, but it can be done and it really wouldn’t be in anyone’s interest to have Punk come back before he’s ready. So let him skip Wrestlemania XXX and get his mojo back. He can take time off and recharge and then come back at SummerSlam or maybe even The Royal Rumble next year and be bigger than ever. I’d love to see him return this coming Monday night on RAW in Chicago and lay out some pipebombs on everyone, but he shouldn’t come back until he’s ready and if we have to wait a while, so be it.

11. Daniel Bryan versus HHH is the best way to use Bryan at Wrestlemania XXX.

FICTION: Bryan belongs in the main event match working against Orton and Batista for the WWE World Championship. Any other match,even against HHH, is a letdown and definitely not “best for business”.

12. You will be purchasing the WWE Network.

FACT: I just have to scrape up a few extra dollars and make that move, but it most definitely will happen. And if you think I write a lot about wrestling now, wait until I have the Network to watch and talk about. You haven’t seen anything yet!

And with that, I’m through for the day. If you have any questions about wrestling, be it old school, new school, WWE, TNA, the Indy’s, etc., as well as any comments or thoughts about this column or my other one, “Tossing Salt – Worldwide News”, please contact me at Doug28352@yahoo.com. Visit me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/saltpalace. I’ll see you back on Tuesday with my “Tossing Salt” column and back next Thursday with the “Fact or Fiction” thing. Thank you for reading. I’m Doug and “dat is all de people need to know!”

Ubuntu!