Welcome, my friends, to a very special edition of pro-wrestling’s most eclectic column, the one and only “Tossing Salt – Worldwide News”.  “Why is this a special column?”, you ask.  Because today is Saturday and I usually don’t write about the world’s greatest sport on the weekends. I write columns on Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays.  So why today?  A little thing that I had forgotten about called “TNA Lockdown”.  Yeah, I know… what was I thinking?  And of course, a pay-per-view means predictions.  So that’s why I’m here and that’s what I’m going to do.  Plus I’ll answer a couple of questions and throw in an edition of “One On One” as well.  I think I can fill up some space here. So let’s just jump right to it, shall we?

 

 

An all Jim Crockett Promotions Hall of Fame Class would actually be pretty easy and pretty damn amazing to see happen.  You’d have your headliners, The Rock & Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) and The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton, Stan Lane & Dennis Condrey) w/ Jim Cornette Then a tribute to the greatest team of the seventies, Ole & Gene Anderson (The Minnesota Wrecking Crew).  The rest would be Wahoo McDaniel, Magnum TA, manager Sir Oliver Humperdink (RIP).  For the female inductee, I would induct Baby Doll.  Long time announcer Bob Caudle and promoter Jim Crockett Jr. would round out the list.  A great list of inductees, all well deserving and all with roots here in the Carolinas and JCP.  

 

 

I think that it’s just a matter of time, despite her career in the world of adult entertainment, and despite her issues of being bat-shit crazy, that she gets that spot in the WWE Hall of Fame. She was a founding member of DX, along with Triple H and HBK, and if they ever want to go the route of including that faction, they have to add Chyna to the mix. I think there would have to be a lot of concessions on her part to be included, such as cleaning her act up via rehab or something similar, staying clean and maybe seeing a good therapist for a while.  Oh yeah, and giving up the adult films too.  She’s too important in the history of the WWE to not be acknowledged, but she’s too much of a loose cannon at this point to bring back.  The fact that she’s Hunter’s ex (and X-Pac’s ex as well) doesn’t help her case. But if she (Chyna) can straighten up, pull herself together and be presented in a positive manner… and most importantly, if the WWE smells money, she’ll get her spot one day.  It probably won’t be soon, but it will happen.

 

And now, moving on to the fantasy match-making that I love so well, it’s time for some…

 

 

“One On One” is where I take a wrestler from days gone by and match them up against one of the stars of today. It’s fantasy wrestling at it’s best as I analyze and ponder who would win a match if these people, in their primes, were to face each other “One On One”. Let’s do this…

 

This is a little different because neither group is currently a part of the current wrestling product as a group.  The Natural Born Thrillers were a bunch of Power Plant trainees brought up in WCW in 1999 – 2000 to add some new faces to the roster.  And the Nexus were a bunch of talents brought up by the WWE from their developmental program to provide secondary programming for the WWE audience. Both groups were of largely unproven rookies, with a few exceptions and both made an impact before circumstances caused the groups to break up and fade away. I heard someone earlier today talking about The Nexus and then I saw another person talking about The Natural Born Thrillers and realized what a great match-up this would make.  Now, I just have to decide would this be a huge multi-man elimination match or should I break it down into a series of matches?  Let’s go for the series of matches and the team that wins the most in the series wins the “One On One” challenge.  So we get seven one-on-one matches and one of The Nexus will have to sit out due to their 8-7 number advantage.  Michael Tarver is sitting out.  Here we go…

 

 

Mike Sanders wasn’t really flashy as I recall, but was a good mat wrestler and better talker.  Heath Slater is a far better performer than he’s ever been given credit for and I absolutely loved his “One Man Band” gimmick that he was using before he became a part of the 3MB.  This could really turn out to be a good and fun match to watch, but in the ring, Slater would defintely have the advantage and would, I feel, also walk away with the win.

 

 

Palumbo has the definite strength and power advantage. Young has the edge in speed.  I think this one would go to Billy’s former BFF, Chuck Palumbo.

 

 

Otunga is a strong guy, but let’s be honest.  In the ring, he absolutely sucks!  He has a great look and is good as a talker, but that’s about it.  O’Haire had the great look and a really strong presence both in and out of the ring.  And he was a good worker as anyone who remembers his run as the “Devil’s Advocate” in the WWE can confirm.  This match wouldn’t last long either and be short and just too sweet as O’Haire takes home the win for his team.  But then again, I’m not telling you anything you didn’t already know.

 

 

Although he was alligned with the Thrillers, Stasiak wasn’t really one of the Power Plant guys brought up too quickly as most of the others were. Stasiak is a second generation superstar, being the son of former WWWF Champion Stan Stasiak, and a former WWE wrestler as well, wresting as “Meat”. Justin Gabriel is an amazing talent with some great flying techniques and really good work in the ring. This possibly could be the most evenly matched rivalry here and would make for a really fun and exciting match to watch. It could go either way to be sure, but I’m thinking that when push comes to shove, we’d see the former play-toy of the Pretty Mean Sisters pull out a sneaky win and get the nod.

 

 

From what I remember of Reno, he had some really good moves and was competent in the ring, but not much else.  Sheffield, as we all know, changed his name and gimmick up a little bit and went on to earn a prominent spot in the WWE mid-card, where he reigns today.  A quick match and we’d see the man we know now as Ryback, formerly Skip Sheffield, pick up an easy win for the Nexus.

 

 

Jindrak had a good run with the WWE after WCW closed.  He was strongly considered for a role in Evolution, but that didn’t happen and he eventually left the company to travel down to Mexico where he reinvented himself and is working as one of the top guys for CMLL.   As for Daniel Bryan, I think we all know where he is now and what has happened with his career.  Would this be a helluva match?  YES!  Would it be a potential match of the year candidate?  YES!  And would Bryan win?  YES! YES! YES!  ‘Nuff said!

 

 

I’ve got some bad news for the former member of the F.B.I.  It’d be short and sweet and Wade Barrett would win.

 

 

And so, in the end, winning four matches to three, the winners are:  The Nexus

 

And finally…

 

 

Coming up on Sunday from Miami, FL is the annual TNA “Lockdown” pay-per-view where every match is decided inside the confines of a steel cage.  And with a pay-per-view on the horizon, that means it’s time to break out the crystal ball, don the “Sister Cleo” robes, and do some good old fashioned fortune telling.  Let’s just jump right to it, shall we?  By the way, I just saw a report that says Kurt Angle will NOT be wrestling in his scheduled match at Lockdown due to recent injuries.  But Ethan Carter III says he will be there and will be wrestling.  So I’ll be sure to take that into account when I get to that scheduled match.  

 

 

Joe has looked impressive as of late, but it seems to be winding down for him and this may be one of his final chances to be at the top of the ladder.  Magnus is doing fine as the World Champion and while he’s not the flashiest or most charismatic guy on the roster, he’s working hard and gaining credibility. Size favors Joe, but not by much.  I don’t think it’s time for Magnus to lose that belt yet. I think we’ll see shenanigans, but the belt is staying with the champ.

 

 

This should be a good match, but it seems a bit rushed and obvious in my eyes.  If Team Dixie wins, what kind of authority and leverage does MVP have left? The storyline is over.  Dixie is the majority owner and controls the World Championship with Magnus.  No matter what happens, she still has a purpose and reason for being in TNA and on our TV screens.  To keep it all alive and going, Team MVP must win and will.

 

 

This match has been officially pulled by TNA due to injuries to Kurt Angle.  So we’ll get some gloating and bragging and a victory via forfeit.

 

 

 

Carter has proclaimed that he will be at Lockdown and wrestling so I expect we’ll get an open challenge and someone from the back will take up the challenge and come out and we’ll get a match.  Not sure of who it will be, but the match will be very close, a total nail-biting slobberknocker, and Carter will win via shenanigans.  I just noticed that Bully Ray isn’t working a match so he’s going to need something to do.  Hmmmm.

 

 

As much as I love Madison Rayne, it’s TNA, it’s Lockdown and it’s Gail Kim seeking to reclaim her Knockouts Championship.  Gail wins.  ‘Nuff said!

 

 

Former tag team partners collide.  Logic says that James Storm should come out on top.  He’s the bigger guy on the TNA totem pole.  He’s the one that the fans love to hate. He’s the one that has Dixie’s eye.  He’s the one that drinks the beer.  But despite all of that, my gut (and the fact that he’s on my friends list on Facebook), tell me that it’s Gunner’s night to shine.

 

 

Shaw is still the new face to TNA.  His star is just starting to take off and shine.  And Ken Anderson is a bit stale in my opinion.  I can barely remember when he was a serious force to be reckoned with.  Too easy because the winner will be Mr. Shaw… Shaw.  

 

 

Look for lots of high flying and craziness.  This should be, from a work-rate perspective, the match of the night and will probably be the match to start the show and get the crowd going.  Manik is the face the TNA fans know.  Tigre Uno is the new kids from the other neighborhood who’s come to play.  I think that Manik will end up with the nod.  

 

 

And finally, we get three of TNA’s best against the invading team from Japan, led by the legendary Great Muta.  I don’t expect we’ll see much action from Muta as he’ll probably let the two other guys carry the load and just come in for a few select spots (and some great mist one hopes).  It’ll be exciting, stiff and a fun match to watch.  And let’s be serious.  Muta and the others didn’t fly all the way from Japan to come and lose, did they?  I don’t think so.  

 

 

And with that, I’m going to wrap this up.  Still no “Who Am I?”, but that will be returning with the regular column on Tuesday so look for it.  Questions and comments can be directed to Doug28352@yahoo.com.  I’m at Facebook at facebook.com/saltpalace. Come visit me and add the insanity to your friends list.  I’ll see you in a few days. Enjoy Lockdown and have a great weekend.  Catch you on the flip side.

 

Ubuntu!