Tossing Salt Presents:
Wrestling Fact or Fiction
May 28, 2017

It’s bright and early on Sunday morning. It’s Memorial Day weekend and it looks as if it will be a great day for cooking out, drinking beer and chillaxin’ with the family. And more importantly, it’s a day to pay homage to and remember those who sacrificed so we can enjoy the freedoms and life we have. Some gave all and all gave some. Let’s don’t let their sacrifices be in vain.

As for the piece today, the statements come from my friends at 411mania.com/wrestling. I will either agree (fact) or disagree (fiction) and explain why. It’s what I do. And now, let’s do it.

1. The Tommaso Ciampa heel turn on Johnny Gargano was excellently pulled off.

FACT: Who saw it coming? The DIY went through hell with a fantastic, albeit losing effort against the AOD. They had a fantastic match and the crowd was so jakked for the team, chanting for them and giving them all sorts of love. The show was over and the credits were ready to roll and it just seemed to come from out of nowhere. Ciampa blasted his partner and not only turned on him, but tried to take him out for good. It was one of the best heel turns I’ve seen in a while and was done so well, telling that story and building the anticipation for what we all know will be one hellacious feud. In a night of great wrestling and great matches, it was a stand-out moment that will be talked about for years to come. That is how to do a heel turn and feud and the WWE needs to take notes. Just very well done.

2. As a complete show, NXT Takeover: Chicago kicked WWE Backlash’s ass.

FACT: Don’t get me wrong. Backlash was a solid show and as usual, the action was good and everyone worked hard and busted their asses, but the NXT show was just a text book sample of how a show should be booked and put together. A variety of matches, all different in many ways, but all telling that story, all entertaining and just a solid and fun, start to finish show. Only five matches and running only two hours instead of the three-plus that the WWE shows usually run helps too. Both shows were good, but with the Takeover show, I’ve gone back and rewatched several of the matches, especially the Asuka match and the DIY cage match / heel turn at the end. With Backlash, once was enough. That pretty much says it all.

3. Shinsuke Nakamura’s main roster, in ring debut at Backlash was an overall failure in terms of presenting him as a big time star.

FICTION: While it wasn’t the squash that I’m sure a lot of people were looking for, Shinsuke got a great reaction from the crowd, a solid and good match against one of the most consistent guys in WWE in Dolph Ziggler, and won in the end. What more could a person want? It’s setting the pace for what should be a long and solid, strong career in WWE for Shinsuke, as a strong upper mid-card performer. That’s what it was supposed to do and I think it was mission accomplished.

4. You’re 100% behind WWE running a women’s MITB match this year.

FACT: Over the past year or so, we’ve had the women in cage matches, Hell in the Cell matches, Iron Man Matches, and probably every other type of speciality match there is. The women regularly and rightfully headline the shows at times and have proven time and time again that they’re just as good (and in some cases, better) than the guys. It’s a natural progression and while I would have cringed if the WWE had tried to have a MITB match with the Divas back in the day, the ladies of here and now are certainly ready and can pull it off as well as anyone. Make it happen.

5. At this time, what is your excitement level (1-10) for the WWE Extreme Rules PPV?

I’m probably floating around a “6” right now, but it’s still early. The 5-man Extreme Rules match is an interesting mix of talent and should be really, really good. The Hardys in the cage against Sheamus and Cesaro should also be good and fun to watch. As we get closer, I’m sure that my anticipation and excitement will grow larger. It looks to be a solid and strong show on paper and although admittingly, I’m somewhat suffering from WWE burnout right now, with too many shows and PPV’s going on in too short a period of time, I think this will be a really good show by the WWE and really worth seeing.

6. Considering his failed MMA debut, CM Punk should accept 5 Star Wrestling’ offer of $1 million to return to the ring and take part in their 128-man tournament.

FICTION: If Punk was to decide to do it, more power to him. A million bucks would be a hard offer to pass up. But I honestly don’t think it would do anything but cheapen his legacy and name. Punk is a big name and he left the business on his own terms, albeit in a bad way. But still, he has the name value and if he was to ever decide to come back to professional wrestling, it should be for a major company and an event worthy of his reputation and legacy. Being part of a tournament for a group like 5 Star Wrestling would be such a big comedown from what we would expect from Punk. He may as well just be wrestling at the local high school gym in front of 25 people. There’s not anything wrong with that, but it’s not what one would hope for with “The Best In The World”. If Punk decides to come back, I think it should be either something like New Japan or the WWE. Anything else just wouldn’t be or feel right.

And there you go. Another FoF column in the books. Thoughts and comments are welcome. Let me know what you think. Follow me on Twitter at @doug28352. I appreciate you taking the time to read this and hopefully, you’ll check out the rest of the site and read some other stuff. It’s not just wrestling, but a little bit of everything, because that’s who I am and how I roll. Check it all out.

And with that, I’m down and I’m gone. Have a great one.

Ubuntu!