Tossing Salt Presents:
Wrestling Fact or Fiction
June 11, 2017

Good morning, salutations and all of that crap. It’s bright and early on a lovely Sunday morning. Why the hell am I awake? I want to take a moment and send out my condolences to the friends, family and fans of Adam West, who passed away yesterday. For many of us, he was the first (and best) Batman. For many others, he was the lovable “Mayor Adam West” on Family Guy. An iconic television personality who was truly one of a kind. He will definitely be missed. RIP.

Let’s do some wrestling “Fact or Fiction”. As per usual, the statements below come from my friends at 411mania.com. The other comments, stating whether I agree (fact) or not (fiction), come from deep inside of me. Let’s jump right to it, shall we?

1. You are excited for Samoa Joe vs. Brock Lesnar.

FACT: This is a match I’ve been wanting to see ever since Joe came to NXT. Joe has a reputation as one of the most legit “tough guys” in the business. He’s a one man wrecking machine put in human form and what was that old saying about Joe? Samoa Joe kills bitches dead! And Brock? He’s Brock Lesnar. Nothing more needs to be said. It’s going to be a brutal and rough match, one for the ages if you will. And I can’t wait to see it.

2. WWE’s booking of Bayley on the main roster has simply been bad.

FACT: For whatever reason, Bayley just hasn’t been able to make that connection with the WWE fans on the main roster as she did with the NXT crowd and it’s kind of sad to see. In NXT, she was the ultimate “good girl” that everyone loved and wanted to see, but since coming to the main roster, she’s just kind of there. She was actually getting booed by the audience at Extreme Rules when she faced Alexa and that’s because the fans don’t know what to make of her anymore or do with her. She’s a good girl, but instead of coming across as noble, she’s coming across as a wimpy idiot and that falls solely on the fault of creative. Her character is falling fast and may need to take some time off, go back to NXT or be repackaged in some form. All I know is something needs to be done before she’s made totally impotent as a WWE Superstar. I just don’t know what.

3. It’s rumored that WWE will fill the 32-woman field for the Mae Young Classic with at least 10 developmental talents that aren’t part of the regular NXT programming; you think that this is a good plan.

FACT: It’s a very good plan. It gives these women some necessary exposure and experience. It helps to fill out the roster for the tournament. And it makes things just that much more exciting because not everyone will be working the “WWE style” and we’ll get to see some different talents in that ring.

4. The WWE UK Series will be a bigger success than 205 Live.

FICTION: WWE Creative will find a way to screw it up and mess things up. There are a lot of problems with 205 Live and it hasn’t been quite the success that WWE hoped for, but there’s nothing there that can’t be fixed eventually with better writing and maybe a better filming schedule. The UK series looks great and the talent that WWE has found is amazing to be sure, but the success or lack of will all fall into the packaging and presentation. The WWE fans are a fickle bunch and it just takes one bad match or lousy storyline to drive them away. I hope both series do well and keep getting better as time goes on. Only time will tell though.

5. Considering the overwhelming mount of talent WWE has under contract, and the fact that they are always looking for more WWE network content, you would be interested in WWE running a tournament with a group of the extra 205 Live/NXT/UK and main roster guys not being used.

FACT: Absolutely. Anything that gives me more GOOD wrestling to watch, plus gives the underused and forgotten men on the roster more ring time and exposure is always a good thing that I’d support. I’ve always loved tournaments anyhow and the more, the merrier, just so long as there is a logical reason for it.

6. In your opinion, who is the most underutilized member of the WWE roster and why?

There are so many names that could be used here. Mark Henry, the former World Champion who hasn’t been seen in months. American Alpha, who came in with so much hype and build and were forgotten just as quickly. Zack Ryder, who is currently out with an injury, but is so over with the fans, but ignored and forgotten so much by creative. Curtis Axel, who has so much talent and charisma when allowed to be himself, but instead is scripted to death and buried again and again. Luke Harper, who has proven so many times that he can go with anyone and be a big star. Heath Slater, who proved that he is way over with the fans, but spends more time sitting around with Rhyno in catering rather than actual wrestling. 90% of the NXT stars once they come to the main roster and Vince puts his “mark” on them. So many names to choose from. But I think I’ll go with Bo Dallas. I’ve watched Bo’s matches in NXT and the man can really go and work. But in WWE, he’s just another badly used, jobber to the not-really-stars. This is a third generation star, who’s grandpa was Blackjack Mulligan. His father is Mike Rotundo (IRS). His uncle is Barry Windham. His brother is Bray Wyatt. And he’s just forgotten and ignored 98% of the time. It’s hard to bo-lieve. He deserves much better. Put him with his brother as a member of the Wyatt Family. Make him part of a tag team and use him that way. Repackage him. Just give him a chance and use him. He’s worth it. Bo-lieve it or not!

And I guess that’s all for now. I need a shower, some Pepsi and maybe to go back to bed for a while. I think I’ll go with Option “C”. Thank you for reading. Thoughts and comments are welcome. I’ll catch you later.

Ubuntu!