Tossing Salt Presents:
Wrestling Q&A
Owens & Zayn, Paige, Women Fans & More
December 19, 2018
DougMaynard.com

Time for some Q&A about the world’s greatest sport. The questions come from Matt. The answers are from me. And my cat thinks we’re all crazy. Let’s do this…

Thoughts on the forthcoming returns of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn?

The return of the Kevin Owens Show, starring Sami Zayn, is something I am highly looking forward to. WWE has been okay, but there has been a lack of something special and the presence of Owens, who can do comedy, serious or anything inbetween is sorely missed. Nothing against Seth, Ambrose and the like, but they’re stale and for the most part played out. There is only one Kevin Owens and with the added addition of Zayn by his side, they will really make the shows kick and special once more. The best way to describe my feelings about the return of these two superstars. Two words. Thank God!

Thoughts on David Arquette’s upcoming match at the NWA pay-per-view in January’s New Year’s Dash and all the hate this announcement has been getting?

I think Arquette has been trying to prove and redeem himself with the world of professional wrestling and unlike the run in WCW twenty years ago, he’s doing things the right way. He’s working the Indy’s and taking all bookings. Wrestling fans are a fickle bunch and Arquette was correct when he took them to task on Twitter for how they can’t be pleased and no matter what he does, haters are going to hate. I’m glad to see him on the NWA event and hope that he’ll keep on keeping on so long as he’s able and is having fun being a part of the greatest business in the world. Kudos to Arquette and people need to just back off with the hate and let him do his thing.

How long do you think the removal of General Managers from WWE will last?

As far as having authority figures for RAW and Smackdown called “general managers”, it’ll probably be a permanent thing, but the idea of having outside people, not named McMahon, as the top management for each brand will be back sooner rather than later. I’ll give it a year at most and then, with Vince busy with the XFL stuff and Steph and Hunter too busy with their legitimate roles in the company to be television characters each week on television as well, plus the usual McMahon overload will have set in by then too and we’ll get the appointment of “Commissioners” or “Directors of Authority” or maybe even “Corporate Vice Presidents In Charge of Brand Operations”. Regardless of the titles used, the removal of GM’s is just a temporary measure at best and will be over sooner rather than later.

What is next for Paige now that her role as the General Manager of Smackdown Live has ended?

Shane said that there are roles waiting for her, but never specified what they will be. I’m thinking jobs on the panel on the Kick-Off shows before each pay-per-view to start and I wouldn’t be upset to see her replace Byron on the Smackdown Live commentary team, becoming the second permanent female announcer for WWE. But my favorite idea would be to have Paige resume the role she had before she “retired” and become a manager or advocate, like Paul Heyman, for a group of wrestlers, probably women, but I wouldn’t mind seeing a mixture of men and women under her guidance. Let her become a modern day Madusa or Sherri or Woman, leading her clients to success. There aren’t that many managers and a female one, with the looks and ability of Paige, would certainly be interesting to see.

How do you think Mustafa Ali will do as part of the Smackdown Live main roster?

I think he’ll do good for a few weeks and get a mini-push and then, like Tye Dillinger and every other young superstar not left over from fifteen years ago, get buried and forgotten about as a lower-mid card performer used to have great matches with no real meaning or purpose. He’s going from a featured spot on 205 Live where no one was able to see him, but he was featured as a top guy to a spot on Smackdown where more people will see him, but the creative team won’t care and he’ll be lost in the shuffle.

Since Asuka is now the Smackdown Women’s Champion, is she also “The Man”?

I guess technically, since she defeated Becky and Charlotte both to capture the Smackdown Women’s Championship, that argument can be made, but to me, unless Asuka defeats Becky clean one on one, Becky is still “The Man”. Asuka will just have to settle for being the Champion instead. I’m sure that she can live with that.

Why are there not more women wrestling fans?

Because wrestling is a male dominated niche product that caters to men and like fart & dick jokes, men tend to appreciate the world of pro wrestling for the art form that it is more than most women do. Men tend to “get it” more. Some women do get and appreciate what the whole spectacle is about and wrestling, but those diehard female fans are few and far between. It’s like football, boxing and UFC in that it’s geared towards men and that’s who the business attracts mostly.

Who was your favorite enhancement talent / jobber in JCP?

Keith Larson, Mark Starr (actually more WCW than JCP), Ron Ritchie and Charlie Fulton are the names that immediately come to mind. Don’t know who these men are? Look them up and learn. The more you know…

And there you go. My thanks for reading and again to Matt for the questions. Thoughts, comments and any questions you may have to ask are welcome and appreciated. And with that, I’m out of here. Until the next time, take care and I’ll catch you on the flip side.

Ubuntu!