Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Orange Cassidy, Ric Flair, CM Punk, AEW vs NXT and More
September 5, 2019
DougMaynard.com

It’s way too early on a Thursday morning to be awake, but here I am. Hurricane Dorian is supposed to start moving in today and the rain, albeit light right now, has already started. I’m sure we’ll be selling the hell out of some liquor today at the place of employment, but that’s cool because that’s what we do. Something else I do is a thing called the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. I’ve been slack as of late with this (and all of my writing to be honest), but it’s time to either shit or get off the pot. Yes, that’s a Randall quote from “Clerks”. I do that sometimes too… steal quotes from my favorite movies.

But it’s not about quotes and catch-phrases here. Well, one question is, but mostly this is much much more. It’s questions about the world’s greatest form of entertainment, courtesy of Jesse and The Cheese. There are so many waiting to be answered, but for now, let’s just tackle the first batch. I’ve got the answers and it all starts right now…

Credit: Jesse

Now that they have three shows under their belt, do you see AEW as a threat to WWE?

I see them as an alternative, but not really a threat. The matches are good and the stories are decent, but the production values, when compared to WWE, are like comparing Junkyard Dog to Daniel Bryan in terms of technical wrestling skills. Each does their own thing and is successful at it, but there isn’t really any true comparison. That’s what we have here. I wish AEW well with lots of success and making lots of money, but I don’t think that WWE has much reason to be concerned. WWE and NXT will keep their fans and AEW will attract the die-hards and strayed fans from days ago who don’t watch WWE regularly anyways. As the Monday Night Wars proved with record ratings back in the day, there are enough fans to go around and for everyone to be successful. It’s all a matter of drawing them to the product.

Thoughts on the Drake Maverick / R-Truth feud over the 24/7 title?

Did you see it. Bo Dallas is now a 1-time 24/7 Champion. He just had to Bo-Lieve. As for Truth and Maverick (and Elias and everyone else involved in the 24/7 Championship chase), this title has become TV gold and is arguably the best consistent thing on RAW and Smackdown right now. I had my doubts with it when it was first announced, but Truth and Maverick have really taken the ball and ran with it. I wonder if Drake has ever consummated his marriage yet?

Would Rick Steamboat have made a good Horseman?

It’s a shame that it never happened, but I think Steamer was smart enough and good enough that he would have been great for a short run as a heel Horseman. Much like Sting, it would have to end with the Horsemen turning on Steamer to make it really work, but it would have been a shocking and fun angle to see back in the day.

Ernie Ladd versus The Big Show – who wins?

Whoever the booker wants to win, right? This would have been an interesting match to have since both men are big guys, but Ladd was more about sneaky and being a smart wrestler while Show is about strength and power. Ladd regularly held his own against Andre the Giant in his prime so I don’t think that Show would be as much of a challenge as one would think. I’ll go for the “Big Cat” and his loaded thumb to steal the win in this one.

Dream match for Orange Cassidy?

Cassidy is a fun comedy wrestler and would be at his best against another comedy wrestler who can still work and go if needed. Go and watch Cassidy’s matches against Joey Ryan and Swoggle for examples of how good this man can be against the right opponent. As for a dream match, Santino Marella is the first name that came to mind. Disco Inferno could be a fun match as well. And Tommy Dreamer still owes Cassidy for that terrible and brutal beating from All In. So Santino, Disco and Dreamer are my picks.

Credit: The Cheese

Who do you think were the best “brothers” tag team in wrestling?

Are we talking real, legit brothers or “wrestling brothers” with this question? For “wrestling brothers”, the men who set the bar and were and still are the best are the team of Ole and Gene Anderson, the Minnesota Wrecking Crew. They wrote the book on tag team wrestling and while it’s been updated a few times since, they’re still THE TEAM so far as tag team matches go. As for real, true blood brothers, I think that Jimmy & Jey, the Usos, earn that spot. The men are team personification at it’s best.

CM Punk said that he is open to talking to WWE. Thoughts?

I just wonder how long it will be before Vince and Hunter sit down, have that talk about the pros and cons of CM Punk in the WWE, realize the money that it could and would bring, and make that call. Vince claims to be “stepping back” so most likely, HHH would have to be the one to pick up the phone, but I think it’s just a matter of time until it happens. And then Punk versus Shane to be the “Best In The World” at Mania. Book it now.

Better show – NXT Takeover: Cardiff or AEW: All Out?

Both shows were well done and fun to watch, but NXT has it all over AEW in terms of camera shots and production quality and consistency. Truthfully, it’s like comparing apples and oranges. I like both fruits, but my tastes change and sometimes I want one and other times, the other. Both were damn good. ‘Nuff said!

Thoughts on Ric Flair trying to copyright the phrase “The Man”?

Ric is “the man” when it comes to wrestling, but right now, it’s also the catch-phrase for one of the new talents, Becky Lynch, the future of pro wrestling. Ric trying to copyright the phrase and cash in is not a smart move by the “Nature Boy” and can’t be going over well with Vince and HHH. They have bailed Ric out of trouble so many times in the past and here goes Ric, proving that he has no true loyalty except for the almighty dollar, trying to make a quick buck. RIc needs to just drop it and just get back to styling and profiling for WWE and give up this wild “man” chase. All Ric is doing is burning a bridge that Vince and Hunter might just decide isn’t worth it in the big picture of things.

And that’s all for now. My thanks for reading. Questions, comments and any thoughts, about wrestling or anything else, just drop me a line, either here at the site or at my e-mail of Doug28352@yahoo.com. And now, time to get ready for work, eat some breakfast and get ready to face the storm that is Dorian. Until the next time, take care and stay safe.

Ubuntu!