Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A (Extended Edition)
Team RK-Bro, The Fiend, CM Punk & Daniel Bryan & More
July 27, 2021
DougMaynard.com

I’ve been slack so it’s time to play catch-up and that means an extended edition of the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. The questions have been piling up and it’s time to get ‘er done. Let’s do this.

Do you think that the new Tommy End character could form a sort of Dark Order-like group?

Tommy End, now known as Malakai Black, is a good wrestler who was misused by WWE and now has a second chance in AEW. It’s a big gain for AEW and I expect that we’ll see Black make a big impact for the company. But should he form a faction? No, we already have a Dark Order faction and AEW has far too many factions as it is. Let Black be a solo character and solo star. He doesn’t need the baggage a faction brings.

How long do you think RK-Bro will last? Can you see Riddle ever being the top guy in the company? And can you see him making a heel turn at any point?

Team RKO is an interesting mix that has captured the imagination of many WWE fans and I can see WWE milking it for a while before pulling the plug on this makeshift, yet an effective team. I would give it until around time for the Royal Rumble and then set up a blow-off match at Wrestlemania between Orton and Riddle. Can Riddle be the top guy for WWE? If he lightens up a bit on the comedy, I can definitely see it happening. As for being a heel, it could happen, but it would require a total character revamp and probably won’t happen anytime in the near future.

Why does WWE never mention Brock & Sable being married or show her at any of his matches?

Because there is no point. Sable is a name from the past and if she was interested in working for WWE again or being a part of Brock’s on-screen package, I’m sure that she would be used, but it seems as if the former Playboy centerfold is content to stay at home, out of the spotlight, and away from the business so more power to her. If she’s not an essential part of the storyline for Brock and his character, there’s no reason to bring her name up.

Will WWE be better with HHH in charge?

Everyone seems to think so and I do think, from a wrestling perspective, the company may get better to a degree, but the shadow of Vince McMahon looms large and I think Vince’s ideas and presence will always have a major say in what the WWE says, does, and is.

Will CM Punk arrive in AEW in Chicago?

If the rumors are true, I would say yes, but who knows for sure? We’ll just have to watch and see.

In their prime who you got Big Show or Andre the Giant?

In their prime, Andre was throwing dropkicks and was pretty damn awesome to behold. Big Show had a ton of potential but seemed to rely more on just power than anything else. I would go with Andre.

What do you think the chances are that Braun shows back up at SummerSlam once they rework his contract since they released him for “financial reasons” so to speak? He just seems too much like a Vinny Mac perfect template.

I doubt WWE is bringing back Braun merchandise if they’re not bringing back Braun so I would say that a potential return of the “Monster Among Men” seems pretty likely.

If you could lead a 5 man survivor series team, who would you take and who would you love to see across the ring from you?

I would have the best of the best, a team consisting of Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane (in their primes with Jim Cornette tagging along at ringside), Arn Anderson, The Living Legend Larry Zbyszko, and Bill Eadie, wearing the mask as the Masked Superstar. And across the ring from us would be Triple H, Shawn Michaels, The Road Dogg, Billy Gunn, and X-Pac, with Chyna at ringside. My team versus DX.

If Brock Lesnar were to come back to WWE for one more match, which world champ would you like to see him against, Reigns or Lashley?

I would prefer to see him up against Roman just because of the Paul Heyman factor that would be involved. Would Paul go with The Beast or his Tribal Chief? That would be the story for this match and feud.

What do you think the chances are of Big E winning MITB, then cashing in on Lashley?

This question came in before the MITB pay-per-view and as we all already know, Big E did win the MITB contract. As for going against Bobby Lashley, it would make sense since Lashley has been feuding against Big E’s partners from the New Day as of late.

Do you think it’s time for another rebranding for Bray Wyatt, or do you think The Fiend will return?

Bray needs to do something to freshen up his character, but a full rebranding might be too much in my opinion. I’d have him go back to more of the original Bray Wyatt, the leader of a new Wyatt Family, with the Fiend being his alter-ego who only pops up when things are getting especially nasty, much like Finn Balor does with the Demon character. Less is more.

Do you think, Daniel Bryan will come to AEW? How about CM Punk?

If the rumors are true, then I would say yes for both men. In WWE, both would be ignored, wasted, and just two more faces in the crowd, but if Tony Khan has decided to open up his checkbook and gives these guys reasonable creative control of their characters and storylines, there is a shitload of money to be made. It would be good for AEW and both Bryan and Punk. I hope it does happen.

If Punk does sign with AEW, do you think AJ Lee will be signed by AEW as well?

AJ Lee is a damn good wrestler and a big-name talent and if AEW is smart, then I think they would definitely sign her as well to add strength to their Women’s Division, an area where they are majorly lacking right now.

Do you think Marty Jannetty could’ve been as a big star as Shawn Michaels if he got clean of drugs?

Marty might have had a better career without the drugs, but he’s no Shawn Michaels and that’s pretty obvious. Would he have done well and been a good mid-card name? Yes. Would he have been a star in Michael’s league? Absolutely not.

And there you go. My thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and any questions you may have are welcome and appreciated. Until the next time, stay safe and be good. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!