Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
The Hollywood Blondes, R-Truth, Matilda The Hun & More
January 10, 2022
DougMaynard.com

Welcome to the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. It’s Monday morning and you know what that means. Nothing much, but it’s Monday morning. Bleh! Let’s answer a few questions.

Who’s going to be the new General Manager of NXT?

With the termination of William Regal, not only did WWE lose a talent scout, trainer, coach, and legend, but also the long-time General Manager of the NXT brand. So the question is who will take Regal’s spot as the top authority figure? I honestly don’t think that we’ll get another General Manager. That character is stale and played out and anyone else aside from Regal would pale in comparison. And why should they get a new GM anyhow when the person allegedly in charge behind the scenes, probably the only HHH loyalist that Vince won’t fire, is Shawn Michaels. HBK is there and if a situation requires an authority figure to step in, HBK can easily do the job and take care of things.

Thoughts on former RAW Commentator Tom Phillips replacing Matt Stryker on Impact Wrestling?

I like Matt Striker, but Impact getting Tom Phillips was a major acquisition for the company. I think Phillips was very good when he was working at NXT and as the lead announcer for RAW and WWE dropped the ball when they let him go a few months ago. He definitely adds to the Impact product and I’m glad to see him back in the role of a lead announcer for one of the top wrestling companies.

Negative One versus Marko Stunt. Who wins?

First off, let me follow up on a recent Marko Stunt question. I still don’t know his status with AEW, but he was in the news today that he’s trying to get on the show, The Voice. so maybe he’s the next American Idol, but on the rip-off version show. We’ll have to watch and see. As for Marko versus Negative One, my money would be on Negative One. He’s the son of the late Brodie Lee after all, and no one is going to be heel enough to beat up on a 9-year old. Well, MJF would, but Marko wouldn’t. Negative One wins.

The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, Danny Davis) w/ Jimmy Hart versus The Von Erichs (David, Kevin, Kerry) in a six-man elimination match. Who wins?

This would be a good match and fun to see. I think that the Hart Foundation would end up with the win though as Bret, Neidhart, and yes, even Davis, were actually more well-rounded talents, plus they had Jimmy Hart at ringside. The Von Erich boys were good, but they were very protected in World Class by their dad in the booking and so forth. The Hart group didn’t have that advantage and thus, worked to be better in-ring talents. The Hart Foundation wins.

Ric Flair is claiming that Becky Lynch is no longer “The Man” because of him. Thoughts?

WWE is still selling merchandise with “The Man” on it for Becky and if they weren’t allowed to use the term, that merch would be pulled. I think they just backed off for now since Becky’s character changed up and they wanted to reflect the change and just to shut Ric up. Ric has gone pretty much bat-shit crazy over the past year, just rambling and burning bridges. Ric is almost in the Hulk Hogan level of telling lies and making shit up. Anything Ric says at this point, just take it with a grain of salt. Woooooo!

I saw where Matilda The Hun, aka Queen Kong, from GLOW passed away. Does she belong in the WWE Hall of Fame?

Deanna Booher, who wrestled for GLOW, POWW, and as an Independent star for many years, was very unique and colorful and was one of the most recognizable characters in pro wrestling from that era of women’s wrestling. She was good at what she did and left a great legacy and will be missed. But so far as being part of the WWE Hall of Fame, I would say nope. I can easily see and would support Dave MacLane, the founder of GLOW and POWW getting into the Hall of Fame since he was the primary reason behind both shows and giving women the spotlight away from Moolah’s greedy clutches. Booher should get a shout-out and she definitely will be missed, but aside from an acknowledgment on RAW Monday night, I don’t expect anything else on her behalf from the WWE.

Hollywood Blondes. Many teams have used that name. The originals were Buddy Roberts & Jerry Brown. Rip Rogers & Ted Oates used the name as did Larry Sharpe & Jack Evans. And everyone remembers Steve Austin & Brian Pillman in WCW. Which version of the team was the best?

I never had the chance to see the Rogers/Oates team or the Sharpe/Evans team, but I do remember the originals, Roberts & Brown, managed by Sir Oliver Humperdink, in the late ’70s in the wrestling magazines, the Apter mags. And of course, we all know Austin/Pillman and the magic they had in WCW in the early ’90s. The original Blondes were good, but Austin & Pillman took the gimmick, updated and modified it, make it ten times better, and then ran with it until behind the scenes powers-that-be in WCW, Ric Flair, had them broken up. So best version? Austin & Pillman by far.

R-Truth. Does he deserve at least one run with the WWE Championship? And does he belong in the WWE Hall of Fame?

Hall of Fame? Definitely. When Truth decides to retire and call it a day, he should absolutely get that esteemed honor. He’s a former NWA Champion, U.S. Champion, Tag Team Champion, Hardcore Champion, Mixed Match Challenge Winner, and 53-time WWE 24/7 Champion, and is definitely Hall of Fame worthy. As for winning the WWE or Universal Championship, I can’t see a long title reign for Truth, but winning the belt in a multi-man match or Ladder Match and holding on to the belt for a week or two to transition the championship, I’d definitely pop for that and would love to see it happen, as would I suppose, ninety-percent of the WWE Universe.

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. Take care and I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!