Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Jake Roberts, Midnight Express, Ahmed Johnson & More
February 25, 2022
DougMaynard.com

Let’s talk wrestling. It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A and it all starts now.

I saw something where Jake Roberts admitted to once injuring an opponent intentionally and now feels bad about it. Who was the person he injured and was he right to do so?

The person was Sid Vicious and the deal was that Sid was constantly working stiff with the clotheslines, even after Roberts had told him to stop. Reportedly Sid laughed off Jake’s request and made some smart remarks. So later, in a match, Jake purposedly switched up on a move and caused Sid to have a bicep tear which kept him out of action for nearly six months. Was Jake right to do that? Nope, because in that ring, the wrestlers need to be able to trust each other and work safely to protect their opponent. Do I understand why Jake did it? He asked Sid to be careful and Sid refused, instead choosing to be a smart-ass. So Jake got pissed and people do bad things when they’re pissed off. So was it right? Not at all. Do I get it and understand why? Absolutely.

What was your opinion of the Varsity Club as a heel faction? They never did it for me.

The Varsity Club, consisting of Mike Rotundo, Rick Steiner, and Kevin Sullivan, was a good faction of three very talented wrestlers, but I was never really into them much either. Rotundo, I had liked since I had been watching him perform since his early days with Crockett, but so far as Steiner and Sullivan go, it was more just whatever, okay. Three great wrestlers who had great careers, but the Varsity Club aspect of those careers, was not their best moment in my opinion.

In your opinion, what is the better version of the Midnight express tag team? Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose, Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton, Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane, or Bob Holly and Bart Gunn?

So far as being a wrestling machine and working together as a team, Bobby & Dennis was the best team, but Bobby & Stan had the best look and arguably the most success as a team. When I think Midnight Express, it’s usually Bobby & Stan I think of first.

Why is Sammy Guevera wearing two AEW TNT Championship title belts?

My guess is that he thinks it looks cool. No offense Sammy, but it doesn’t. It looks kind of dorky to me.

Who would you say made the best transition from great wrestler to great Manger in this golden era of wrestling ’70s ’80s 90’s? My pick is Mr. Fuji.

The first names that came to mind for me with this question were “Number One” Paul Jones and “Classy” Freddie Blassie. Both men had outstanding Hall of Fame careers as wrestlers long before transitioning to the role of manager, where they continued and had equally as impressive careers as well. But the most impressive to make that career change, in my opinion, was “Sensational” Sherri Martel. From former AWA Women’s Champion to the manager of stars like Randy Savage, Shawn Michaels, Harlem Heat, etc. Sherri was indeed sensational.

Thunderbolt Patterson vs Jimmy Valiant. Who wins?

This match would suck, badly. The promos though would be fascinating. Between the two men and the gibberish they liked to spout out, no one would have a clue what the hell they were talking about or saying, but they’d still be fascinated and smiling anyhow. And then the match would happen and it would be a stinker. Both men can wrestle, but neither really did all that much so we’d have a brawl, lots of plunder, and pure chaos from bell to bell. And the final result is a double-count out or double disqualification. Nothing else would do.

Were you a fan of Ahmed Johnson?

Johnson had a great body and well, that’s about it. He wasn’t a good worker or talker, but he was big and strong and… that’s about it. Ahmed made a great first impression, but then he tried to wrestle or talk, and that positive first impression was absolutely shot to hell. And then, when he came back to wrestle in WCW as Big T., he didn’t even have the body left. I’m sure that Johnson had some fans, but suffice it to say, I was not one of them.

I was watching some old footage today and realized that at some point, wrestling companies decided when someone runs to the ring to help, their music has to play as well. I think that when the good guy would rush the ring to help his buddy, and no music played it added to the “realism”. I could never understand “hey my buddy is getting beat up, but first I have to get my music cued up.” Lol. What are your thoughts?

I absolutely agree with you on this. If you’re running to the ring to make a save, you don’t stop in the process to have your music cued up. It makes no sense at all and defeats any idea or possibility of believing that it’s real. If you can, go watch the promo that MJF cut this past week about his problems as a kid and what CM Punk meant to him. A damn good promo. Then CM Punk came out as he finished, got into the ring, and asked MJF, “Is that true?”. Punk didn’t have any music playing when he came out. It made the effect real, and if Cult of Personality had been playing before Punk came out, it would have totally destroyed the effect and white-washed everything MJF had said just before. Playing music before making a save or “real moment” destroys the effect and any belief in what’s going on. Don’t do that!

And there you go. My thanks for reading. Any comments, thoughts, or questions you have, be it about wrestling or anything, drop me a line or use the comment box below. Until the next time, take care and be safe. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!