Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
David Otunga, Big Swole, Finn Balor & More
April 25, 2022
DougMaynard.com

Scarier than the legendary McGuire Twins at the Golden Corral buffet, it’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. Let’s do this.

What wrestler from the past do you wish this younger generation knew how great he was in the ring or as a character?

Great wrestlers from days past that today’s fans don’t really know about, but should? Three that come to mind are Ole Anderson, Baron Von Raschke, and Col. DeBeers. Ole was the grizzled old grouch who would out-wrestle and grind down his opponents. The Baron, a former Olympic athlete who played the monocle-wearing Nazi, and DeBeers, who played the racist Apartheid loving South African. These men were all great wrestlers and even more so, great characters. And no one did a promo better than Ole. No one could make you hate them more than the Baron or DeBeers. These three men are true wrestling icons and legends. Go on YouTube and look them up and watch and learn and love. You’ll be glad you did.

What are your five biggest pet peeves about professional wrestling?

For me personally, what irks me are scripted promos, changing names from established names to stupid, fake-sounding names, too many high flying, and contrived moves, 50-50 booking, and not enough Asuka on my television set.

Thoughts on David Otunga?

Does Otunga still even work for the WWE? He’s a so-so wrestler, who just happens to be an attorney and was once married to Jennifer Hudson. Otunga was okay to watch but didn’t seem, to me, to have natural rhythm and flow and it seemed that he was overthinking every time he stepped into the ring. He did have a good physique, but I think his marriage has far more to do with keeping him employed than his actual in-ring abilities did.

Booker T recently said that for any AEW Wrestler to be booked to wrestle on AEW Dark is a demotion. Agree or disagree?

I will disagree because most of the talent in AEW is lucky to be wrestling anywhere, much less for the #2 Promotion in the United States. While AEW Dark is not a prime spot, they’re still getting used and booked and fans are still getting to see them. With a roster as large and bloated as AEW’s right now, that is nothing to complain about. Booker is just trying to stir the pot, but in this case, he’s wrong.

Big Swole recently said that she doesn’t like to burn bridges and that her line is still open for Tony Khan. Should Tony give her another chance in AEW?

She left, crapped all over Khan and AEW, and is now trying to backslide. She wasn’t very good then and I’ve seen nothing to indicate that she’s any good now. Khan should just forget about Big Swole and let her be.

Rick Steamboat & Paul Jones versus Lex Luger & Sting versus Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard versus The Blackjacks (Mulligan & Lanza). Who wins?

Four teams from four eras of professional wrestling. This would be a brutal match to watch, both literally and figuratively. The Blackjacks have the size, while Arn and Tully have the teamwork advantage. Steamboat and Youngblood are damn good, but at the time they were teaming, Jones was just starting to slow down, while Steamer wasn’t quite into his prime as of yet. Luger and Sting were good, but never really struck me as having the in-ring chemistry together. I think by hook or crook, or aid from JJ Dillion, that Arn and Tunny would find a way and come out on top here.

What is going on with Finn Balor and WWE?

I’m not sure on this one. Balor has been essentially buried as of late on RAW and it’s hard to understand why. He’s as good as ever in the ring and is over like crazy with the fans but despite a run as the United States Champion, WWE (aka Vince) just seems to think of Balor as an afterthought when he could (and should) be right up there at the top of the card. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Balor’s name at the top of the list the next time WWE does a mass release of talent, followed quickly by the notice that Prince Devitt is All Elite. It doesn’t make sense at all, but in today’s WWE, few things ever do.

If Andre the Giant didn’t die do you think he would go to WCW and join the NWO?

Andre died on January 27, 1993, and his final match was just weeks before, a six-man tag in Japan on December 4, 1992. By that point, his health was so bad, that he could barely move or walk and in fact, used a walker for his last appearance on television in the United States. So the obvious thing here is, that even if he hadn’t died when he did, his health was failing quickly, and his career was pretty much over. The NWO didn’t form until July 7, 1996, so there is no way Andre would have been able to be a part of this faction even if he had chosen to. And also, Andre was loyal to the WWF and Vince McMahon. Going to WCW and working second fiddle to Hogan again? I just can’t see it.

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

Ubuntu!