Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
JYD, Cody Rhodes, Ric Flair & More
June 9, 2022
DougMaynard.com

Just imagine a remake of the movie “Boogie Nights”, but instead of Marky-Mark & Burt Reynolds, the stars would be the Boogie Knights (Alex Wright & Disco Inferno), The Boogie Woogie Man Jimmy Valiant, and the Boogey Man. Admit it. You’d watch. And now that you’re thinking of it, it’s going to be stuck in your mind for the rest of the night. You’re welcome.

And now, it’s time to talk about the world’s greatest sport. It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. Let’s do this.

Meltzer had credibility? When?

Believe it or not, there was a time many, many years ago, before he became so firmly attached to Kenny Omega’s teet, that Meltzer was semi-reliable and considered a founding father for the dirt sheets, the predecessors of what we all know now as the IWC. But that was then and as time passed, Uncle Dave’s desperation to be well-liked by Tony Khan and the ravages of time have taken their toll. He’s a shadow of himself and wrong more than he’s right. But it hasn’t always been this way. That’s just how it is now.

Would Junkyard Dog have made a good WWF Champion?

No, I don’t think so and I’ll tell you why. Vince McMahon didn’t know how to book and use JYD properly, and to be honest, from what I’ve seen looking back on JYD’s matches during his time in the WWF, he was just a shadow of the performer that was so well-loved in Mid-South. Bill Watts, say what you will about him, knew how to book JYD strong and as a hero, a top star, etc. Vince didn’t get it and JYD was just phoning it in and it showed, at least from my perspective. The Mid-South version of JYD as the WWE Champion? Sure. But the version that showed up in the WWF? Not so much.

Who do you feel is a former NWA champion that gets forgotten about?

So far as champions of the real NWA, the era before WCW dropped them as a partner, I’d say Dory Funk Jr. He wasn’t the most exciting wrestler and didn’t have the tough-guy persona of a Harley Race, but he could have a great match with anyone and was a great champion. Also, from the forgotten era of the NWA, I think Mike Rapada, aka The Colorado Kid, was impressive as a two-time NWA Champion and did a great job during his time with the title.

Adrian Street & Miss Linda versus The Miz & Maryse. Who wins?

As much as I love Street and Linda, Miss Linda was not a trained wrestler. She was a valet for Street, and while I’m sure that she saw plenty of action in the ring over her career, she was not trained as a full-time wrestler. Maryse though, she’s not only a beauty, but she’s damn good in the ring as well. I think Street & Miz would have a great match and it would be competitive, but with Linda & Maryse, it wouldn’t be quite as close. Miz & Maryse win.

Cody wrestled Hell In A Cell with the torn pec. Should WWE have pulled this match?

Under ordinary circumstances, I would say yes, the match should have been pulled, but these were not normal circumstances. Since his return to the WWE, Cody has been pushed so strongly and this was his first match main-eventing a Premium Live Event. If he felt he could do it, which obviously he did, and wanted to, it was his call. It was a gamble to be sure, but that match with Seth, took Cody to the next level and he made the transaction as the toughest SOB in WWE. It was hard to watch, but the benefits and purpose were achieved. So there you go.

If you could build up your own faction with you as the leader, which wrestlers, past or present, would you have in your faction? Also, what would you name your faction?

I always like it when I get a variation of this question because my answer changes almost every time, depending upon my mood at the time and what matches, events, etc., I’ve been watching. And for right now, my faction would follow what I consider the Dangerous Alliance model. I’d want a singles star, a tag team, an enforcer, and a woman. So for my singles star, how about Randy Orton. My tag team would be Bobby Eaton & The Masked Superstar. My enforcer would be Brodus Clay, aka Tyrus. My female would be Lisa Moretti, aka Ivory. And our name? Vanguard!

On a recent podcast, Ric Flair issued a challenge to face Vince McMahon at SummerSlam, which takes place the night before Flair’s supposed last match. Thoughts?

Ric is just being Ric, talking to be talking and throwing everything out there. Ric versus Vince at this stage in their lives would be a train-wreck that no one would want to see. But let’s pretend that Vince decides to think about it. Vince is 76 years old. Ric is 73. I don’t think there is any way that Ric could wrestle Vince at SummerSlam on that Saturday night and then wrestle again the next night without getting hurt. Vince isn’t a good wrestler anyhow and works stiffly as a brawler, and that was when he was younger and coordinated. It would be a mess. It won’t happen and thank goodness for that.

NWA World Champion Matt Cardona recently did a tweet that he should be Flair’s final opponent and it should be Cardona defending the NWA World Championship against Flair. Thoughts?

I’d definitely rather see this than watch Ric wrestling Vince at SummerSlam. And I’ll agree with Cardona that given Ric’s legacy, it would make for a great story and be a great way for Ric to go out and call it a day, competing for the title belt he’s most associated with. But given that Cardona just had surgery two days ago to repair an injury, I don’t know if he’d be ready and cleared to wrestle by the night Ric has scheduled for his last match in Nashville. And as I’ve said many times before, Ric shouldn’t even be trying to wrestle. So while I like the idea and kudos to Cardona for suggesting it and bringing it up, I doubt this is a match we’ll ever see.

And there you go. My thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, or any questions are welcome and appreciated. And with that, I bid you good night. Take care and be safe. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!