Tossing Salt Presents:
Ric Flair’s Last Match
Thoughts & Predictions
July 28, 2022
DougMaynard.com

Coming up on Sunday night, history will be made. It’s the last match of the Nature Boy Ric Flair. Well, allegedly it’s his last match anyhow, but we’ll have to wait and see on that. But regardless, it’s still a great show on paper and will probably be a great show as well. It’s a joint effort of Impact Wrestling, MLW, New Japan, Triple H, AEW, and the WWE, all under the umbrella of Jim Crockett Promotions. This is a big deal.

And of course, with an event this epic, that means thoughts and predictions. I’ve made it clear many times that I’m not comfortable with Flair, at age 73, getting back in the ring, but that being said, the promotion for this event has been excellent. I’ll admit it. I’m excited. Let’s just hope it all goes well for Flair. And now, enough chatting. Let’s make some predictions.

Ric Flair & Andrade El Idolo vs. Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal

The outcome and final results of this match are not in doubt. We all know who the winner will be. Woooooo! The big thing here is what will Ric do? He’ll strut, flop, take the bump off the top rope, do the back-legged trick knee spot to kick the nuts, and finish things up with the figure four. Karen Jarrett is there, so I’d expect Charlotte if she’s able, or maybe even another face from the past, Baby Doll, to pop up and act as a counter. This match won’t be great in a technical sense, but it will be an event for the ages. And I expect, in the final moments, Jarrett will be tapping out to the figure four by Flair. Watch and see.

Winners: Ric Flair & Andrade El Idolo

IMPACT World Championship Match: Josh Alexander vs. Jacob Fatu

Fatu is an amazing talent, part of the Samoan Family Dynasty, and it’s great to see him here getting an opportunity to shine in the spotlight for a little bit. Alexander is a wrestling machine and this match should be one for the ages. I think Fatu will come just so close, but I don’t see a title change happening here. Look for Alexander to retain.

Winner and STILL Impact Wrestling World Champion: Josh Alexander

Impact Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace vs. Deonna Purrazzo vs. Rachael Ellering

If we see a title switch happen, this is the match where I feel it may happen. Grace has a lot of heat going right now, given her stupid comments last week about Benoit and while things seem to have smoothed over, wrestling is a fickle business, and rubbing people the wrong way can have consequences. So look for a title change and of the two challengers, I think Purrazzo is the best option. So I have said and so it shall be.

Winner and NEW Impact Knockouts Champion: Deonna Purrazzo

The Wolves vs. The Motor City Machine Guns

It’s Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin taking on Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards and this match should be an instant classic for fans of tag team wrestling. These are two of the very best and to say this match could go either way is not overstating anything. They are that damn good. I’ll be going for Shelley & Sabin on this one. No reason, but it just feels right.

Winners: The Motor City Machine Guns

Killer Kross w/ Scarlett vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.

This is another one where it doesn’t matter who wins because we know we’re going to have a great match and it’ll be fun, crazy, chaotic, and totally kick-ass. My gut is saying that free-agent Killer Kross and his wife Scarlett may be heading back to some familiar territory before long and thus, they have more to lose by taking the loss. As for Smith? He has that whole British Bulldog legacy going on. He doesn’t have to win so long as the match is good.

Winner: Killer Kross

The Briscoe Brothers vs. The Von Erichs

The Von Erichs, Marshall & Ross, are the sons of World Class Championship Wrestling legend Kevin Von Erich and carry the family tradition, the family name, on very honorably and proudly as one of the top tag teams in MLW. The Briscoes, we all know who they are, just coming off a fantastic match with FTR at the ROH Death Before Dishonor PPV this past weekend. I think this will be the coming-out party for The Von Erich boys as they get their first big opportunity on the world stage to show just how well they can stand up to the great tag teams of today’s wrestling scene. And they’ll do great. But when the final bell tolls, it’ll be The Briscoes getting the big checkmark next to their name.

Winners: The Briscoe Brothers.

Yuya Eumura vs. Ren Narita

Both of these men are talents from All Japan Pro Wrestling and to be honest, I do not know either man except for if they’re being sent to his to represent All Japan Pro Wrestling, they’re probably pretty damn good. So let’s go with the old standby for picking a winner. Heads for Eumura and tails for Narita. Tails it is.

Winner: Ren Narita

Laredo Kid vs. Bandido vs. Taurus vs. Rey Fenix

Here is a four-way dance with the stars from AAA and I think that this one will be fast-paced and one that Lucha fans will enjoy greatly. As for who wins, Fenix is the one that most American fans will be familiar with, due to his regular appearances as part of AEW. This man is so damn good and when the dust settles after this crazy fight between four of AAA’s best, it will be Fenix as the man taking that trip to the pay window.

Winner: Rey Fenix

Jonathan Gresham vs. Nick Wayne vs. Alan Angels vs. Konosuke Takeshita

This match is one that I’m very excited about and looking forward to seeing. I admittingly don’t know Takeshita other than from seeing his name every so often, but Gresham, Wayne, and Angels are three guys I’m very familiar with. Wayne is the young man, age 16 I think, who has caught the eye of AEW and was recently given a contract for when he turns legally adult. Gresham is the former ROH World Champion who made news this week after dropping the ROH title to Claudio at Death Before Dishonor and then allegedly having it out with Tony Khan and asking for a release from his ROH contract. And Alan Angels? Anyone who watches the Sammy Guevera VLOG knows this man, also known as part of the Dark Order in AEW before being released from AEW earlier this month. Gresham should win here, but since I’ve always been an “A In The Chats” type guy, I’m putting my support behind Mr. Angels.

Winner: Alan Angels

Ricky & Kerry Morton versus Brian Pillman Jr. & Brock Anderson w/ Arn Anderson

What would be a Ric Flair show without representation from the Four Horsemen, right? Ric’s “best friend”, the legendary Enforcer of the infamous faction, leads his son, Brock Anderson, and the son of the “Loose Cannon” Brian Pillman, Brian Pillman Jr., up against of the legends of tag team wrestling, the one, and only Ricky Morton, one half of the Rock & Roll Express, accompanied by his son, Kerry Morton. I wouldn’t be surprised, although nothing has been said or confirmed, to see the other half of this Hall of Fame tag team, Robert Gibson, show up to counter the presence of Arn, although that’s just speculation on my part. I’ve seen both Brock & Pillman Jr. wrestle as part of AEW and they’ve got some amazing potential, although to be honest, both Brock and Arn have been MIA from AEW TV for a while. Hey Tony Khan, fix that. As for this match, it should be good and fun to watch. And Pillman and Brock should win, due to interference and maybe a crowbar from dear old Daddy of course. This one should be really good.

Winners: Brock Anderson & Brian Pillman Jr., w/ Arn Anderson

Bunkhouse Battle Royal
Bully Ray, James Storm, Crimson, Crowbar, Kommander, Sinn Bodhi, Rickey Shane Page, Big Damo, Brian Myers, Kal Herro, Wolfie D, Gringo Loco & others TBA.

And finally, we have the tribute to Dusty Rhodes as we’re getting a Bunkhouse Battle Royal. I just hope that the men we see taking part really live up to the tradition of this one and dress appropriately, in bunkhouse-styled clothing and not just their wrestling gear. I’m also excited to see who else, aside from the names already mentioned, will be showing up to take part and participate. As for who wins, the smart money would be on Bully Ray or James Storm, but as soon as I saw his name, I know where my money is being bet. Wolfie D, welcome back to the big time.

Winner: Wolfie D

And there you go, my predictions for what will be a big event and allegedly the last time we’ll ever see Ric Flair step inside that squared circle as an active competitor. Am I right? Am I wrong? Does it matter? So long as Ric gets to bleed, sweat, and walk that aisle one more time, in the overall scheme of things, it doesn’t matter. I kind of expect to see video messages from all across the wrestling spectrum, from stars in the WWE who couldn’t be there, from legends, from big names past and present, being shown regularly as well. And I’ll close by saying, congratulations Ric. Enjoy your moment.

And with that, I”m out of here. Thoughts, comments, or any questions are welcome. Thank you for reading. Take care and be good, my friends. I’ll see you at the matches. Diamonds are forever and so is Ric Flair. To be the man, you got to beat the man, and on Sunday night, Ric Flair is the man. Wooooo.

Ubuntu!