Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
CM Punk, The Elite & More
September 8, 2022
DougMaynard.com

I’m sorry folks. I meant to do this several days ago, but to put it nicely, I’ve been under the weather. I feel like absolute crap! Spent all day Monday in bed, worked Tuesday night (mistake), and then spent all day yesterday in bed as well. Now it’s nearly 4 in the morning, Thursday morning, and I’m awake, but thinking of heading back to bed again. I think I may need to go see a doctor. Who knows? But before I keel over, let’s talk about the craziness that currently is AEW and pro wrestling. It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A and probably the last one for a while. Let’s do this.

Thoughts on CM Punk’s comments at the Media Scum after All Out?

I’m mixed on this one because Punk was very much out of line and unprofessional, but he had his boss, Tony Khan, sitting right there next to him the entire time, not saying a word and just nodding, as if he’s heard it all before and perhaps even agrees. Punk absolutely crossed the line and would have been better either not saying anything or just a few “no comments” for now, or Khan should have cut him off, taken control of the interview, and maybe let Punk leave earlier. But Punk is Punk and obviously, he says what’s on his mind, and when others in the company, especially when it’s members of management, talk behind your back and gossip about you, he’s the type to call them out, and that’s exactly what he did. His timing was terrible, but as I noted before, it doesn’t look like Tony Khan was going to do anything about it and this was Punk’s moment, so he took it. I don’t agree with his actions, but I do understand them. This all falls on Khan for lack of control and inaction when things started coming to light. Punk had something to say and he did just that. Now let the chips fall where they may.

Thoughts on the alleged fight between CM Punk, Ace Steele, The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega that happened after Punk made his remarks?

I’ve heard many different versions of what happened here, but the one thing that is not questioned is that The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega went to Punk’s locker room to confront him after he finished his remarks at the Media Scrum. Why? As EVPs and executive management, the proper thing would have been to go to Human Resources or maybe even their boss, Tony Khan, if they had problems with what Punk said, and let him straighten things out. But instead of waiting twenty minutes for Khan to get off the air and finish his business, these three went to confront Punk and either stormed into his locker room, kicking down the door, or just walk in, depending on who you believed, and got in his face. If three people come into my room, when I’m alone (apparently Ace Steele’s wife and Punk’s dog, Larry, were the only others in the locker room. Steele came in when he heard his wife/Larry), I’m going to be ready to defend myself and fight. The details of the fight keep changing, but the bottom line for me is that the EVPs decided to go after Punk and confront him in his locker room rather than be professional executives and deal with this in a professional manner. As a result, all hell broke loose and the Elites have all allegedly been suspended, plus stripped of their Trios Championship. Punk has been stripped of the AEW World Championship and may be suspended or fired. Who knows? Same with Ace Steele. Who knows? And for some reason, the agents and others who allegedly tried to break up the situation and restore control, Christopher Daniels, Pat Buck, Michael Nakazawa, and Brandon Cutler have all been suspended as well, but for what reasons, who the hell knows? It’s just a crazy situation and I’ll wrap it up like this. In my opinion, Punk was wrong to make the remarks he did when he did. The Elite was wrong to go to Punk’s dressing room for a confrontation. And there you go.

Braun Strowman is coming back to the WWE. Thoughts?

I’m not a big Strowman fan, but I think WWE can use him better than any other wrestling company right now and if booked correctly, he can big a huge asset to the company. Let’s just see how this goes before I start to pass judgment.

Did you watch all three PPVs this past weekend? Best? Worst? What matches & moments stood out as the best for you?

I did watch Clash At The Castle and World’s Collide. I followed the results of All Out online as they happened. The best show was Clash at the Castle. The crowd was live and into it all night long and the matches were a bit predictable but solid. Just a good wrestling event. The worst was AEW All Out. The matches were good and there was plenty of good storytelling, but it was so much compacted into so little time that it was hard to take in and appreciate what was happening. And the match that stood out the most? I don’t think we saw a single actual wrestling move, but Sheamus & Gunther stole the show. It was brutality at its very best and just a solid, strong fight. I loved it.

MJF is back. Thoughts?

I”m glad to see him back and the timing is perfect. With four of the top stars apparently out of action for a while, or maybe even for good, AEW really needs a strong top guy to step up. This is his time and his place. Best of luck to him and I’m happy to see him back.

Was Gunther versus Sheamus the best match at any wrestling event this weekend?

Yes, just yes…

Is CM Punk at the level of wrestling icon to Chicago as Bruno Sammartino was to New york?

I don’t know if he’s at that level now, especially after this past weekend, but I think the reaction of the fans to Punk in Chicago and Bruno in New York are very comparable. Flair in Charlotte and the Von Erich family in Dallas would probably also fit into the comparisons.

And I guess that’s all for now. My head is spinning so I’m calling it a day and heading back to bed. Thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts & any questions are welcome and appreciated. Until the next time, take care and be safe. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!