Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Legacy, Rick Steamboat, Don West & More
January 1, 2023
DougMaynard.com

We’re still on Day One of the new year and here comes the new boss, same as the old boss, but all in all, it’s just another brick in the wall. Okay, that intro makes absolutely no sense, but song lyrics are always cool so I’ll stick with it anyhow. It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. You ask and I answer. Let’s do this.

What if Legacy (Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase Jr.) reunited in the WWE?

It’s highly unlikely since Randy is out with back injuries, Cody is out with injuries of his own and is due to return for a big singles push, and Ted DiBiase Jr. has retired from the business for several years now and he & his family, father Ted Sr. and brother Brett are currently facing a bunch of legal issues. Too much baggage for a return to the WWE in my opinion. But if everyone was healthy and had their issues behind them, a return of this dastardly trio as a team would be great to see happen. I personally would love it.

The Masked Superstar versus Demolition Ax. Who wins?

The catch here of course is that both characters were portrayed by the same man at different stages in his career, that man being Bill Eadie of course. But if this match could happen, Superstar would win and now, let me explain why. It’s a singles match. Superstar was a premiere singles wrestler. As Ax Eadie was primarily a tag team wrestler and rarely worked singles matches. Thus, Masked Superstar would have a huge advantage. So The Superstar wins. And there you go.

Rumors are that it might be Logan Paul versus John Cena at Wrestlemania. Thoughts?

This would be a good match. If Paul is healthy enough to compete, Cena would make a great opponent for him. Neither man would be hurt by a loss and the build and promos would be awesome. Book it, HHH.

“Several of the top guys, Chris Jericho being among them, told the rest of the locker room that they’d make sure Punk wasn’t brought back,” Meltzer recently wrote. Thoughts?

Jericho and The Elite might be saying this if Meltzer is correct, a big “if” for sure, but who gives a damn what they’re saying? Tony Khan is the boss and if a deal can be worked out and Punk wants to come back, there is too much money laying on the table for a Punk versus The Elite feud for AEW to ignore. Having Punk return and feud with The Elite would be, as they say, best for business for AEW and all parties involved in the drama. Whatever Jericho and others may be saying, it’s just talking. The decision belongs to Tony Khan and Tony alone.

Larry “The Axe” Hennig, Mr. Perfect Curt Hennig & Joe Hennig, aka Curtis Axel versus Blackjack Mulligan, Barry Windham & Bo Dallas. Who wins?

Three generations of the Hennig family versus three generations of the Windham family. And think of the history here. Curt & Barry teamed together in WCW and were part of the West Texas Rednecks together. Axel & Dallas were the B-Team and 2x Tag Team Champions in WWE. And the two elder statesmen of the two teams, Larry “The Axe” and Blackjack Mulligan, held the IWE Tag Team Titles together in Japan in 1970, plus were both initially trained by Verne Gagne. So these two families knew each other very well. As for who would win, it’s a very tough call. I’m a big fan of all six men, but that being said, I think the Mulligan/Windham clan would be the ones to take that trip to the pay window.

Why has wrestling turned what used to be finishing moves into weak-ass strikes? DDT? Super Kick to the face? Spiked piledrivers from the top rope??? Back in the day, that would be the end of someone.

Why? Because they’re flashy and look good and the wrestlers of today don’t know how to slow it down and tell a story. It’s all about the high spots and doing the moves, but nothing is about selling or telling the narrative. Professional wrestling as a means to tell a story and take the fans on an emotional roller coaster is a lost art these days and no one has the patience or ability anymore. It’s all about selling and no one knows how to sell anymore. And there you go.

Bill Apter recently speculated about Rick Steamboat returning to the WWE for an appearance in the Royal Rumble match. Would you like to see Steamboat get a spot at the Rumble?

While I wouldn’t mind seeing Rick show up and maybe be part of the pre-show panel or maybe work as a commentator or special referee for a match, I have no desire at all to see him as part of a match or the Rumble. Steamboat is 69 years old and while he’s in great shape and had a great “last match” in Raleigh last month, he’s not realistic to compete for the WWE title against Roman Reigns or against 29 other WWE talents. Not anymore. Use him as the legend that he truly is, but for the in-ring activity or title matches against the current WWE roster, that just doesn’t make any sense.

Should R-Truth be put with Hit Row to give them a push and the rub they desperately seem to need?

If Hit Row is to be used and pushed, sticking Truth with them in a semi-serious role would be a great way to go. Hit Row needs someone who can guide them and act as a coach and Truth would be perfect. He’s a good talker and knows how to be serious when necessary, plus as a former NWA World Champion, he would give them some credibility that they desperately need. This would also extend Truth’s career for a few years without having to take bumps or get physical quite as often. I would love to see this happen.

Former TNA Announcer Don West passed away a few days ago. Thoughts?

West’s battles with cancer have been well documented so I won’t go into that here. Let me say that he was a very unique and positive person and what he added to TNA in their early days was very huge in the company’s survival. Condolences to friends, family, and fans of Don West from all of us here at the site. He was a bright spot of light in what can often be a very dark profession. Rest in Peace, Don West. You will be missed.

Charlotte Flair is back and took the WWE Smackdown Women’s Championship from Ronda Rousey in 40 seconds. What’s next for Charlotte? What about Ronda?

For Charlotte, it’s another run at the top and championship for arguably the best woman in WWE right now. I’m not sure who will be stepping up to challenge her next, but I’m thinking Raquel Rodriguez or possibly even Chelsea Green when she makes her return.

As for Rousey, I saw in an interview a few months ago that she was getting tired of being a singles star and wanted to try something different. I’m thinking we’ll see her and Shayna Baszler go after the Women’s Tag Team Titles before breaking up and maybe having a Fight Pit Match at Mania. That’s my guess anyhow, but we’ll have to wait and see if I’m right.

And there you go. My thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and any questions are welcome and appreciated. So long as it involves wrestling, no question is off limits so bring them on. And with that, I’m out of here. Until the next time, take care and be well, my friends. Watch out for foreign objects. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!