Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Wardlow, Ole Anderson, Ox Baker & More
April 20, 2023
DougMaynard.com

So are you ready to talk about the world’s greatest form of entertainment and sports? It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. Let’s go.

So Arn Anderson is now with Wardlow as his manager and Wardlow is now the new TNT Champion. Thoughts?

I’m glad to see that AEW is finally doing something with Double-A and putting him together with Wardlow can only help both men advance in their current career paths. As for Wardlow, he was on fire, got buried, and then vanished, and now he’s back on top in AEW. Let’s just hope that this time, the bad booking doesn’t throw his momentum off track again. AEW has a potential big star with Wardlow and he is an asset to the company. This should be interesting to see how it goes.

Did AEW bury Powerhouse Hobbs or what?

Hobbs got buried quicker than a pile of feces at a campground. He gets essentially squashed in this match, losing a title that did absolutely nothing to elevate his career and status in the company, and as soon as the match ends, the new champion is pointing fingers at Christian and Luchasaurus. Hobbs has the potential to be a big name for AEW, but this crappy booking sure isn’t helping things and makes no sense. Hobbs deserves better and that’s for damn sure.

How do you feel about Brock Lesnar’s new look?

What new look? He’s wearing a leather duster now. With Brock, the look and clothes don’t matter. His character could come out wearing a bunny suit and he’d still be a scary badass. The new jacket is cool, but it’s not a big deal in my opinion.

Terry Funk, Mick Foley & Owen Hart versus Jerry Lawler, Bill Dundee & Jimmy Valiant. Who wins?

Memphis’s best versus two hardcore legends and everyone’s favorite Hart. This would be chaos at its best and a brawl for the ages. Funk, Foley, and Owen would be the heels here and with the assistance of probably Jimmy Hart, would steal the pin and get the win.

Ox Baker’s birthday was yesterday. Thoughts on the Master of the Heart Punch?

Ox was a great wrestling character with a fantastic look. His in-ring skills weren’t great, but they didn’t need to be. The look, the promos, and of course, that heart punch, and Ox equaled money. Ox was also, from all accounts, just a very good man and cool dude outside the ring and truly a gentle giant with a smile and kind words for almost everyone. A true legend in every sense of the word and a man who is very much missed by his peers and fans. He belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame. Believe that!

Tony Khan recently said that Britt Baker & Thunder Rosa “will never get along”. Thoughts?

They don’t have to get along so long as they can be professional, work together if needed, and leave the childish bitterness and comments, mainly from Baker, at home. No one is asking them to be friends, but just be professional and that’s all that matters. Of course, given the nature of AEW and the EVPs, that might be too much to ask or expect. Why Khan is even having to comment on this, I don’t understand. Just make sure that they understand to be professional and if they can’t, then they’re gone. It’s really that simple.

What’s a greater work? The Montreal Screwjob or the CM Punk/Elite backstage brawl?

So far, the Punk/Elite stuff. It’s fresh on everyone’s mind and may end up making AEW some money in the end. The Screwjob didn’t benefit anyone in the big picture of things.

What is Ole Anderson’s legacy in the world of pro wrestling? How do you think he’ll be remembered?

Ole was a great talker, a great character, and a damn good booker with a strong mind for the wrestling business. He was also blunt, outspoken, and had little regard for manners or being respectful. I think Ole has left a great history as a wrestler, being a part of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew with Gene Anderson and then as part of the original Horsemen. I think his time booking both the Mid-Atlantic and Georgia territories at the same time, is beyond reproach and something even the most reluctant fan must respect. And his attitude and bluntness rubbed a lot of people the wrong way and he’ll be remembered for being bitter and being stuck in the past. I think, with Ole, there is no middle ground. You either love & respect him, or else you don’t. I always have and think he’s a true icon of this great sport who belongs in every Wrestling Hall of Fame there is. I probably wouldn’t enjoy working for him, but the man got things accomplished and never went down without a fight. I like that.

Andre the Giant & Dusty Rhodes versus Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage. Who wins?

It wouldn’t be a clean win, but I think the Mega Powers would walk out with their arms raised at the end of the match.

Tony Khan tells you to put together a faction for AEW because we all know AEW needs more factions, and he promises a big push for the group with you as their manager. You get to pick four men and one woman, but it can not be anyone who is currently part of any other group. Who would be in your faction?

So I guess we’re talking about my version of the Jericho Appreciation Society, but with myself in the Jericho role, right? The Maynard Appreciation Society. I like that. And my five recruits, from the current AEW roster, would be Brock Anderson, Brian Pillman Jr., Shawn Spears, Dalton Castle, and Kris Statlander.

Same question, but with WWE and replacing Tony Khan’s name with Triple H and Vince. Who would be in your group?

There are not quite as many factions in WWE, so it wouldn’t be as hard to put a group together of quality talent. My faction called the House of Maynard in a sign of respect to Sir Oliver Humperdink and his legendary faction, the House of Humperdink, would be Robert Roode as my main guy, with Grayson Waller and Pretty Deadly (Elton Prince and Kit Wilson) as my other three men. My lovely lady of the family would be Ava Raine. And we would dominate and kick ass.

And there you go. My thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and any questions are welcome and appreciated. And with that, let’s close down shop for the night. Take care and stay well, my friends. Watch out for that heart punch and any foreign objects. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!