Tossing Salt Presents:
Wrestling Fact or Fiction
Roman Reigns, Awards, Too Much Wrestling & More
April 21, 2023
DougMaynard.com

Over at 411mania.com/wrestling, there is a regular feature, written by Mr. Jake Chambers, called Wrestling Fact or Fiction. The general idea is that Jake makes a statement about the great sport that we all know and love, and then it’s our job to agree or not agree and explain why. It’s always a fun time. Well, Mr.Chambers posted a new column at 411mania.com yesterday and so, here we are. Now it’s my turn. It’s Wrestling Fact or Fiction. So, are you ready? Let’s do this.

Statement #1: Roman Reigns should remain the undefeated, undisputed WWE Universal Champion until (at least) Wrestlemania 40 next year.

FICTION: While I can understand the positives of having Roman as the champion for another year, it’s gotten a little stale, and changing things up every so often is a necessary evil. If and when the titles are split back up, keep one of the belts on Roman and give the other to someone else to give more opportunities for wrestlers to challenge for the titles. Variety is the spice of life and WWE needs to keep things spicy at the top of the food chain. Having steak every night, even if it’s prime rib, gets a little redundant after a while and you get the craving for a chili dog instead. Keep Roman strong and near the top of the card. Give us our Prime Rib. But give us our Chili Dogs (Cody, Finn, Brock, Lashley) too.

Statement #2: Having so much wrestling to watch every week now is NOT a good thing.

FICTION: How can this not be a good thing? Yes, watching everything, with WWE, AEW, Impact Wrestling, NXT, ROH, the NWA, MLW, WOW, New Japan, etc., is impossible, but watch what you like and enjoy the most as it happens and keep up with the rest via the internet, wrestling websites, YouTube, etc. I know it’s doable because that’s exactly what I do. There is no such thing as too much of a good thing and for a long-time wrestling fan who still loves the business and everything about it, from the in-ring action to the stories to the promotional aspects, this is a fantasy come true, even better than midget sex. Okay, maybe not better than that, but you get the idea. This is a great time to be a fan of professional wrestling where there is truly something for everyone. Hell to the yeah!

Statement #3: Wrestling journalism awards, like the WON Awards or the PWI 500, are important and meaningful.

FACT: I view these awards as a nod to the wrestlers and matches that stand out just a little bit more than the rest of the crowd. Yes, they are subjective, but it’s a great way to find out about talents, promotions, and matches, that may have gotten lost in the shuffle of the huge amount of wrestling out there, that I may have missed, and might enjoy. Besides, deserved or not, who doesn’t appreciate a little pat on the back for going above and beyond and having a moment? And that’s exactly what these awards do for the wrestlers, the promotions, and the fans. And there you go.

Statement #4: You prefer a 5-minute sprint to a 60-minute draw.

FICTION: It all depends on the match and who the participants are. I don’t mind the occasional squash match or five-minute television match if it serves the purpose to build a star or progress a story, but in general, I want to see a match that tells the story, has a beginning, middle, and end and takes the rivalries to the next step in a logical, yet entertaining manner. So long as the match makes sense and serves a purpose, I can deal with five minutes, twenty minutes, an hour, or whatever it takes. Just use logical and common sense booking for the match and I’ll be happy.

Statement #5: Talking and/or writing about wrestling is better than actually watching wrestling.

FICTION: I’m a person who has been talking and writing about wrestling in some way, shape, or manner for nearly 25 years. I love doing it and it’s one of the huge pleasures of my life. I’ve made many great friends and acquaintances over the years through a mutual love of and bonding over the world’s greatest form of entertainment. And I will talk and discuss wrestling with anyone at any time. That’s me. But I wouldn’t be a fan, a writer, or an advocate, of this great business without great matches and great characters that lured me in and have kept me here for over 45 years now. Talking about and writing about is great, but it’s the matches, the shows, and the wrestlers that first caught my attention and are what keep me coming back for more. I don’t get to watch nearly as often as I used to, but I love the feel of watching a match, breaking down the moves and story, and being caught up in the action and drama. It’s better than sex. Writing and talking are the foreplay and the afterglow.

And there you go. My thanks to Jake Chambers for allowing me to use his FoF statements and play with them a bit. And thanks to you, my loyal readers, for tuning in and giving this a read. Any comments, thoughts, or questions are welcome and appreciated. And with that, it’s time to close things up for a bit. Take care and be well, my friends. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!