Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Kurt Angle, CM Punk, Santino Marella & More
April 27, 2023
DougMaynard.com

I want to dedicate this to James Garby Jr., who passed away this past Monday. Rest In Peace, my friend. Now, let’s talk wrestling. It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A.

Kurt Angle has indicated that he’d like to work with Chad Gable as a heel. Thoughts?

Kurt can’t really handle the physical aspect of wrestling right now, but he’s always been a great talker and character, and putting the Gold Medal winner in a partnership with another former Olympian, Chad Gable, seems like a no-brainer to me. Gable is a good talker too, but maybe putting together Gable & Shelton Benjamin as a new “Team Angle” with Kurt as their mentor/manager? I’d like to see that.

Do you think that CM Punk will catch heat in AEW for his visit to WWE Raw?

Considering how often WWE contracted performers have shown up backstage at AEW events and AEW talents in the past have been backstage at WWE events, I don’t think anything will come of it or be said. Yes, Meltzer and a few certain EVPs might say something, but so far as Tony Khan or anyone who matters, there isn’t much they can or should say without looking like absolute hypocrites.

Rhea Ripley versus Solo? Should it happen?

I liked the tease and it would make for a fun wrestling moment, but no, it should never happen. Truthfully, I’d be more interested in seeing them put together at some point as a power couple. Maybe once the Judgement Day versus Rey Mysterio story plays out, we’ll see Dom turn on his Mami and Solo come to her defense. That would be compelling TV for sure for somewhere down the road. As for actual physical confrontations between Rhea and Solo, less is more, and keep the thought alive, but don’t take it any further than that.

Do you think we’ll see lots of retired UFC fighters coming to WWE after the Endeavor takes over?

I think we’ll see maybe one or two, but it won’t be like having an army of UFC men and women becoming WWE Superstars. The ones who have a natural affinity towards WWE and pro wrestling might give it a shot, as they probably would anyhow once their UFC careers wind down, but I don’t think it will be any bigger than it would have been normally.

David Arquette & Kevin Federline versus Bad Bunny & Johnny Knoxville. Who wins?

Bad Bunny & Knoxville would win. Arquette and Federline are getting old.

Santino Marella would be open to making a return to the WWE for the Royal Rumble. Thoughts?

Santino made an appearance in the Women’s Royal Rumble as “Santina” a few years ago and it was pretty cool. An opportunity to come back as himself and make a WWE cameo, that would be pretty cool as well. I’d like to see it.

Goldberg and Wardlow are teasing a possible match after an encounter. Is Wardlow next? Thoughts?

If Goldberg does end up doing something with AEW, Wardlow would be the perfect person to have him work with, provided of course that Wardlow goes over the former WCW Champion and gets a clean win. Of all of the ideas I’ve heard as of yet for Goldberg in AEW, this one makes the most sense and could be entertaining. Book it, Tony.

Is introducing a new World Championship the best option for WWE to solve their Roman/Unified Championship problem?

It’s not the best solution in my opinion, but it’s better than nothing. My idea, if I was booking, would be to have Roman defend his titles against whoever the top challenger is, but after Roman loses, have Heyman prove his worth as the Wise Man and note that the contracts signed for the match only specified one title, probably the WWE Championship, and not both belts being on the line. A minor legal technicality, but still a viable reason to keep the Universal Championship on Roman, allowing his reign to continue, but also giving us a new WWE Champion. I like this idea rather than just creating a new title because no one can beat Roman. But so long as they’re doing something, no real complaints here. At least they are doing something.

Dustin Rhodes recently stated that he thinks the AEW Women’s Division is “now thriving”. Thoughts?

I’m wondering if Dustin may have relapsed and taken a ski trip with Tony Khan recently. Or maybe all those bumps on the head have taken their toll? I don’t know what Dustin has been watching, but thriving is not the word I’d use to describe the Women’s Division of AEW. Maybe Dustin just knows something we don’t. I would hope so.

Ric Flair recently stated that he thinks Harley Race would have dominated UFC if it had existed during Harley’s time. Thoughts?

Harley was known as a legit tough guy in real life and could probably take on anyone in a real fight, but UFC? If it had existed and he had known about it, I’m sure he would have given it a shot and probably done well, but dominated? Too many rules and restrictions, I would think. Harley was the perfect professional wrestler and a true legend, both in and out of the ring. UFC though? Probably not as well as Ric seems to think.

Sixty Minute Iron Man Match: Bret Hart versus The Living Legend Larry Zbyszko. Who wins?

It would take twenty-five minutes before they even had the chance to lock up due to Larry’s stalling tactics. It would be a good match and both men would put on a true clinic of action. But in the end, I’m pretty sure that Bret would be the man to walk out and get his arm raised as the winner. Larry is a living legend, but Bret was the best there is, was, and ever will be. Just ask him and he’ll tell you. Bret wins.

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

Ubuntu!