Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Ryback, Ivan Koloff, Bruno & More
May 4, 2023
DougMaynard.com

Let’s talk wrestling. It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. Let’s go.

Roderick Strong is All Elite. Thoughts?

My first thought was “Who?”, but then I remembered him from some NXT events last year. Strong is a good worker and talented guy and I’m happy he scored a contract with AEW. Maybe he’ll be the one that is used well and not get lost in the shuffle. Best of luck to him.

I’m rooting for Seth to win the new World Heavyweight Championship. Who you got?

Seth is the most likely for sure. There are some rumblings about Drew McIntyre as well, but unless he and WWE have agreed on a new contract, I don’t see that happening. But honestly, I’d like to see a total surprise from out of nowhere win the inaugural Championship. Xavier Woods or R. Truth would be great choices and I wouldn’t even mind seeing Shinsuke Nakamura or The Miz pull upsets and walk out with the new gold belt.

Ryback is teasing a return to pro wrestling again. Thoughts?

Who cares? His poll said that he should retire forever and he promised to listen before then doing another poll with essentially the same results. It’s been several years since he last wrestled a match. Let’s keep that streak alive and he can stay away already.

Would Ivan Koloff have worked as the NWA World Champion in the 70s/80s?

Koloff was a former WWWF Champion and had strong, main even runs all over the world, but primarily in Georgia and for Crockett in the Carolinas after that. He was a strong heel and could work with anyone in a strong, consistent fashion. So yes, Uncle Ivan would have been a good candidate to hold the NWA title in that era. I couldn’t see him as a long-term champion, but a short strong reign of 6-8 months would have worked out and gone quite well in my opinion.

Who should Indi Hartwell drop the NXT Women’s title to?

The most recent champion, Indi Hartwell, is injured and was forced to vacate the title with a new champion being crowned at NXT Battleground. My first thought was Ava Raine, the daughter of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, but she’s not ready for a single run as a champion yet. She has potential and charisma, but she’s still too inexperienced as of yet to carry the NXT Women’s Division. So who does that leave as a top woman in NXT who isn’t headed to the main roster as a result of the recent draft? How about Elektra Lopez? Works for me.

Could Bruno Sammartino get over in today’s professional wrestling?

To a point, yes, but to the degree that he was over in the 60s and 70s, then no, I don’t think so. Bruno had that special something and he was a talented performer who had a great story behind him of real-life rags-to-riches history, plus he was strong as a bull. He would have a good mid-card career at best by today’s standards and nothing more.

Blackjack Mulligan & Barry Windham versus The Smoking Gunns (Billy & Bart Gunn). Who wins?

Billy and Bart were a good team and both men had some good in-ring skills, but were they in Blackjack and Junior’s league? No, I don’t think so. The father-son duo from Eaglepass, Texas, would walk out with the victory here.

Disco Inferno recently said that AEW should get rid of The Elite if they’re planning on keeping CM Punk. Thoughts?

For me, I think that it all comes down to one thing where The Elite are concerned. If they’re willing to be professional and co-exist with Punk, including working an angle that would be great for the company against Punk, then they stay. No one is asking Kenny or The Bucks to invite Punk to their homes for weekend cookouts, but just be professionals and do business. If that is too much for them and they can’t do their jobs, then give them the pink slips and wish them well in their future endeavors. It is just that simple. Be a professional or leave.

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

Ubuntu!