Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Butch Reed, Ronda Rousey, Dr. D David Shultz & More
May 16, 2023
DougMaynard.com

Yet another edition of the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. You’re welcome. Let’s do this.

Best babyface to heel turn?

For me, it was Ole Anderson’s turn on Dusty Rhodes. It was built up for over a year, the consummate slow-build, and then, in the cage, with Ole & Dusty fighting The Assassins, with Gene Anderson & Ivan Koloff as the special referees, Ole pulled the trigger and took Dusty out. Classic Wrestling 101 as performed by one of the very best of all time.

Best heel-to-babyface turn?

Roddy Piper comes to the aid of Gordon Solie when Gordon was getting roughed up by Don Muraco. Piper was a heel, but when Muraco took it too far and was a bully to Solie, Piper stepped up and protected the legendary announcer. And a hero was born.

What team of announcers did you like best?

Back in the 80s, it was Bob Caudle & David Crockett. As JCP transitioned to WCW, it was Schiavone & Larry Zbyszko. And as for now, Michael Cole & Pat McAfee.

The Valiant Brothers (Jimmy, Jerry & Johnny) w/ Captain Lou Albano versus The Midnight Express (Condrey, Lane & Eaton) w/ Jim Cornette. Who wins?

After Cornette nails Captain Lou with the tennis racket and busts him open, Condrey distracts the referee and Stan nailed Jerry with the spinning kick. Alabama Jam by Bobby to get the pin. The Midnight Express wins.

Thoughts on “Dr. D” David Shultz?

A legit tough guy who was wrongly blackballed from wrestling after slapping the taste out of reporter John Stossel’s mouth. While I could never see Shultz as a main event guy for a national promotion, he was perfect for the territories and was impressive in everything he did.

How would you rank Slick as a manager? Top 10 of all time or just another face in the crowd?

I wouldn’t say Top Ten of all time, but a good character who was unique and entertaining. The son of legend Rufus R. Jones, Slick grew up in the business and did a great job as a manager for the cartoony WWF. He always made me smile.

What’s the first thing you think of when you think of the IWC?

A ton of Mark fans arguing about something they only have a marginal knowledge about, but insist that they know it all. And yes, that makes me sound like a mark as well, but I’ve at least attended the shows, lived with a wrestler as my roommate, helped create storylines and promos, and have helped promote shows on occasion as well. So I’m at least a smart mark. I don’t know it all, but I’ll admit that and try to look at everything from the big-picture point of view and I have a history to fall back on in my assessment of things. The IWC? Gotta love them! ‘Nuff said!

Thoughts on “The Natural” Butch Reed?

A very good wrestler who had some great moments, in Mid-South fighting JYD, as part of the team of Doom, and in WWF as “The Natural”. Reed had a great body and charisma, but never really got the credit he was due. A solid performer who would have made a great singles Champion if given the opportunity. I’m a fan.

James Ellsworth returns to WWE as a manager for AJ Styles and the OC. What do you think?

I’d like to see it. Ellsworth has a few victories over AJ so there’s that connection and I think he’d make a great manager in the Downtown Bruno style of work. The OC is a great unit, but they’re missing that extra something that sets them apart. Ellsworth isn’t physically imposing, but the annoying parasite who interferes and causes chaos at ringside, he’d be perfect. I’d love to see it.

Ronda Rousey has been cast as part of a new Fox reality series called Stars On Mars. Does that mean her WWE career is over?

I was wondering that myself, but last night on RAW, we saw the return of Rousey and Shayna Baszler to WWE TV as they laid down a challenge to the Women’s Tag Team Champions, Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan. Most likely we’ll see Ronda & Shayna go after the tag team belts at Night of Champions.

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

Ubuntu!