Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Roman Reigns, Linda McMahon, The New Day & More
June 15, 2023
DougMaynard.com

If you have questions, I have the answers. It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. Let’s do this.

Is Roman Reigns a better WWE Superstar than CM Punk ever was?

The keyword to this question is “WWE Superstar” and with that added to the context, I have to say yes. Punk was very successful in WWE, but he was never the company guy. WWE pushed Punk because the fans demanded it. Roman was pushed from the very start to be a top guy for the WWE and continued to be a favorite of both Vince and Triple H.

Would you consider Roman Reigns to be on the same level as Steve Austin & Hulk Hogan?

Truthfully, my answer would be no. Roman is doing a fantastic job as the face of the WWE and the Champion, but his persona and character are not over-the-top, must-see spectacles as Hogan and Austin were. Maybe it’s the different era and style of wrestling, but Roman doesn’t get nearly the reaction that either of his peers did in their prime. He’s still great, but he’s not Stone Cold.

How would you rate Linda McMahon as a performer?

Almost everything that Linda did as part of WWE is cringe at best, but in all fairness, she wasn’t trained to be an on-air talent and from all reports, had no desire to be on camera or involved in angles. That was all part of being married to Vince and she went along with it, albeit reluctantly. Representing the corporate side of WWE, she was excellent and a force to be reckoned with, but as an entertainer and on-air talent, on a scale of 1-10, I’d give her a six at best.

AEW immediately terminated BJ Whitmer from his role as a trainer/agent upon his arrest for domestic violence charges. Thoughts?

I wonder what ever happened to innocent until proven guilty? Allegations were made and Whitmer was arrested, but before the ink on the fingerprints are even dry, AEW fires him as well. Wouldn’t a suspension or leave of absence be more appropriate? It’s Tony Khan’s company and he can do whatever he wants, but I’m just thinking that maybe someone jumped the gun here instead of waiting to see what happens and to be socially correct.

Thoughts on Raquel Rodriguez?

A talented young woman with a good look and a unique, albeit bland character. She’s got a lot of potential and I’m interested in seeing her grow and develop into a top figure among the WWE Women’s roster.

Your thoughts on Goldberg’s 173-0 streak in WCW? Was it good for the business to have an “undefeated” wrestler?

That number is actually kind of inflated via kayfabe and non-existent matches, but that doesn’t matter. It worked for WCW and made Goldberg a major star and attraction. Is it good for the business? It depends on the time, the person, and how the “undefeated streak” is used and promoted. And for WCW at the time, it drew attention, made the company money, and helped spike the ratings. So that would be a yes.

Rumors are that WWE plans to repackage Mansoor & Mace (Maximum Male Models). Thoughts?

If the rumors are true, then good call. The MMM gimmick and characters are not working at all and I can’t see any positives happening because of the characters. Mansoor & Mace deserve better. They’re both talented guys and should have an opportunity to show those talents. The MMM characters just aren’t doing that.

If you could pick one person to be the NWA champion that never was, who would you pick?

Thinking back to the 70s and 80s, when the NWA was THE TITLE to aim for and be the top star of professional wrestling, the first name that comes to mind for me, that would have fit the role designated for the NWA Championship, but never held the title, would be, The Russian Bear, Ivan Koloff. Already a former WWWF Champion, having a Russian as the World Champion, especially given the tensions between the U.S. and Russia at the time, would have shocked the world and made a major impact all over the NWA. I can’t see Uncle Ivan with the belt for more than a few months at best, but he certainly would have made a great NWA World Champion.

Is the return to AEW essentially a no-win situation for CM Punk?

In some ways, yes. If the ratings continue to tank and Collision isn’t a success immediately, he’ll be blamed and dragged across the coals. And after the smear campaign by The Elite, Meltzer, and their fans, he’ll never get the credit due if things go well and beyond expectations. The only positives I can see are that Punk will make the fans who haven’t drank the Kool-Aid happy and he’ll make a ton of money in the process. But no matter what he does or how things work out, he’ll be damned anyhow.

You can only give one a big push: Chad Gable or L.A. Knight, who do you pick?

It’s a tough call, but given the crowd reactions and the way the fans are getting behind him, I think the smart money would be on L.A. Knight.

Has The New Day gimmick run its course or is there still life in the three-man team concept?

I think, when he’s able to return, Big E. should, at least at first, be put back together with Kofi & Xavier to slowly work him back into the grind and the storylines, but eventually, let him break away and pursue a singles title. Having the New Day around as the occasional backup and support would be okay, but less is more and it’s time for Big E., and Xavier for that matter, to concentrate more on singles matches and titles. Bring back the New Day for special events and nostalgic moments, but after one last initial run, let the guys have their singles runs, as they deserve and should.

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

Ubuntu!