Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Matt Hardy, Paul Heyman, The Rock & More
September 22, 2023
DougMaynard.com

More catching up. It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. Let’s do this.

AEW is bringing in legendary Memphis Wrestling Announcer Dave Brown for next week’s Dynamite, live from Memphis, TN. Thoughts?

This is a good move. Brown is a familiar face to the Memphis audience and his presence gives AEW a lot of attention and goodwill from the local crowd that they might not otherwise get. This is one area where AEW does a good job, bringing in names from the past for a one-shot appearance, to stroke up the nostalgia factor. The only thing that would be better for drawing a crowd in Memphis would be to get Jerry Lawler, and we all know that isn’t going to happen. So Dave Brown? Good deal.

Jordynne Grace’s contract with Impact Wrestling has expired. Should WWE try to bring her in?

WWE should take a look at Grace and decide if she would work well in the WWE Universe and make a good addition. I don’t like some of her comments in the past about certain wrestlers, but she apologized and has done a tremendous job of totally changing her appearance and character over the past few years, so they should at least give her a look if nothing else. It wouldn’t hurt anything and she could prove to be a positive asset for the company.

Do you ever see AEW giving Matt Hardy a chance to become World Champion?

I could see Hardy being hot-shotted into a title match and feud simply because of who he is and what he’s done in the past, so a chance? Yes. But should he have a run as the AEW World Champion? Matt isn’t what he was in the ring and the body is breaking down. It’s painful to watch Matt wrestle or even walk these days. So a chance? Yes. Giving him the belt? No, I don’t think so.

What will you most remember Paul Heyman for?

A great talker and promoter of talent, both as a manager and announcer. The man behind ECW obviously, and the leader of one of the most underrated factions in wrestling history, The Dangerous Alliance. But of all his moments and achievements, the biggest thing I remember Paul for is when he lost to Missy Hyatt in an arm wrestling contest at WCW Clash of the Champions XIV on January 30, 1991. Look it up on YouTube. It’s a great moment for Missy and Paul that once you see, you’ll never forget.

According to The Rock, he was penciled in to face Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 39 and is open to being at Wrestlemania 40 in Philadelphia.
So The Rock versus Roman? Thoughts?

It’s a great match that needs to happen and I get goosebumps thinking about it. But what happens to poor Cody if Rock and Roman headline Mania? Easy answer. Night One of Mania, we get two matches. Rock versus Roman and Cody versus Cena. The winners of these two matches go to Night 2 of Mania and fight for the Universal Championship. Everyone wins. But the match with Rock and Roman. It has to happen, period.

Shawn Michaels isn’t available. Who is Big Van Vader’s greatest rival?

I wouldn’t have put Shawn in this discussion even if he was available. Vader’s biggest moments were with Flair, Sting, Foley, and Paul Orndorff. And his biggest rival? The man who knocked Vader’s eyeball out in the middle of a match, Stan Hansen. Vader pushed it back into his head and they finished the match. I think that one moment gives Hansen the right to be called Vader’s biggest rival. Don’t you?

Finally, the Rock has returned to WWE, showing up live on Smackdown. Pat McAfee was there too. Thoughts?

It was a great moment for wrestling television and I won’t lie. When my brother texted me to let me know what was going on, I immediately got online and found the footage of The Rock and McAfee and I got legit goosebumps. I was excited and there isn’t much in wrestling that can do that for this old man anymore.

QT Marshall has signed a contract extension with AEW. Thoughts?

Good for QT. He’s a good wrestler and, a good trainer, and from what I understand, the new deals with AEW have him not only wrestling and training but working backstage as a producer and agent as well. QT might not be the biggest name in AEW, but he’s a valuable asset to the company.

Allegedly, Edge and Drew McIntyre are still in negotiations with WWE, but there are big differences regarding money between the wrestlers and the company. Thoughts?

I hope that they’re able to work out their differences and get matters resolved. Drew would do well in AEW, but I’m not quite sure how Edge, especially if he’s not able to be Edge anymore, would work in the other company. Both men are, in my eyes, WWE guys and should remain in WWE for a while longer. I hope they do.

Both Dolph Ziggler and Elias’s WWE contracts are allegedly due to expire soon. Do you think they’ll be signed to new deals or will WWE let these two veterans go?

This question came from a few days ago, and earlier today, well technically yesterday, we found out the answer. Both Dolph and Elias were released from their contracts and after the no-compete expires, will be free agents. Dolph will, no doubt, be talking to AEW soon, as his brother is already a member of the AEW roster. Elias? I see more of him going to Impact Wrestling or maybe even Hollyweird than having a job at AEW, but we’ll just have to wait and see. I plan on taking a look at all of the WWE releases, twenty talents so far, later this weekend, so watch out for that.

And with that, let’s wrap things up. Take care and be well, my friends. All comments, thoughts, and questions are welcome and appreciated. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. And I guess that’s it for now. Watch out for foreign objects and I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!