Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Wardlow, Tessa Blanchard, NXT vs AEW & More
October 8, 2023
DougMaynard.com

Another edition of the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A? You’re damn right. Let’s do this.

What is your Mt. Rushmore of non-American wrestling cities?

Off the top of my head, I’d say Mexico City, Tokyo, Toronto, and London.

Hulk Hogan versus Mil Mascaras. Who wins?

It’d be a non-finish because these are two of the biggest egos in the history of the business. Remember, Mascaras is a man who eliminated himself from the WWE Royal Rumble because he didn’t want to allow anyone to “eliminate him”. And Hogan? He’s not doing the job to Mascaras, nor should he. In my opinion, if the promoter put his foot down and demanded it, or if it went to a shoot, Hogan should win.

What wrestler immediately comes to mind when you think of the UK? How about Japan? Germany? Australia?

When I think about the UK, the first name that comes to mind is William Regal. For Japan, it’s The Great Muta. Germany and it’s a tie between Otto Wanz and Alex Wright. For Australia, I’ve got to go with Mami herself, Rhea Ripley.

It seems that Wardlow is back with his destruction of Griff Garrison this past week on AEW Dynamite. So will he feud with MJF and go after the World Championship, go after Christian and the TNT Championship, or be pushed heavily for a few weeks and then vanish again? Thoughts?

Most likely, he’ll be dominant for a few weeks, and then vanish again. We are talking about AEW after all. But based on what he had scribbled on his wrist tape at Dynamite, I think the plan is to go after MJF and the World Championship. He had the initials “MJF” written on his wrist so he’s either a MJF groupie or he’s going after the Triple B.

NXT is stacking next week’s show with main roster talent like John Cena, Paul Heyman, Asuka, The Judgement Day, and Becky Lynch, all while going head-to-head with AEW Dynamite. I thought WWE said that AEW wasn’t a competition, so why are they loading up to crush them?

The best comment I saw in regards to this is that a mosquito isn’t competition, but when one lands on you, you want to bash its head in. I don’t think WWE is worried very much about AEW, but still, if the opportunity to slap them down presents itself, why not take advantage? That’s exactly what WWE is doing. NXT is airing on their night against their show, so they’re packing the NXT show to slap them down. It’s just that simple.

What makes wrestling great, in your opinion?

It’s the classic soap opera, with good versus evil, telling stories in a very physical way, with compelling characters who are larger-than-life. It’s an escape from the misery that reality has become and it’s the best form of entertainment, with something for everyone, available today.

Gail Kim & Awesome Kong versus Charlotte Flair & Asuka. Who wins?

I love my WWE women, but this one goes to Kim & Kong. It would be one hell of a match to be sure. The Knockouts would score the win.

I keep hearing rumors that Triple H & Stephanie McMahon are getting divorced. Have you heard these rumors? Do you think they’re true?

According to Kevin Nash, who seemingly heard the same rumors and called up Triple H to ask, the answer is no. While I’m sure that they have the same problems as other couples at times, I think Triple H and Stephanie are together for the long game. Even if they were to split up, I don’t think it would be made public and they’d stay married, for the sake of their kids and the WWE. Look at Vince and Linda. They haven’t been together in years, but they’re still married and keeping up the act when necessary. I think Hunter and Steph would do the same thing.

I see that Tessa Blanchard has started taking bookings again. Does this mean that she’ll be showing up soon in either AEW or WWE?

I don’t know what this means except that she still loves wrestling and wants to make some money. I hope that she’ll use these new bookings as a way to showcase her ability and professionalism and get back into the game at a high level, either with WWE or AEW. She’s too good in the ring to be sitting at home. She deserves another chance and I hope that this resurgence is the start of her getting just that.

John Cena recently said that he has some unfinished business with Roman Reigns. So Cena versus Roman at WWE Crown Jewel? Yes or no?

That rumor has already been shot down. Roman versus Cena isn’t happening. It would have been a good match to see, but alas, it’s not to be.

And there you go. My thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and any questions are welcome and appreciated. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. Thank you. 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!