Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
The NWA, The Iron Claw, Athena & More
October 14, 2023
DougMaynard.com

And we’re back with your wrestling fix for the day. It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. I’m Doug and this is how we do it around here. Let’s go.

NWA President Billy Corgan recently revealed in an interview that the NWA has signed two deals and will soon be appearing on a Top 20 Network. Thoughts?

This is good news for Corgan, The NWA, and wrestling fans as it gives us yet another strong alternative to WWE and AEW. The NWA has some good talent and wrestling, but being a YouTube-only product, it’s been often overlooked by casual fans and forgotten. Congratulations to Corgan and the NWA. The last thing we need is more nights of wrestling on television, but the NWA has a good product and I’m looking forward to seeing what they can do in prime time.

One Man Gang versus Blackjack Mulligan. Who wins?

I’ve always been a fan of OMG, dating back to his days in Florida and with Crockett, but with the big man from Eagle Pass, Texas across the ring, I think this would be a long day for that esteemed gentleman. After a stiff and brutal brawl, Blackjack would take that trip to the pay window with a big win.

From Tony Khan: “This week, 2 active decades-long ratings streaks from 2 great legends were ended. With all due respect, until this week’s head-to-head AEW on TBS vs WWE on USA, neither John Cena nor Undertaker had ever been on a WWE show with under 1 million total viewers + under 400k in the demo.” Thoughts?

This insult to Cena and Taker would make more sense if AEW had won the head-to-head with NXT and had not been given a big F.U. instead. Khan is losing it and losing it badly. They need to take his phone away and he needs a long break away from wrestling. Sad!

Did AEW cross the line with Juice Robinson holding a roll or quarters with MJF’s name on it?

It was bad taste given the current situation between Israel and HAMAS in Gaza right now, but it’s a wrestling angle based on a story that MJF has told many times and it fits the Juice Robinson character and gimmick. Did they intentionally cross the line? Not really. It was more just bad timing and a lack of common sense than anything else. AEW didn’t mean to look insensitive and stupid, but sometimes, they just can’t help themselves.

Describe Chris Jericho in one word.

Intelligent!

Have you seen the trailer for the Iron Claw movie about the Von Erichs yet? Are you excited for this movie?

I am excited about this movie and knowing the backstory and real history of The Von Erich family and World Class Championship Wrestling, I’m looking forward to it very much. I don’t know how well it will do at the box office, but I do intend to see it as soon as I possibly can. I think this movie and its impending release may have either AEW or WWE trying to do something with Marshall and Ross Von Erich, Kevin’s sons, before long as well. It’d be a good move for either company and the Von Erich boys as well.

Ronda Rousey suggested in a recent Instagram post that she is “retired” from pro wrestling and WWE. Do you think this retirement will stick or will Rousey eventually be back in the WWE and pro wrestling?

Ronda said it and I’m sure she means it, but we’re talking pro wrestling here and even though Ronda may have no intentions of ever doing another match again, never say never. When the time is right and the money is right, she’ll be back. They always come back.

If you could transport one wrestler back in time to work sixty minutes with The Nature Boy, Ric Flair, in his prime, who would it be?

Ric Flair, in his prime, against Seth Rollins is the first match that popped into my head. The build, the promos, the anticipation, and the match itself would all be so much fun and awesome to see. They’re so alike in so many ways with their in-ring styles and characters. So that’s my pick. Ric versus Seth.

What are your thoughts on Athena? Would you like to see her on AEW programming?

She’s on AEW programming, only under the ROH banner, but they’re essentially the same thing. I liked Athena when she was wrestling as Ember Moon, under the WWE/NXT umbrella, but since going to AEW/ROH, she’s not nearly as tight in the ring and seems to have lost several steps. She’s barely watchable, at least not to me, and even though she’s the ROH Women’s Champion, I’ll generally tend to skip her matches if possible. She’s got skills, but she needs someone to help her slow down and refine those skills. Unfortunately, in her current role, that doesn’t seem to be happening.

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, and I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!