Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
CM Punk, Ilya Dragunov, R-Truth & More
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

It’s the PM edition of the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. Let’s roll.

Which match do you prefer to see at Mania? CM Punk vs Stone Cold or CM Punk vs Seth Rollins for the World title?

Since CM Punk and Seth have already started their rivalry, I think I’d rather not wait four months for the payoff. How about Seth versus Punk at the Elimination Chamber and then Punk versus Steve Austin at Mania? Works for me.

If CM Punk isn’t the man to win the Men’s Rumble, who do you think should win it?

It should be either CM Punk or Cody as things stand now, but if it’s not either of those men, I’d like to see Carlito win the Rumble. Yes, I said Carlito. And why? Because it’d be cool.

If AEW gets into serious trouble, do you think WWE would ever step in to help it out, similar to how Microsoft saved Apple from bankruptcy in the 90s, because they recognized they needed competition to stop them from going stagnant?

WWE has competition with TNA, New Japan, MLW, GCW, WOW, and several other promotions. If AEW gets in trouble, I could see WWE buying the tape library and promotion cleanly from the Khan family and then doing as they did with WCW, putting it on the shelf. But stepping in to help Tony Khan and AEW? Tony has made it personal with cheap shots at Vince and Triple H and so long as there is a McMahon involved in WWE in any way, shape, or capacity, and this includes Triple H, WWE wouldn’t piss on them if they were on fire. WWE would just let them sink and go out of business, then scoop in to pick up whatever is left.

Which do you think is going to be the next wrestler to break into Hollywood and why?

When his WWE career is over, I think the next permanent resident of Hollywood will be The Miz. He’s already made several movies and television shows and he’s a natural entertainer in every definition of the word.

Instead of Gable dethroning Gunther, what about Dragunov instead at Wrestlemania 40?

I remember the previous matches that Gunther and Dragonuv had and they were among the best matches in NXT-UK history. One more time at Wrestlemania? I think the current plan for Gunther is Brock Lesnar, but if those plans are changed to Dragonuv instead, I won’t complain a bit.

With Punk and Ospreay now sorted on their deals, who do you think is the biggest available free agent right now or shortly? Note: the recent WWE releases should be free in two weeks or so.

I think most of the former WWE talent, such as Dolph Ziggler, Mustafa Ali, Matt Riddle, etc., will either end up in AEW to take Tony Khan’s money or at TNA to have a solid career and wrestle. The biggest current free agent, in my opinion anyhow, is Matt Cardona. He’s killing it as the Indy God and has taken some bookings for the NWA, but if either AEW or WWE were to make an offer and manage to get the former Zack Ryder into their locker room full-time, it would be a big, big moment.

What was the moment that developed your passion and love for pro wrestling?

I can’t say any particular moment because I’ve been watching wrestling and going to live shows since I was 4 years old in Raleigh, NC, getting to see the talents of guys like Flair, Mulligan, The Andersons, Igor, etc., the stars of the NWA and Jim Crockett Promotions. But the moment that stands out in my early memories that sealed it for me was watching a TV match on Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling with The Mighty Igor fighting Crusher Blackwell. Igor was bouncing Blackwell around like a human-sized basketball. And from then on, I was hooked. And I’ve never had a single regret.

CM Punk vs Rollins at Rumble. Punk loses by DQ & beats up Seth & Cena comes to save Seth & we have Cena Punk at MANIA. What do you think?

I think you need to learn how to use punctuation and write proper sentences. I had to fix this one up and it’s still not right. Cena versus Punk would be okay, but we’ve seen it before and as Cena showed on his last run, he’s not what he once was. He’s still John Cena, but beating him now wouldn’t mean nearly what it once did. If it was a retirement match where if John loses, he retires for good, it would be a little better, but even then, Punk doesn’t need the moment or rub. Something like that should be saved for a younger talent who’s on the rise like Austin Theory or Grayson Waller. Punk versus Cena would be a fun match to see again, but not at Mania. Not anymore.

Who would have taken the title from Ripley when the time comes?

I’d hate to see anyone beat Mami since she’s been so good as the Champion, but yes, I know that the day will come. So who would be good to take that gold belt from Rhea? How about Zoey Stark? She looked great in her earlier match against Rhea at the Survivor Series and she’s got a big future ahead of her.

Is R Truth the best thing to happen to the Judgment Day?

R-Truth is, in many ways, the best thing to happen to the WWE, period. He can work with anyone and make any segment worth watching and fun to see. I’ve enjoyed the moments with the Judgement Day and hopefully, we’ll get some good matches with Truth versus Dom or Truth versus JD McDonagh as a result. Is he the best thing to happen to the Judgement Day? Probably not, but he’s right up there near the top.

And there you go. My thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and any questions are welcome and appreciated. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. And with that, let’s wrap things up. I have some Christmas presents to distribute. Take care and be well, my friends. Watch out for foreign objects and I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!