Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Curtis Axel. Sasha Banks, Favorite Wrestling Memory & More
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

Merry Christmas, my friends. It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. Let’s roll.

Three Count (Evan Karagias, Shane Helms, Shannon Moore) versus Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Otis, Akira Tozawa). Who wins?

While I was a huge fan of Three Count, even when they were hanging out with Tank Abbott, I have to go with the Alpha Academy on this one. And if you don’t agree, then “Shooooosh!”. The Alpha Academy wins.

Just for fun and curiosity who would be your Four Horsemen from your state? Must be from your state. World Champion: United States Champion: World Tag Team Champions: Manager:

A best of the best from my home state of North Carolina? Let’s go with the World Champion, Charlotte’s own Ric Flair. My United States Champion would be Michael Youngblood. And my World Tag Team Champions would be the Atlantic Coast Destruction Crew, aka AC/DC, aka Ethan Storm and Taz Jackson. The manager, how about Matt Hardy?

If WWE were to bring back Joe Hennig, aka Curtis Axel, how would you book him to be a top guy?

It’s pretty simple actually. Have Curtis Axel show up, start wrestling on TV, and win. When he’s finally interviewed in a sit-down with Michael Cole or Corey Graves, he lets the fans know that his father was Perfect and he has a legacy to live up to because of who his father was. His earlier run in the WWE was about having fun, but this one, it’s time to be a Hennig and do what his dad never did, win the WWE Championship. It’s essentially the Cody Rhodes story but with Joe Hennig instead. It would get over and work.

Were you a fan of the Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers)?

At the time I saw them wrestle against the Midnight Express, I wasn’t a fan. I read about them in the Apter Mags and they were good wrestlers, but I was a big fan of Bobby & Stan and Cornette and compared to them, I just saw the Fantastics as Rock & Roll Express wannabes. Now that I’m older, I can look back and appreciate them for what they brought to the ring and how talented they truly were. I didn’t see it then, but I do now.

Do you remember PN News? Thoughts?

I do remember PN News. A character like that, a fat guy who was trying to dress up in bright colors and be a bad rapper, is hard to forget. The best thing about News was his catchphrase, which was “Yo baby! Yo baby! Yo!” after every comment. And I remember hearing about some issues he had regarding allegedly stealing from the boys in the locker room. A bad wrestler with a bad gimmick who was allegedly a thief. Yo baby, Yo baby, Yo!

Do you think AEW will still be around in ten years? How about TNA?

So far as AEW goes, I don’t think so. At the rate Tony Khan is going, he’s going to burn out and probably flip out within another couple of years, and then, I suspect his dad will have to step in and AEW will either be disbanded or sold. As for TNA, I don’t see how they’ve lasted for as long as they have to be honest, but I’ve learned over the past twenty years with that group, expect the unexpected. They’ve managed to hang on this long and I suspect they’ll keep on keeping on.

What’s your favorite memory of professional wrestling?

I have many as you might suspect, but my favorite involves two friends of mine and a trip we took to Durham, NC back in the early nineties. Michael Youngblood and Ethan Storm. I didn’t realize it at the time, but this was Storm’s first match. I was good friends with both men and still am. We rode together to Durham and they wrestled each other. They threw caution to the wind and beat the hell out of each other. It was magic from the opening bell to the end and amazing to see. I can honestly say it’s the best live match I’ve ever seen in person. And then we came home and ran out of gas on 15-501 just past Sanford, NC. That’s a story in itself, but that match with these two incredible guys, the memories always make me smile. I can’t even remember who won, but I suspect it was Mike. He was the established talent. It was just a damn good match.

The Dangerous Alliance (Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Bobby Eaton, Larry Zbyszko, Arn Anderson) w/ Paul Heyman & Madusa versus The Judgement Day (Finn Balor, Damion Priest, JD Mcdonagh, Dom Mysterio, R-Truth) w/ Rhea Ripley. Who wins?

I’m just imagining RHea and Madusa, in her prime, squaring off. It would be awesome. And this match would be incredible as well. Look at all this talent, both older and current. This would have to be a War Games match to keep everyone in the ring and the match. And the winners? The Judgement Day is great and getting better every week, but we’re talking about Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, Larry Zbyszko, Madusa, and Paul Heyman, all together as one unit. The Dangerous Alliance wins, as they should.

Several months ago on the Gutfield Show, Tyrus said that he would give his kids an “ass-whooping” for using pronouns. And this week, Lance Storm replied, “Fuck this guy!”. Thoughts?

The comment by Tyrus was nearly six months ago and now, Lance Storm is just hearing about it? Tyrus is an old-school parent who was brought up in a time when people had common sense, were taught values and respect, and were not encouraged to live in their fantasy worlds. Storm might not agree with Tyrus’s opinion, but somehow, I suspect if Lance had a son who walked up to him and proclaimed himself a girl and said his pronouns were now she & her, Lance wouldn’t be all smiles about it and take it so well. He most likely would react the same way Tyrus would, even if he wouldn’t admit it. When the kid is an adult, he can do as he pleases, but while he’s a child, it’s not his call or decision to make. That’s why we have parents, to make decisions in the best interest of their children and not allow them to live in a world of fantasy and make-believe. Tyrus is right. ‘Nuff said!

If Sasha Banks does come back to WWE, how would you book her return?

It’s pretty simple actually. Sasha and Bayley have a long history of friendship. Bayley even went to Japan to be in the audience when Sasha made her debut with New Japan. So when it all explodes and Damage CTRL turns on Bayley and kicks her out of the group, Sasha comes to the rescue to aid her friend. And from there, the stories write themselves.

And there you go. My thanks for reading. Merry Christmas everyone. I hope Santa was good to all of you. Take care and be well. Questions, comments, and any thoughts are welcome and appreciated. Be sure to share, like, and subscribe. And watch out for foreign objects. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!