Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Chris Van Vliet, Killer Khan, Chris Jericho & More
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

Welcome to either the last edition of the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A for the year 2023 or the first edition of the column for the year 2024. I’m not sure when it will post so it could go either way. But the song remains the same. You ask and I answer and nothing is off limits. And why? Because I can and y’all rock! It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. Let’s roll.

Who are five wrestlers that you’d like to see Chris Van Vliet sit down with and interview?

Chris Van Vliet is an amazing interviewer and does a great job of making the interviews seem like a conversation between friends. Five wrestlers that I’d like to see him interview? Marty Garner, aka Cham Pain, Lisa “Ivory” Moretti, Lisa Marie Varon, aka Victoria, Joe Hennig, aka Curtis Axel, and finally, “The Living Legend” Larry Zbyszko.

In your opinion, who’s the Female wrestling star of the Year?

It has to be Mami, aka Rhea Ripley. No other woman in pro wrestling can compare to the year that she’s had in WWE as both the Women’s World Champion and as the leader of the Judgment Day.

According to Meltzer, People in WWE expect Andrade El Idolo to return to the company when his AEW deal expires. Thoughts?

We found out about this last night at the end of World’s End in the Media Scrum. Andrade has finished up with AEW and his match against Miro last night was his last. Whether he’s going to WWE or not, we have no idea as of yet, but since that’s where his wife, Charlotte Flair, works and just signed a contract extension, it’s the most likely option.

Was The Judgment Day the strongest faction of 2023?

They’re currently holding the Undisputed Tag Team Titles, as well as the Women’s World Championship, plus Dom was a two-time NXT North American Champion. What other faction can even compare for the year 2023? No one, so the Judgment Day wins. They are the best, period.

What’s next for Mercedes (Sasha Banks) now that WWE talks have fallen apart?

If I recall correctly, didn’t Meltzer say the same thing about talks with CM Punk and WWE roughly three weeks or so before CM Punk made his return to WWE at the Survivor Series? No one knows the status of the talks with WWE and Sasha except for WWE and Sasha, and anyone who claims otherwise is just speculating. I’ll speculate and say that I think they’ve probably already reached a deal and we’ll see Sasha back at either Day One or the Royal Rumble. If I’m wrong, then Sasha goes back to Japan, collects a few paychecks, and tries to suck up to Tony Khan. I think we’ll see her back in WWE within the next month or so.

Tony Atlas versus Batista. Who wins?

With all due respect to Tony Atlas, this one goes to Batista, and it’s not even close.

If Chris Jericho was in the room for Brawl Out like he claimed, why wasn’t he suspended like everyone else? I mean, Chris Daniels was even suspended?

Don’t confuse a good story with logic, common sense, or facts. If Jericho says he was there, then he was there, even though he was at the Press Table and taking part in the Media Scrum. He was the one who allegedly told Tony about the backstage problems, on camera, so obviously, Jericho can be in several places at the same time. Jericho hasn’t read the AEW Rules Book and has never signed an NDA in his life so the rules that affect everyone else don’t apply to him.

Hardy Boyz vs. FTR could be the Hardy’s last great feud. Yes or no?

FTR is good enough to carry Jeff and Matt to some great matches and have a good program with the former WWE legends. This would be a great feud to build back the stock of The Hardys while giving FTR a chance to have some fun and work with two talented veterans. It could be great. Yes.

Two of the legendary wrestling icons in a 60-minute Ironman match.
Harley Race vs Verne Gagne. Who’s your winner?

If both men are in their prime, I have to go with Verne on this one. In the late 50s and early 60s, he was arguably the best in-ring talent in the world. Harley was a wrestling machine as well and if I was going into a legit bar fight, I’d want Harley (and Meng) with me. But a wrestling match works for Verne and he’d get the victory in the end.

Killer Khan passed away yesterday. Thoughts on the former WWF star?

I only remember Khan from the Apter Mags and that legendary feud with Andre the Giant. I may have seen him wrestle on Georgia television, but I’m not sure. But he was a big man who was presented as a monster and a big, tough, and dangerous guy. He would have been great as a member of Sir Oliver Humperdink’s House of Humperdink in Florida. Hell, he may have been a part of that faction. It wouldn’t surprise me and I think he did work the Florida territory at one point. But my condolences to Khan’s family, friends, and fans. Killer Khan left a strong legacy and was a great wrestling character.

What if Warner Brothers Discovery were to bring Disco Inferno as the “Director of Standards” for AEW and put him as an authority character on AEW TV? Heads would explode. Thoughts?

I absolutely would pop and probably fall dead on the ground laughing so hard if this were to happen, but then again, I’ve always been a fan of Glen Gilberti, aka The Disco Inferno. I’ve been saying for years that I would love to see Vince McMahon in the ring at Wrestlemania and while he’s trying to welcome the fans, the music hits, and here comes Disco Inferno. He takes the mic from Vince and says that the only reason that the fans are watching Wrestlemania is to see the Disco Inferno dance. Now imagine the expression on Vince’s face and the eye rolls. It would be great and that would make, for me anyhow, the greatest Wrestlemania moment of all time. But now, to the question asked. Disco would never do it, nor would Tony Khan allow it on his television since Disco is, according to him, an “irrelevant parasite”, but it would be great TV. Yes, heads would explode and I guarantee that the show, when factoring in YouTube and the replays, would end up with the best numbers in AEW history. It would be great. Too bad it’s just an idea and dream.

And there you go. My thanks for reading. Happy New Year, my friends. Thoughts, comments, and any questions are welcome. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. And with that, let’s wrap it up. Take care and I’ll see you next time.

Ubuntu!