Tossing Salt Presents:
Wrestling Fact or Fiction
Raw vs Dynamite, Samoa Joe, The Devil & More
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

It’s the return of Wrestling Fact or Fiction. My thanks to Jake Chambers and the fine folks at 411mania.com/wrestling for the statements and concept. And the opinions that follow? That’s all me. Let’s roll.

Statement #1: Despite RAW having a great 2023, you still enjoyed watching Dynamite more this year.

FICTION: To be honest, I rarely had the opportunity to watch either show. I work on Monday nights and have so many other things going on, my Wednesday nights are kind of packed as well. I read the recaps of the show and then go back to YouTube or other social media outlets to watch what sounds interesting to me and what the fans are talking about. And RAW usually results in at least six or seven segments I’ll try to find and watch. Dynamite, usually only one or two at the most. I like stories and characters and each match has a purpose and reason for being. WWE is far better in that regard than AEW and more often than not, RAW is a much better show. AEW has its moments and anything where Christian Cage, Sammy Guevera, MJF, or FTR are involved, I’m sure to watch. But RAW is more to my tastes and liking and has been for a while now.

Statement #2: Seth Rollins has had a lame-duck reign as RAW World Heavyweight Champion since he has been on the same brand the whole time with Cody Rhodes, who beat him in 3 straight PPV matches in 2022 but never got a shot at that title in 2023.

FICTION: Seth has been a part of almost every show and has defended the World Championship regularly against a variety of contenders ever since winning the belt. He won the title in a fair competition and does a great job of adding credibility to what is the second-rated World Championship in the eyes of most WWE fans. I’ll admit that this reign won’t be remembered as one of the best of all time or most exciting, but I can’t blame Seth. He’s doing everything right and deserves kudos for that.

Statement #3: Commercial breaks during good TV wrestling matches are necessary and can be used creatively to improve the viewing experience.

FICTION: I get it that commercial breaks are a necessary evil and have to be tolerated for television matches because quite simply, that’s how they pay the bills. I suppose that they could be used to enhance and improve the viewing experience, but I’m not the man to tell you how. Maybe someone will figure it out, but I just find them annoying, but tolerable. They are what they are and they’re not going away anytime soon. We just have to deal with it.

Statement #4: Christian Cage was the MVP of AEW in 2023.

FACT: Christian has been at the top of his game ever since coming to AEW, between the promos, the matches, and the whole “dead father” gimmick. Christian is at his best when he’s allowed to be Christian Cage and thus far, AEW has allowed him to do just that and be the best heel he can be. I don’t think, so far as consistency goes, anyone else in AEW has even come close.

Statement #5: If you could only watch one weekly pro-wrestling show in 2024, you would rather it featured Adam “Edge” Copeland than CM Punk.

FICTION: Copeland, since his return to the WWE originally and now in AEW, has been kind of one-dimensional and boring to me. I know he’s a legend, but he’s never been a big deal in my eyes. Punk though? I like people who stir the pot and like to poke the bear and Punk is exactly that. The matches are okay at best, but with the promos and build, CM Punk is one of the very best and it’s never boring. Give me Punk anytime.

Statement #6: Samoa Joe was the wrong person to take the AEW Championship from MJF.

FICTION: Who, currently on the AEW roster, would have made a better choice? Everyone is either injured, only wrestles once every six months, or is unknown to the majority of the fans and is mid-card at best. Joe was the right man at the right time in the right place. His credibility and reputation speak for themselves.

Statement #7: You liked the reveal of Adam Cole as the “Devil” at the end of Worlds End.

FICTION: It was a confusing story that dragged on for far too long and by the time we got the big reveal, it really didn’t matter who it was. It was a letdown. I guess Cole is better than some of the possibilities I kept hearing be mentioned, but it was “Eh!” at best to me.

Statement #8: AEW is the safest wrestling company in the world.

FICTION: EVPs of the company storming the dressing room of a wrestler. Andrade punching Sammy Guevera. Eddie Kingston and Sammy Guevera’s backstage scuffle. Jungle Boy and the whole “Cry me a river!” situation. Moxley getting concussed and then taking a finisher twice. The numerous injuries when moves go wrong. Chris Jericho and Kylie Rae. Tony Khan feared for his life. And those are just what I can think of right off the top of my head. Just because Tony Khan said it doesn’t make it true.

And there you go. My thanks to Jake Chambers and 411mania.com for the great statements. And with that, let’s wrap things up. I’m feeling rough and need a nap. Take care and be well, my friends. Watch out for foreign objects and I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!