Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Bryan Danielson, Becky Lynch, Gabe Kidd & More
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

I also meant to post this one yesterday, but well, I didn’t. The second of four for today. It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. I’m Doug and I think my role as your resident Guiding Light needs to have the bulb changed. My bad. Let’s roll.

Bryan Danielson recently revealed that his AEW contract ends this year before the Wembley event, although he hopes to be at that show. Do you think Danielson will remain with AEW in a non-wrestling capacity, go back to WWE, or what?

I think that when Danielson’s contract ends, there will be a short extension so he can work the Wembley show and then, who knows? AEW needs him more than WWE does, although I can see WWE offering him a job as an agent/trainer and a possible Hall of Fame induction just out of principle to screw with Tony Khan and AEW. My guess though is that Tony Khan will continue to over-pay him and he’ll remain with AEW in a non-wrestling role, albeit with the occasional TV spot, maybe as an Authority Figure.

Which pro wrestlers did you use to like to watch but now are meh on them?

Cesaro and Edge are the two that first came to mind. I liked them in WWE and their presentation was always epic and fun. But as Claudio and Adam Copeland in AEW, something is missing and they’re just two guys on the roster and nothing special. Hell, I was a big Jericho fan back in the day, but what he’s doing these days, I switch the channel or turn the TV off. He’s grown very stale.

Val Venis versus Rick Steiner. Who wins?

While Val is a good wrestler and always entertaining, Rick is just legit tough and should win in this one.

You get one of these guys in their prime for 20 years to start a wrestling promotion with. Who are you choosing? Gunther or MJF?

This one is a tough call because both are so good and are throwbacks to the days when wrestlers stood out and were believable as both characters and in the ring. I’m easily a fan of both men. I think MJF would be the better investment of the two, but to be honest, neither would be a bad decision.

According to Fightful Select, Becky Lynch has approximately three weeks left on her current deal, and as of this writing (Saturday, May 11, 2024), she has not signed a new one. Thoughts?

Becky isn’t going anywhere and will sign the new deal when she’s ready. She has it made in WWE, is pushed as one of the top wrestlers in the company, and her husband just signed a new WWE contract. Becky is WWE and will continue to be so.

According to Xero News, more releases are coming from AEW and lots of contracts are due to expire shortly. The atmosphere is very unstable backstage. Lots of talent wants out. Thoughts?

Look at the ratings. Look at the on-again-off for months at a time booking. Look at the show attendance. Can anyone be blamed for wanting out? If Tony Khan wasn’t the son of a multi-billionaire, AEW would have gone out of business already. It’s a rapidly sinking ship and that’s obvious to anyone who’s paying the slightest bit of attention. The Titanic is All-Elite. ‘Nuff said!

“Listen, I’ll put it in very simple terms. You like theater? Go and watch WWE. If you’re a fat nerd who can’t talk to girls, go and watch AEW. If you want to watch the real stuff, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, this is where it’s at.” – Gabe Kidd. Thoughts?

New Japan star Gabe Kidd said this in an interview to promote a New Japan wrestling event in California, an event where he defeated Eddie Kingston for the Open Championship, and it caught the attention of the pro wrestling world. And guess what? He’s right.

Had it not been for the Von Erich tragedies, Gino Hernandez’s death, and Bruiser Brody’s death, how long do you think WCCW could have lasted?

World Class was already losing business and hurting and was on its last legs. Even if the boys had been living and Brody had still been around, World Class wouldn’t have lasted much longer. Maybe a year or two at the most. The territories were falling fast and except for Crockett and WWF, none of them were positioned to last much longer.

Gunther versus The Undertaker in his prime. Who wins?

As much as I enjoy Gunther and what he does inside that squared circle, the outcome for this match would be the same as so many others before. Gunther would Rest in Peace. The Undertaker wins.

What’s your take on WWE PLEs potentially moving back to Sundays? I prefer the Saturday option personally.

I like the Saturday events, but to be honest, I have no real preference. Saturday or Sunday, it makes no difference to me so long as the show is entertaining and my favorites win.

And there you go. Thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and any questions are welcome and appreciated. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. I’ll be back in a little bit with more stuff. Take care and I’ll see you in a few.

Ubuntu!