Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Jim Barnett, Swerve Strickland, Storytelling vs Matches & More
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

I meant to post this yesterday, but I forgot. My bad! It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. This will be the first of four editions of the Q&A for today. You’re welcome. I’m Doug. Let’s roll.

Should WWE have Liv Morgan win the title next weekend?

That depends. Has Becky signed a new deal yet or not? If Becky has, then I would allow Becky to retain at the next PLE event and keep the story between Becky and Liv going for a while longer. It has legs and WWE should milk it for a bit until they’re sure about when Rhea Ripley is ready to return. Before Rhea returns, Liv should win the title. Then Rhea can crash her big moment and seek revenge. But for the immediate future, I’d have Becky retain the title to keep the story moving along.

Should there be a Dark Side of the Ring episode on Jim Barnett?

Jim Barnett would be an excellent topic just to hear all of the impressions of people trying to sound like Barnett. He was a successful promoter in the 50s and 60s in the United States and Australia, but he was also a fraud in many ways. His role in the Black Saturday fiasco, plus his role in Vince McMahon’s attempts to take over the wrestling business make for some interesting discussion. His skimming of money from the promotions to keep up his fake lifestyle and gimmick would be interesting to talk about as well. Barnett would be an excellent choice of topics for Dark Side.

Should Lilian Garcia be in the WWE Hall of Fame?

I would certainly not object. Aside from Howard Finkel, she’s easily the best-known and most recognizable ring announcer WWE has ever had. Plus she was a model employee and I’ve never heard anyone say anything bad about Lilian Garcia. If Torrie Wilson belongs, then Lilian Garcia certainly does.

The lack of aura in Swerve Strickland’s title run is alarming. Thoughts?

AEW has turned Swerve, who was red hot and looking great, into just another guy on the roster. Yes, he’s the AEW World Champion, but he’s being booked and promoted as an afterthought to Orange Cassidy, The Young Bucks, and all of the other nonsense that is AEW these days. AEW could have a huge star that makes money and draws an audience, but the bad booking and lack of focus have worked their magic and well, we have what we have. Swerve could have been a breakout name for AEW, but instead, he’s just kind of there.

AEW & WBD’s new TV deal was supposed to be announced tomorrow, but as of now, it’s being delayed because both sides have not locked in a new media deal yet. Thoughts?

I don’t know the details, but when I saw this on Tuesday night, it didn’t look or sound good for AEW. I think that Tony Khan may not be a happy person come Wednesday morning and maybe everything isn’t as great as he likes to pretend it is.

NWA President Billy Corgan says he would “love” to work with WWE in the future, with a potential NXT crossover an idea he would be on board with. WWE NXT is set to air on the CW Network beginning in October 2024, while the NWA agreed on a streaming deal with CW in February 2024. Thoughts?

If something can be worked out that would benefit both promotions, why not? It’s a good idea that would help the NWA and would give WWE more talent to look at and promote their brand to some of the casual fans that have drifted away over the years. If a mutually satisfying deal can be worked out, it could be a WWE/NWA version of the Forbidden Door concept. It would be pretty cool.

Chad Gable versus Dean Malenko. Who wins?

The Olympian versus the Man of 1000 Holds. This wouldn’t be a match, but more of a wrestling clinic. Malenko in his prime wasn’t very charismatic, but he was easily one of the best in the world. And Gable is so good when given the chance, it’s almost scary. A great match that I would love to have seen. I think I’d go with Malenko for this one.

What would be a fantasy dream match that you would love to have seen?

Street Fight: Ole Anderson versus Vince McMahon. Just imagine a pissed-off Ole and an arrogant Vince squaring off in a match. I don’t think the rules or professional respect would last for long and it would quickly develop into a worked shoot. Ole would stiff Vince repeatedly and while I’m sure that Vince would get in a few shots, I don’t think it would matter. Vince walks out with a legit broken arm or ankle. Ole wins and well, accidents happen, right?

When it comes to WWE, Are you Team Storytelling or Team In Ring Wrestling?

For me, it’s about the characters and the psychology. The matches are merely a means to an end to move the story to the next level. While I do love and appreciate a good match, I want there to be a reason why the match is taking place and consequences, both pro and con, for however the match ends and who wins or loses. Team Storytelling for me 100%.

New Jack passed away 3 years ago today. What are your thoughts and memories of New Jack?

I enjoyed his shoot interviews and New Jack always had something to say. I wasn’t a fan of his in-ring stuff and he came across as more of a bully than anything else, at least in my opinion. As a character, he was memorable and one of a kind. I know he had his fans, but I just wasn’t one of them.

And there you go. My thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and any questions are welcome and appreciated. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. Three more editions of the Q&A coming today so watch for them. So let’s wrap this up and get to stepping. Watch out for foreign objects and I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!