Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Lance Archer, Shane McMahon, Chris Von Vliet & More
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. I’m Doug and this is where no question is off limits. Let’s roll.

According to Meltzer, Shane McMahon was looking to get back into WWE, but the company had no interest in him. That’s why he’s stirring up things by talking to Tony Khan. Thoughts?

If this is true, it makes sense. Shane wants to be part of WWE, but since they’re not receptive to anyone named McMahon who happens to be male, he’s trying to get their attention. What better way than to set up a meeting with AEW and fake interest in being a part of that company? If AEW was a serious competitor, WWE might take notice and be worried, but given that Tony Khan would even screw up having Shane on the roster, WWE still hasn’t seemed to care. It’s an ongoing story and is making for some good wrestling drama. It’ll be fun to see how this develops.

Jordynne Grace will be doing another Open Challenge on Impact Wrestling next week. Who would you like to see step up and challenge Grace?

I’d love to see WWE star Chelsea Green show up and make the challenge. With her husband, Matt Cardona, back in TNA and crashing weddings, it’d make for a nice reunion of the original Indy Power Couple. And if we’re not seeing a person from WWE/NXT, how about Mickie James? We haven’t seen this legend on TNA television for a while and she has great chemistry with Grace. It’d make for a nice surprise.

Pete Dunne versus Sammy Guevera. Who wins?

While I’m a fan of Sammy and think he has a world of potential, Pete Dunne is a far better wrestler and athlete. We’d see Dunne take the victory here.

WWE executives stated that they have no interest in doing a joint event or ‘SuperShow’ with AEW. Thoughts?

Why should they? WWE is so far beyond AEW at this point, that any joint venture would be one-sided and only benefit AEW. TNA is different because, at least they’re consistent with good wrestling and have been around for over twenty-plus years. If TNA was on a larger network, they’d be more of a power and the #2 promotion in the United States. Also, the way that AEW likes to take cheap shots at WWE and WWE talents, why would WWE want to help them in any way, shape, or form? It’s quite simple. They wouldn’t.

Why does AEW keep screwing up with Lance Archer? This guy should be wearing gold and be featured in a top-guy role.

Two words as to why. Tony Khan. He doesn’t know how to book a big man as a monster in a consistent manner. Archer is the perfect big-man wrestler and just like Wardlow, he is booked strong and then forgotten. Six months later, he’s back again and it’s the same thing again. It’s wash, rinse, and then repeat, etc. It’s just bad booking and Lance Archer is a victim as a result.

CM Punk, Darby Allin, and MJF versus The Young Bucks & Hangman Page. Who wins?

MJF would probably play the heel and walk away. Darby would hurt himself with a stupid stunt. And CM Punk would be fighting all alone against the New Elite. Well, as Punk proved at Brawl Out in the locker room, he doesn’t need help with that crowd. Punk, Allin, and MJF get the victory.

Do we think that if Shane makes the jump to AEW, the impact won’t necessarily be as big on-screen versus off? He’s a multi-time CEO, and executive board member, and one of his first projects was a media company working towards market expansion in Asia.

Shane on television as a character would get a huge pop, at least at first. But given his experience in the WWE, as a member of management, not to mention as a member of the McMahon family, he has a ton of knowledge that Tony Khan would be wise to listen to and take notes. Shane could be a valuable asset for AEW, both on camera and off.

Danhausen versus Marko Stunt. Who wins?

I’ve only seen Danhausen wrestle a couple of times. He’s far more of a character than a wrestler at this point. Marko? He’s the size of a ten-year-old boy and while he’s a talented dude, his major skills do not lie inside that wrestling ring. This would be a comedy match and in terms of technical skills, would suck big time. Let’s go with Danhausen for the win after he throws a few curses and causes Marko to stumble.

Are you ever worried that a wrestler will see what you say and be legitimately aggrieved?

I’m way too low on the wrestling radar to worry about hurting feelings or making someone mad. I won’t go out of my way with outright insults or criticism, except maybe Tony Khan and AEW. I try to be respectful and I’m a nice guy most of the time so I don’t think I have much to worry about from that perspective. And if I do, oh well. It happens.

If Chris Van Vliet asked you to line up his next five interviews, who would you book for him?

Chris Van Vliet is one of the best interviewers out there and his show, on YouTube, is amazing. It’s not so much an interview as a conversation where we learn more about the person and who they truly are, as a person, a wrestler, etc. If you haven’t checked out his show as of yet, do so. You won’t regret it. As for five guests that I’d love to see sit down and have a chat with Chris, I’d say Lisa “Ivory” Moretti, Chris Masters, Glen Gilberti, aka The Disco Inferno, Jesse Ventura, and Jamie Noble.

And there you go. My thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and any questions are welcome and appreciated. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. And with that, let’s wrap it up. Stay well, my friends, and watch out for foreign objects. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!