Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
AEW, Rusev, Guevera vs Perry & More
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. I’m Doug. Let’s rock.

What would be your 5-step plan for AEW to improve when the new deal takes place in 2025?

More long-term storytelling, slowing down the matches with more selling so the moves have meaning, better enforcement of the rules by the referees, promo class for the wrestlers, and a new booker.

Why is WWE looking to sign Miro again?

Rusev was an impressive character in WWE, but Vince’s booking took its toll. Remember how over Rusev Day was? I’m sure that Triple H does. Rusev had so much potential untapped and wasted. With Triple H in charge, it can be tapped into and sought out. It’s a new chance for Rusev and he is deserving.

Why does AEW think that a 2-4 year older Hurt Business will bang?

Because it was banging in WWE, but the company dropped the ball with so much farther they could have gone. With wrestlers like Lashley, Shelton, and MVP, they can still deliver and AEW sees that.

Why, in WWE & AEW nearly all stables are the same ethnicities?

Think about most cliques or gangs outside of wrestling. People tend to hang out with others who are most like themselves and have common interests. It’s just human nature and for wrestling stables and factions, the same rules apply.

You’re allowed to change one thing on Dynamite. What are you choosing?

The head writer and booker, trading them in for someone with fresh ideas who understands pro wrestling, television, and attracting/keeping a bigger audience.

Book the perfect five versus five male and female matches for a future “Survivor Series: Forbidden Door” PPV between AEW and WWE.

For the men, it would be Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Seth Rollins & Damian Priest versus Swerve Strickland, The Young Gunns, Jack Perry, and Will Ospreay. For the women, it’s Rhea Ripley, Nia Jax, Bayley, Charlotte Flair, and Bianca Belair versus Toni Storm, Mercedes Mone, Dr. Britt Baker, Willow Nightingale, and Athena.

Between Sammy Guevara and Jack Perry, who do you think can hit a higher ceiling? Do you think they could ever get to the point of Darby or MJF?

Both men have a lot of potential and value attached to their names. I used to think Sammy Guevera had all the makings of a big star, but he seems to have quit improving and is getting worse. He’s gone from an innovator to just going through the motions. Perry seems to have found himself with the Scapegoat character and is growing as a wrestler and character. He still has a long way to go for WWE to have interest, but he is improving and coming out of his shell more. To the point of Darby? They’re already there. To the point of MJF? It’ll never happen.

We all agree there are “too many belts” but how many belts should an ideal promotion have across all its divisions (men/women/tag/etc)?

A promotion should have a World Championship, a secondary championship, a tag team championship, a Women’s title, and a Women’s Tag Team title. No other titles are needed.

With AEW’s new deal, can the argument now be made that AEW is more of a success than WCW despite WCW being more present within 90’s pop culture?

AEW has never drawn an audience of 8 million people for one television show or event. WCW did. An argument can be made, but it would be wrong. WCW was more successful.

If Rampage is canceled and the rumored AEW Shockwave is brought in on another channel, what night should it be on? And what can they do to give its own identity so it doesn’t feel so missable like Rampage became?

For the night, I’d say Monday to attempt to get the RAW fans who don’t want to watch Netflix and are looking for a wrestling fix to satisfy their habit. As for how to allow Shockwave to grow and have an identity of its own, make it a must-see program with strong announcers, tightly booked competitive matches, and must-see storylines that make sense.

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 things up. Take care and be well, my friends. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!