Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Titus O’Neil, Ray Stevens, CM Punk & More
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

I’m Doug. This is the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. And that is all the people need to know. Let’s rock.

What do you think of Jey Uso’s bold declaration? Will he claim the WWE World Heavyweight Title in 2025?

Jey says that he will be the WWE Champion by the end of the year. And he may come close. We might even see some fake finishes and near-falls with one of the champions. But will Jey become the face of the company and the new champion? No, I don’t think so.

Would Tony ever let a proven writer manage the show or would he be too afraid the ratings might go up?

I can’t see Tony ever giving up full control of creativity for AEW. I can see him eventually bringing in a few others to assist him in his writing and booking duties, but let another take charge of his baby. It’ll never happen.

Nature Boy Buddy Rogers versus Nature Boy Buddy Landel. Who wins?

Buddy Rogers was a great showman and character, but inside the ring, the matches were not always up to par. Buddy Landell had a lot of issues and was his own worst enemy in many ways, but he could always deliver inside the ring. Rogers was the first Nature Boy, but Landel would be the winner in this match.

Who was the better overall wrestler? Chris Jericho or Macho Man Randy Savage?

With all due respect to Macho, Jericho is a master of reinventing himself and changing his style in the ring as needed. Macho only knew one style and way of wrestling and while it worked well for him, it limited his flexibility and marketing value. I think Jericho was/is the better wrestler in the overall sense of the word.

Would you like to see Titus O’Neil return to the ring for one last match?

Titus is currently working as an Ambassador for WWE and killing it. He has truly found his niche in life. His last match was in April 2021, but he claims he’s not retired yet. I could see him coming back and doing one last match. I think it’d be pretty cool.

What are your thoughts and memories of The Crippler Ray Stevens?

I first saw Ray Stevens working for Crockett in the early 80s and while I found him talented in the ring, I wondered who is this old man. But as he wrestled more, plus did commentary work, I found myself becoming a fan. I had no idea of his history in California with Pat Patterson or his prior work in the AWA, but he grew on me and the guy could go in that ring. I found out about his past later on and I quickly became a Ray Stevens guy. The man could do moves and work a crowd better than anyone, even as he got older. A true legend and icon in every sense of the word.

Is Eric Bischoff obsessed with Tony Khan and AEW?

It seems that way sometimes, but I think that Eric sees Tony as a modern-day reflection of himself and his time in WCW. He sees the mistakes that Tony is making and errors that are AEW and is trying to offer constructive criticism. Plus if people keep asking about someone or something, Eric has to reply, right? It’s good for the clicks and views of the podcasts and videos.

Does Ted Turner belong in the WWE Hall of Fame?

It would be a nice nod and honor for Ted Turner while he’s still alive, but it will never happen. Turner was a businessman and huge fan of professional wrestling who happened to buy a promotion because it suited his business needs. He was not a typical promoter. He helped make wrestling into the billion-dollar business it is and credit is deserved and due. But I don’t see the WWE ever acknowledging that.

Saraya says she is taking “a little break right now” from AEW. Thoughts?

This means that her character is stale and AEW has nothing for her at the moment so she’s sitting at home, collecting checks, while exploring her future options. Good for her.

Did CM Punk’s trust issues hold him back in AEW, or was it all part of the drama we love to see?

I think Punk does have trust issues and in AEW, those issues were proven to be correct as he realized just how treacherous and backstabbing some EW executives could be. Most of it was so unnecessary, but when the daddy lets the kids run wild, shit happens, right? Punk was right to watch his back and not trust the powers that be in AEW and those suspicions were proven correct.

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, I’m out of here. I just had a questions-dump into my mailbox and I have a lot of questions to answer to get caught up. I’ll be back shortly. Until then, take care and watch out for women getting laid out in cars. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!