Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
CM Punk, Adam Copeland, Daniel Puder & More
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

I’m Doug and this is the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. Are you ready to rumble? Let’s do this.

Do you think Becky Lynch’s legacy in WWE is set in stone, or is there more for The Man to accomplish?

There is always more to accomplish, but if Becky were to officially retire today, her career and legacy are set. She’s had a great run in WWE and the WWE Hall of Fame is in her future.

What do you think of CM Punk’s first year back in WWE? Has he lived up to the hype, or is the best still to come?

Why not both? CM Punk has had a great year since coming back to the WWE. Although hampered by injuries, he’s had some tremendous moments and is as hot now as he was on Day 1 of his return. And as great as he’s been so far, I think some memorable WrestleMania moments and the WWE Championship remain in his future. Punk is like a fine wine and just gets better with age.

Plans are underway for WWE to introduce a Women’s Intercontinental Championship for WWE Raw. Thoughts?

Raw General Manager Adam Pearce introduced the new title belt on RAW last night and I guess, since the women of Smackdown have a new title, the women of RAW should as well. It’s only fair. I’m not crazy about the idea of a new championship, much less two of them, but if that’s what WWE wants to do, so be it.

What do you think about Adam Copeland’s AEW journey so far? Are you excited about his eventual return?

I think Adam Copeland’s entire run in AEW thus far, except the brief time with Christian, has been a total bust. The broken foot didn’t help the situation, but his AEW run never quite caught on anyhow. The foot injury broke his momentum, but there wasn’t much to break. And no, I’m not excited about his return. AEW didn’t know what to do with Copeland before he went out with injury and I doubt things will be any better once he returns.

What do you think about Titus O’Neil’s move to Hollywood? Should he focus on acting, or would you like to see him wrestle again?

O’Neil is trying his hand at acting and television roles and that’s cool. His main role with WWE these days is as an Ambassador and the wrestling days are numbered, if not over. Good for him to expand his horizons and opportunities. I’d like to see Titus come back and maybe have one last match and a retirement angle, but it’s not a big deal in the big picture of things.

What do you think is next for Penta El Zero Miedo? Should he join WWE, stay with AEW, or go independent?

Once Penta gets his release from AEW, I think NXT will be his next move, as it probably should be.

Now that he’s had time to settle into the job, how would you rate Joe Tessitore as the Commentator for WWE Raw?

I think he’s doing a great job and has managed, after a rough first few weeks, has settled into the job, and seems like he’s been there forever. He and Wade Barrett have found their chemistry and work well together. He sounds like a veteran who’s been doing this for years. Tessitore was a good hire for WWE.

I saw your answer about Daniel Puder. Would you like to see Puder brought back to the WWE for another run to look for redemption? How about Muhammad Hassan, aka Mark Copani?

I’m not sure what kind of physical condition Puder is in these days or if he’d even be interested, but a surprise appearance at the Royal Rumble would generate a huge pop and a lot of interest. If the response is strong enough, then build on it from there. It would be a great moment. As for Muhammad Hassan, I know he’s mostly retired from the business, but he did do a few Independent dates a couple of years ago and is still in good shape. If he was interested, a return at the Rumble would be the best way to bring him back as well.

CM Punk and Randy Orton returned to WWE a year ago at Survivor Series. How would you rate each of their returns to WWE since then?

Both men have had great years. Punk had the feud with Drew McIntyre and despite injuries, has remained strong and relevant. Orton has been involved with the Bloodline, Cody, and Kevin Owens and has just added to his legacy. On a scale of 1-10, I’d give Punk a solid 9, while Orton gets an 8.5. Both men have had excellent returns.

From Survivor Series 1988, The Twin Towers (Akeem and The Big Boss Man), Ted DiBiase, King Haku, and The Red Rooster versus The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Carlito, JD McDonagh, Dominik Mysterio) & Damian Priest. Who wins?

What a crazy mix of wrestlers. This would be a fun match to witness. The power of Akeem and Boss Man. The science of Ted DiBiase. The pure awesomeness that is Haku. And the Red Rooster. What a grouping this is. And on the other side, Judgment Day. A great match with lots of action, but the interference of one of Judgment Day’s women, be it Rhea or Liv Morgan, would make the difference. Judgment Day wins.

And there you go. My thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and any questions are welcome and appreciated. Use the comment box or else message me at Doug28352@yahoo.com. Follow me on X at @Doug28352. Be sure to like, share, and subscribe. And with that, let’s wrap things up. Stay well, my friends. Watch out for foreign objects. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!