Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Penta, The Rockers, Ricochet & More
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. I’m Doug and it’s Monday morning. Yay! Let’s do this.

Do you think AEW did the right thing by having only one member of a faction in the Continental Classic?

As I mentioned in a previous edition of the Q&A, I didn’t even realize that the Continental Classic tournament was taking place. AEW loves their tournaments, don’t they? So the rules only allow one member of a faction in the tournament? I guess that makes sense because we wouldn’t want members of the same faction going against each other competing for the win or prize, right? That never makes sense. I guess AEW is doing the right thing. Their structure and way of doing things confuse the hell out of me and give me a headache.

Does Penta want to go to WWE now or wait for Rey Fenix’s AEW deal to expire?

Penta can go on to WWE and NXT and establish himself while Ray Fenix is being held hostage in AEW. Penta can be laying the groundwork for, when the opportunity arises, the chance to bring his partner in, already with a position on the roster established and waiting.

We are approaching a year since Jade Cargill’s in-ring debut for WWE, so what do you think of her performance so far?

I think she has improved since her AEW days, but she still has a ways to go to get up to the level of Bianca Belair or Bayley. Jade has a billion-dollar look about her. One look and you know she’s a star. But she’s still over-thinking the moves in the ring and they’re not coming naturally to her yet. She needs some time in the Performance Center away from the cameras. Hopefully, this injury angle will allow her to grow and improve. Jade has a ton of potential, but she hasn’t quite grasped it yet.

Now that you’ve seen professional wrestling for so many years, which is a worse product? AEW in 2024? Or TNA being run by Hogan, Bischoff, and Russo in 2010-11?

As bad as TNA was at times, it had structure and an order to things that kept continuity and an even flow with matches and the stories being told. AEW doesn’t have that. AEW is still the worst product.

I’m watching old videos from the 80’s and 90’s and I have a question about the Rockers. Was Marty Janetty considered the better wrestler when they were together as a team?

When HBK and Marty were put together, Marty was the veteran and considered the better of the two. Shawn was a pretty boy to draw in the female fans. Marty was the leader of the team and the wrestler of the team, to provide the foundation and talent of the Rockers tag team. As time went on, things changed, but yeah, Marty was the better wrestler in the beginning.

In this week’s WON, Meltzer compared 2024 Ricochet to Filet Mignon. It has happened. Peak Dave has been reached. Thoughts?

Dave is a whackerdoodle idiot. Ricochet is a talented wrestler, but without the structure of the WWE behind him, he’s quickly learning, as is Mercedes Mone’, that Filet Mignon is only appealing to a few people some of the time, while the vast majority would prefer a ribeye or a T-Bone instead. Ricochet, since coming to AEW, has lost the majority of his matches, plus while doing some amazing gymnastics, has looked terrible as a professional wrestler. This move may be paying him more money, but it’s not doing him any favors otherwise.

Who would you consider the MVP of each War Games match at the Survivor Series?

For the Women’s War Games match, it’s a tough call, but I think Iyo Sky stands out as the MVP of the ladies. Just that stunt with the trash can made all the difference. As for the men, Bronson Reed and Jacob Fatu could both be called the MVP at different times during the match. Fatu was all over the place and looking incredible, while Reed had that big jump from the top of the cage. I’ll give the nod to The Samoan Werewolf, but only just barely.

There was no blood in either of the War Games matches this year. Does that hurt the believability of the match?

So we didn’t get blood, but we got Jimmy Uso with a broken toe. Bronson Reed will be out of action for a few weeks at least, and look how banged up everyone seemed to be after the match. Blood can serve a purpose in telling a story, but the match itself and the great character work tell the story in this match. No blood was needed and the lack thereof made no difference.

What do you think Ricky Starks should do next in his career? Should AEW grant his release, or is there still potential for him in the company?

There is plenty of potential for Ricky Starks in AEW if the company chooses to use him. Adam Copeland is due for a return to action and that’s a story right there waiting to be told. Plus there is unsettled business with former partner Big William. And it wouldn’t be hard to put Starks in a dozen different other stories as well. But if AEW isn’t going to take advantage and use Starks, they should just go ahead and grant him a release already and set him free.

What do you think about Bron Breakker potentially teaming up with Paul Heyman?

Somewhere down the road, Bron Breakker as the next Paul Heyman guy? It sounds good and I like that idea. Let’s hope that it happens.

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. Take care and be well, my friends. Watch out for flying trash cans from the top of the cage and I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!