Tossing Salt Presents:
Wrestling Fact or Fiction
Extra Large Edition – Part I
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

I’m Doug. Welcome to an extra-large edition of Wrestling Fact or Fiction. In fact, it’s so big, that I’m breaking it up into two columns. Don’t say I don’t love you. The statements come from the mind of Mr. Jake Chambers, from 411Mania.com. The comments that follow? That’s all me, baby! Let’s do this. Let’s roll. This is Part I.

Statement #1: Jey Uso’s Royal Rumble win is in the Nakamura / Del Rio / Sheamus / Edge B-level category.

FICTION: That remains to be seen, but I trust Triple H. Uso is way over with the fans to a degree that I haven’t seen in a long time and, while he’s not the greatest talker or even wrestler, he has that IT that everyone looks for. He has, as the kids like to say, an AURA about him. I think Jey will do well and be remembered fondly.

Statement #2: You have watched a WWE PPV / PLE from a private corporate box.

FICTION: That would require leaving my house and Dougie doesn’t play that. I watch the PLEs either on the TV or on my computer at my table. It might not be fancy, but it works well for me.

Statement #3: Charlotte was the right call to be the first woman to win 2 Rumbles.

FICTION: Charlotte is an amazing wrestler and I have much respect for her, but with a roster this stacked, with stars like Bianca, Liv, Nia, Roxanne Perez, Jordynne Grace, etc., the call for Charlotte to win just doesn’t sit right with me. Alexa Bliss is back. Iyo Sky was there. Trish was back. Nikki Bella was back. There were so many talented women in the match, that going back to the well for Charlotte just feels wrong.

Statement #4: Kevin Owens losing ANOTHER title match at the Rumble was uncool, even if the match was good.

FICTION: It didn’t hurt Kevin a bit, plus helped to put over Cody’s credentials as a badass. And also, it sets up a mini-feud with Sami and Kevin, something I know that they’ve wanted, and a possible return for Randy Orton. It sucks to see Kevin lose, but he’ll be okay and has come out of that match as strong as ever.

Statement #5: The Berzerker really should have won at least one Rumble.

FICTION: The Berzerker? Really? If you had said Meng, or even Repo Man, I would have agreed, but Berzerker? Nah, I can’t go for that. No can do.

Statement #6: John Cena will ultimately be remembered as a movie star like The Rock rather than a generational WWE superstar like Hogan or Austin.

FICTION: Cena has done some good stuff with the movies and television, and I love the Peacemaker series, but he will always be viewed as a wrestler first. He’s no Jesse Ventura, after all.

Statement #7: You believe in Joe Hendry… to win the WWE Title one day.

FICTION: I hope I’m wrong, and I do believe in Joe Hendry, but the biggest WWE titles that I see in his future are the NXT Championship, The United States Championship, and maybe the IC title. But I just don’t see Hendry as the WWE or World Champion. I might be wrong, but I just can’t see it.

Statement #8: Here’s a great idea for a Rumble match innovation: once a wrestler is eliminated, they can stay around the outside of the ring and if they can somehow pull someone out of the ring then they can take their spot.

FICTION: It would be interesting to see and make for some wild moments, but I’m from the school where, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. And the Rumble match isn’t broken, so no. Just no.

Statement #9: Pro-wrestling basically peaked with Mini Mankind, Mini Vader and Mini Goldust.

FICTION: It was the WeeLC match between Hornswoggle and El Torito at Extreme Rules 2014 where WWE and pro wrestling hit their peak. And I refuse to admit otherwise.

Statement #10: The run of creative Rumble endings stopped after the 2004 match (except for the 2011 Santino fake-out) and from now on all we’re ever generally going to get again are these one-on-one superstar showdown deals.

FICTION: Yes, they do tend to be a bit more predictable these days, but WWE can still switch up endings and surprises are still possible. After all, who expected Jey Uso? I think HUnter and the WWE crew are just getting into their stride. They don’t have a Pat Patterson available to handle the booking for the Rumble matches, so it’s a struggle, but they’re getting there.

Statement #11: Since both of them have had a pretty dull year, Roman Reigns probably shouldn’t have lost the WWE Title to Cody Rhodes at Wrestlemania last year.

FICTION: Roman was due to lose the title and Cody needed to finish his story. Cody winning was the right call, and I think he’s been fine as the WWE Champion this past year.

Statement #12: You have seen the future, and its name is Dominick Mysterio.

FACT: Dom is a prodigy and easily one of the best talents in WWE right now, and that’s after only a few years in the ring. No one can generate heat like Dom and he gets it. He is the future, and we are very lucky to have him.

Statement #13: If the Hulk Hogan who won the 1990 and 1991 Rumbles was in a modern one, he would easily throw all the small-sized superstars of today over the top.

FACT: Hulkamania was the strongest force in the Universe during those prior wins, and I don’t see anyone on the current roster who could withstand the pythons. Hogan would run wild on everyone, brother!

Statement #14: More people would have cared about a Maven vs. The Boogeyman match at the 2025 Royal Rumble than that 2/3 Falls Motor City Machine Guns vs. DIY match.

FACT: Both the MCMG and DIY are good teams, but now that you’ve mentioned it, I think I would like to see Maven versus The Boogeyman. The tag match at the Rumble was good wrestling, but Maven and The Boogeyman would be pure entertainment. That would truly be the bigger spectacle.

And there you go with the first half of this extended edition of Wrestling Fact or Fiction. Thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and questions are welcome and appreciated. And once again, thanks to Jake Chambers of 411Mania for allowing me to play with his toys for a bit. Now, go read Part II. I’ll see you there.

Ubuntu!