Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Ezekiel Jackson, Ryan Nemeth, Jake Something & More
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

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

TNA would beat AEW in viewership if they had a better TV deal. Yes or no?

This is a no-brainer. If TNA were on a different network besides AXS, their ratings would be a hundred times better. TNA has quality matches, characters, good stories, and good wrestling. AEW has little of that.

Are you excited to see Ezekiel Jackson back in the ring? Do you think his return could lead to bigger opportunities, possibly even in WWE or AEW?

I had forgotten about Big Zeke, and honestly, I was thinking that he and Big E were the same person. But I was wrong. My bad! He claims that he wasn’t satisfied with the way his career ended and wants to add another chapter. Good for him. And if he can get back up to par and in ring shape, wouldn’t it be cool if Kofi and Woods brought him in as a member of the New Day to replace Big E? I can’t be the only person who thought they were the same person. Welcome back to wrestling, Ezekiel.

Do you think Ryan Nemeth has a case, or is this just another chapter in AEW’s long history of backstage drama?

I’ve read most of the lawsuit and James, the cohost of Storytime with Dutch Mantell, did a great video breaking down this whole lawsuit. I’ll share the video. In my opinion, Nemeth looks like an idiot and he’s out to attempt to get an easy payday. The entire suit is so badly written and full of shit, I think it’s a nuisance suit, hoping that there will be a settlement rather than go to trial and have Tony risk discovery about the Brawl Out fight between The Bucks and CM Punk. This is an absolute joke and nothing more. Watch James break down the lawsuit in this video.

What are your thoughts on the possibility of Corporate CM Punk?

CM Punk as the stooge of The Rock? Anything can indeed happen in professional wrestling, but I don’t think this one is happening. If Cody doesn’t come to the Dark Side with The Rock, I expect Drew McIntyre to be more likely a possibility than CM Punk.

Jake Something has started a GoFundMe after having bicep surgery. Since he’s a TNA star, shouldn’t TNA be footing the bills? Thoughts?

If the injury had happened while Something was working a TNA event, then TNA would and should be liable. But this injury happened while Something was working on an Independent show. Thus, the responsibility belongs to the promoter that Something was working for, or it falls on Something himself, hence the GoFundMe. I don’t see any fault with TNA’s stance on this one. Paying for the injury is not TNA’s problem.

When the WWE bought out WCW and ECW, is there a reason Mike Awesome wasn’t used more?

Awesome was injured early in his WWE run after the end of WCW, and that hurt his run in the company. Plus, Paul Heyman was part of the WWE at the time and I would suspect that Paul probably held a grudge against Awesome for walking out of ECW as Champion to go join WCW. I’m just speculating, but I expect that was a strong factor in the WWE booking of Mike Awesome.

Who do you think Chelsea is facing next week on Smackdown in Toronto?

Chelsea Green, the Women’s United States Champion, against a mystery opponent in Toronto? Who is from Toronto? Yeah, it’ll be Trish Stratus.

Should AEW have locked down Matt Cardona while they had the chance, or is he better off staying independent?

I don’t know why AEW didn’t make an offer, but Cardona probably wouldn’t have accepted. He’s better off as the Indy God and Death Match King than with anything AEW could do for him. Also, it’s well known that Cardona wants to return to WWE. Signing with AEW wouldn’t make any sense.

Enzo Amore says that AEW has never created a legitimate star. Agree or disagree?

Sammy Guevera, Ethan Page, and Ricky Starks all come to mind. They’re not big stars, but they are stars and in the case of Page and Starks, AEW gave them a good start for their name recognition and careers. So I’d have to disagree with Enzo on this one.

Why can’t Lio Rush find a permanent home?

Rush worked in TNA, MLW, New Japan, and WWE. In every promotion, he was either fired for his immaturity, or “retired” from wrestling. The problem is Lio Rush. He’s a talented wrestler, but he needs to grow up, think before he acts, and act like an adult. Otherwise, the pattern continues.

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. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!