Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Maria Kanellis, Gable Steveson, Tay Melo & More
DougMaynard.com
Doug Maynard

Welcome to the show. It’s the only pro wrestling Q&A that matters. You have questions, and I have answers. It’s the Ultimate Wrestling Q&A. I’m Doug, your party host and Guiding Light. Are you ready? Let’s do this.

Yes or no? Do you think that NXT is a better product than AEW?

NXT is better produced and has a better flow 98% of the time. AEW has some great talent on the roster, but there is no structure to the show, and storylines are essentially non-existent. NXT is the better wrestling program.

Do you want to see Maria Kanellis return to WWE?

Why? She’d show up, make a few appearances, and get pregnant. She doesn’t wrestle anymore and adds nothing to the program. So, that would be a no.

Natalya wants to see a weekly all women’s wrestling show. “I think we can do that in WWE — There are so many talented women.” Thoughts?

Women’s wrestling, as good as it is sometimes, is still a niche product. With current television, men and women both being featured, everyone gets a variety of matches and talent. Take away the men and the show would bomb. And to be fair, an all men’s show would bomb too. There has to be something for everyone. It would never succeed.

Do you think Mercedes Moné gets unfair criticism?

Perhaps, but it’s pro wrestling, and everyone has an opinion. Moné does bring a lot of it on herself, and taking criticism is part of the job, especially for a heel. Maybe it is unfair, but life is rarely fair. She’ll be okay.

Tank Abbott versus Roman Reigns. Who wins?

In a shoot fight, Abbott might do okay, but in the squared circle, it’s Roman Reigns all the way.

Isn’t LFG the perfect fit for a Gable Steveson, if he was still in the WWE system? Do you see them bringing him back for a future season? And why did they release him when they did, after only less than a handful of televised matches?

If things were different, Steveson may have been a good choice for LFG, but Steveson came into the WWE with a lot of baggage and didn’t seem to have the ambition or drive to improve or get better. I don’t think he’ll ever be back in WWE. As for why they released him, the reactions of the audience were usually negative or non-existent, and he wasn’t getting better.

Are the Wyatt Sicks a success or a flop? I think they were successful in the form of a tribute to Bray, but a flop because of their booking, not their fault.

Based on the entire scenario, from start to finish, it’s been a flop. The potential was there and the concept was great, but it hasn’t worked and I can’t see how, barring a miracle, it will ever work. Too bad. We all had such high hopes.

Tay Melo is teasing a return to action at AEW Double or Nothing. Would you like to see Melo return to the ring in AEW? Thoughts?

I like Melo as a person and character, but she’s not going to be an impact player or make a difference whether she wrestles or not. Most likely, if she does wrestle, it’s only because her husband, Sammy Guevera, is booked on the show and since she’s going to be there anyhow, with Sammy, they figured that they may as well use her for a match. I don’t see how she would fit in any current stories, but if she can get a paycheck and a match, good for her.

What’s more important to be a successful wrestler? Character or work rate?

A wrestler can be great, but without a character, it will never work. A great character is important to draw an audience, but if the person can’t work a match, it won’t get over quite as well. My own opinion is that character means more, but the ability to work a match has to be there too.

Of these four, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Gunther, and Will Ospreay, who is the best in-ring worker?

Seth Rollins and it’s not even close. All of these talents are good wrestlers in their own way, but Seth is the most complete worker of this group.

And there you go. Thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and questions are welcome and appreciated. Reach me by e-mail at Doug28352@yahoo.com or on X at @Doug28352. 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 foreign objects, and I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!