Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Carlito, Freddie Blassie, Ric Flair’s Best Match & 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.

Carlito is gone. Carlito announced that WWE will not be renewing his contract, and he’ll be gone in two weeks. Thoughts?

I hate this and Judgment Day will not be the same. But, I somewhat understand this as Carlito hasn’t wrestled a match since the Andre the Giant Battle Royal before WrestleMania. While he’s taken some great bumps, like that spear from Bron Breakker, WWE wasn’t using him except as a background character. I hate that he won’t be part of RAW anymore, but it looks as if he’ll be working for WWC in Puerto Rico, and I expect we’ll still see plenty of Carlito on our TV, be it AEW, TNA, MLW, or somewhere else. And you know what? That’s cool!

Do you think WWE dropped the ball with Carlito’s return? Or was it just time to move on?

Carlito got the huge pop when he returned two years ago and since then? He’s been mainly a background character for Judgment Day. Where were the titles? Where were the matches and main events? Yeah, WWE dropped the ball big time with Carlito. I’m just glad he got a good payday from it and, based on character alone, has come out stronger than he started on this most recent run. Carlito will be okay, moving forward. And you know what? That’s cool!

Should WWE have offered R-Truth an ambassador role instead of cutting ties?

An ambassador role, a legend’s deal, and anything else he might want. WWE and TKO screwed up with this call, and I’m sure it will come back and bite them in the ass. And it should.

What is your favorite Ric Flair match of all time?

While Flair is a terrible human being and his legacy self-destructs every time he opens his mouth, tweets, or makes an appearance, he is still one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. And he had some amazing matches. My favorites? The 1992 Royal Rumble match where he captured his first WWF Championship, the I Quit match with Terry Funk at Clash of the Champions IX in 1989, and a tag team match where he and Barry Windham teamed to fight Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane, the Midnight Express, at Clash of the Champions IV.

Greg “The Hammer” Valentine versus Big Bubba Rogers versus The Masked Superstar. Who wins?

A triple-threat with three of the best, yet most underrated heels of their time. This match would be AWESOME! It could easily go to any man for the win, but I’d suspect that Bubba might have manager Jim Cornette in his corner. That would be the deciding factor. Big Bubba Rogers wins.

What are your memories and thoughts of Classy Freddie Blassie?

I never had the chance to see Blassie during his wrestling days and mainly knew of him through the Apter Mags during his time as a manager in New York, but the dude is a legend of professional wrestling. People still talk of his matches in Japan and California. And penciled neck geek is a phrase that even non-wrestling fans know. Blassie was truly ahead of his time and is a true icon and legend.

What is the worst wrestling gimmick that you’ve ever witnessed at a live event?

A guy wearing camouflage pants and a flannel shirt at a local show here in Laurinburg, NC, working a hardcore match. And his name? Dick Foley. Yeah, it was as cringe as it sounds. And so was he. Not even an attempt to be unique or original. I was in the audience watching the show and I was embarrassed for him. He really was that bad.

What three non-main event talents on the AEW roster deserve a major push? And same question, but WWE.

For AEW, I’d go with Aaron Solo, QT Marshall, and Tay Melo. As for WWE, I’d say Austin Theory, Grayson Waller, and Joaquin Wilde.

Who were the best promos back in the ’70s that you remember?

The seventies weren’t a great time for promos, but Blackjack Mulligan, Roddy Piper, and Ole Anderson were always among the very best.

What were your three favorite line-ups of the Four Horsemen?

The original of Ric, Arn, Ole, and Tully was and will always be the best in my opinion. Next would be Ric, Arn, Tully, and Barry Windham. And finally, Ric, Arn, Pillman, Benoit, and Mongo.

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!