Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
The Creed Brothers, Chad Gable, Brock Lesnar & 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.

Before I start, Happy Birthday to Indy wrestling sensation, long-time friend, and certified Lil’ Brother, Michael Youngblood. A great wrestler, damn good at MMA, and an amazing person. Love ya, brother. Happy Birthday!

Is it me, or have the Creed Brothers failed to gain any real traction on the main roster? I loved them in NXT, but it hasn’t translated well on RAW. Thoughts?

Tag team wrestling in general takes a back seat to the singles matches on RAW, and with a roster so packed, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle. The Creeds are a really good team, but without Gable there, they seem to be forgotten more than not. A good feud would work in bringing them to the spotlight, but unless someone big gets behind them and pushes hard for them, they’ll continue to be mid-card afterthoughts more often than not. It sucks. It really does.

Will they try to keep Chad Gable on TV as soon as he’s able to move around (that could affect his rehab by traveling all the time)? I fear the Creeds and Ivy Nile might get lost in the shuffle without Chad, unless Ludwig is now going to play a role?

If and when Chad returns is anyone’s guess, but I expect when he does return, we’ll see him and Ludwig, if that’s who it really is, fighting over the El Grande Americano character. The Creeds and Ivy will just be background characters, lost in the shuffle.

Maybe I’m being overly critical and expecting too much, but John Cena’s loss of a step or two was really evident at NOC. Am I being too harsh?

You’re not being critical. Cena has lost many steps and seems to be just a shadow of what he was even three years ago. It seems as if he’s just riding the wave and going through the motions.

Can I assume you’re happy, along with many others, about SmackDown going back to 2 hours?

Three hours, especially with all of the other wrestling happening every night of the week, is too much. We needed a small break, and WWE obliged.

I know it’s early, but the seeds have been planted, at least in my mind. Is Sami Zayn being positioned for a world title run? I’d love to see it, and I think even if it’s a Jey Uso length reign, it would be a great payoff for all the fan goodwill he has.

I expect, before all is said and done, we’ll see Sami Zayn as either the WWE or World Champion. It won’t last long, but it will happen. And yes, he deserves it.

Baron Von Raschke versus Baron Corbin. Who wins?

Corbin would dominate, control, and rule this match from the opening bell. He would put on a clinic, and it would take everything for Raschke to survive. And then, one mistake, and the Baron locks in THE CLAW. Baron Von Rachke wins. And that is all the people need to know!

Is Brock Lesnar gearing up for a WWE comeback amid WWE’s constant hints?

I would love to see it happen, and I’m hoping so, but so long as this Janel Crant money-grab lawsuit is happening, Brock, even though he’s not been charged with or accused of anything, remains persona non grata with WWE. I doubt we’ll see him anytime soon.

What do you think of AEW’s last-minute match announcements? Do they build excitement or hurt long-term storytelling?

They come across as rushed, last-minute decisions thrown at the wall to see if they’ll stick. They hurt the build for the events and make AEW seem unorganized and second-rate.

Mr. Kennedy for the WWE Hall of Fame. Yay or nay?

While Kennedy has his fans and is a popular wrestler, many, many others deserve the honors first. Inducting Kennedy would go over as well as the inductions of James Dudley or Michelle McCool. And how were they received? Not too good.

Do you still get excited seeing FTR?

Not so much anymore. I’m still a fan, but they seem to have lost what made them stand out in AEW and feel special. They’ve been broken down and just seem to be going through the motions rather than trying to be unique and special. Sad, but that’s how it feels to me.

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!