Tossing Salt Presents:
Ultimate Wrestling Q&A
Tommaso Ciampa, Paul Orndorff, SmackDown & 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, guiding light, and the man with the best mullet since Billy Ray Cyrus. Are you ready? Let’s do this.

Tommaso Ciampa has arrived in AEW. Thoughts?

I thought it would take a while longer, but I’m not surprised. With so many recent injuries, AEW needs some fresh meat, and with Ciampa coming off a long WWE run, he’s perfect. Congratulations to Ciampa. I expect he’ll do well, financially if nothing else.

SmackDown has averaged less than a million viewers on the USA Network for the past three weeks. Should WWE be worried?

Yes, they should be very worried. SmackDown hasn’t exceeded a million viewers since going back to three hours. Major changes need to be made, and made soon. While the ratings are still at the top of their timeslot and great for cable, there is something missing, and the fans are not tuning in. WWE absolutely has some work to do.

Did you prefer Paul Orndorff as a heel or a babyface?

In my opinion, Paul was far better as a heel.

If TNA could get 5 mid-carders from WWE and AEW and use them to their potential, which wrestlers do you think would be able to elevate the brand?

From WWE, how about Omos, Rusev, Johnny Gargano, Michin, and John Gacy? As for AEW, I’d send them Sammy Guevara, The Von Erich Brothers, Thunder Rosa, and Dr. Britt Baker.

Do you think the reason WWE seems allergic to pulling the trigger on Cody vs. Punk is that in their mind it’ll somehow legitimize AEW?

Maybe some in WWE management might feel that way, but I think WWE is just keeping Punk versus Cody as an ace in their pocket, to use only if necessary. Save the big guns as a last resort.

Why do you think Tony Khan is suddenly making loads of signings after a relatively measured 2025? Just TK being TK or something larger like a ROH TV deal?

I think the advance of TNA has Tony nervous. There is a serious chance of TNA being a threat to AEW if they get their shit together, especially now that they’re on a major cable network. Also, Tony just likes to collect new things, even if he doesn’t have a place for them or knows what to do with them. It’s Tony being Tony.

Who’s the greatest interviewer in pro wrestling history?

I gave this one plenty of thought, and only one name consistently kept rising to the top of the list. Mean Gene Okerlund.

Do you agree with The Undertaker that wrestling is getting too comfortable exposing its secrets?

Yes. Some things are better left unknown or unsaid, but wrestling seems determined to reveal all. It takes away from the product and mystery. People need to quiet down and let the fans suspend their belief for a while. It really does make the show and product better.

Who do you think AJ Styles should face before he retires?

Considering it’s Thursday as I write this, and AJ’s career match is on Saturday, it’s kind of late to be making selections now, isn’t it? But assuming AJ survives Gunther on Saturday, some of the wrestlers I’d like to see him face include TNA Champion Mike Santana, Matt Cardona, Finn Balor, and, one last time, Chris Jericho.

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; that is all people need to know. I’ll see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!