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TOSSING SALT: Thoughts on Summer Slam and NXT Takeover, Billy Jack lunacy

Posted: Aug 21st 2015 By: Doug Maynard

Just a few days from the Wrestlemania of the Summer, WWE Summerslam. That's on Sunday night. And on Saturday night, it's NXT Takeover: Brooklyn. Two big shows on the same weekend. The WWE is cranking it up and getting busy, just like Sunny on skype night. Oops! Did I say that? Oh vey! Oh well, at least I'm not talking about the borderline psychotic, blame Vince for everything wrong in the world, self-admitted drug addict and sociopath, Billy Jack Blames. But don't worry. Before this column is over, I probably will. You've been warned.

I'm Doug and this is professional wrestling's most eclectic column since 2002, the one and only "Tossing Salt - Worldwide News". I guess I should probably include the disclaimer because I have a feeling one or two people may end up being offended in this overly politically correct world of ours and will be complaining and whining like little marks playing in the basement with Stu Hart. So here goes: "The views and opinions expressed in this column are mine and mine alone, unless you agree with me and then the opinions expressed are ours to share. They are not necessarily the opinions of anyone else who may be sharing this column or anyone else for that matter. It's all on me. And now you know!"

So what's on the agenda for tonight? I'm thinking Sting and how he could be included at SummerSlam if the WWE decides to do so, the craziness that is Billy Jack Haynes, predictions for NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, and maybe a top ten list of something or another, just to round things out. It sounds like a packed and loaded column, doesn't it? Well, now the intro is complete and here comes the hard part, just like watching a Dixie Carter promo. Painful, but gotta do it. Time to get to stepping... I mean writing. Let's do this...

Sting at SummerSlam?

Though he's scheduled for some autograph signings, currently Sting is NOT scheduled to be at SummerSlam. And that, in my opinion, is crazy. He's one of the biggest stars in the history of the sport and he's in great shape and ready to do something. WWE dropped the ball by having him do the job to HHH at Wrestlemania and now they're dropping the ball again. They're promoting SummerSlam as the "Wrestlemania of the Summer", yet they're bringing in Sting to do nothing but sign autographs? Why? I know he's not booked for the show right now, but here are a couple of ideas where he could
appear and make an impact.

Undertaker versus Brock is being pushed hard and should be a slobberknocker of a match. So far, Undertaker has pretty much been playing the heel in the build for the match, repeatedly kicking Brock in the nuts. Well, play on that and during the match, have Kane reappear, complete with mask, to help his brother. It's a heel move, but what the hell. Taker is the heel here and they're family. So here you go and Taker uses Kane's appearance, after a great match that goes back and forth, for a distraction and kicks Brock in the nuts once more. Taker wins and gets his revenge. Then we have a "Brothers of Destruction" beatdown on Brock and the lights go out. Here's Sting in the ring for the save on Brock. Thus, we get the start of a build for a match with Taker versus Sting at Wrestlemania XXXII in Dallas, plus this can set up a main event for the Night of Champions PPV with Sting & Brock versus Taker & Kane. I'd watch that match. Wouldn't you?

Or since the original plans for Sting were to team with Ambrose & Reigns against The Wyatt Family, he could come out as an ally of the two former SHIELD brothers. Ambrose & Reigns have their match against Bray and Harper. A new Wyatt family member debuts, either Bo Dallas or Adam Rose in his
previous identity of Leo Kruger, and we get the three on two beatdown. Lights go out and Sting appears to help Reigns and Ambrose. And then we get a six-man tag at Night of Champions.

That's just a couple of ideas. Maybe he can just come out and do a promo challenging the Taker for a match at Wrestlemania XXXII. Just use the man and do something with the WCW Icon and legend. Please!!!

Billy Says It's All Vince's Fault...

Have you heard the latest ramblings of former WWF performer (for two whole years), admitted drug addict, sociopath and drug mule (not admitted, but he was arrested and charged) Billy Jack Haynes. On his Facebook page, Haynes latest rants include blaming Vince McMahon and "Stone Cold" Steve
Austin for the death of Roddy Piper (although autopsy reports show it was a blood clot), for getting Piper fired from Podcast One (although Piper actually quit and moved his podcast to another server), for firing Piper from the WWE after thirty years of employment (although Piper spent several years away from the WWE, working for WCW and was still under a WWE Legends Deal at the time of his death.)

None of this is a surprise. After all, Haynes has also claimed in the past that Vince was the father of Nancy & Chris Benoit's son, Daniel and the revelation of that was why Benoit snapped. Of course, Daniel was born one month after Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn debuted in the WWE so the timeline doesn't work at all since that would mean that Nancy & Vince were together when she & Chris were still working for WCW.

But why let facts get in the way of a good story, right? The man is a raving lunatic with the credibility of Bill Clinton claiming that he "never had sex with that woman". It's just not there. And he's the lead plantiff in the Kyros lawsuits against the WWE and Vince McMahon? As Gorilla Monsoon would be saying, "Give me a break!"

Anyhow, the funny thing here is that Billy Jack, in his outrage against "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, for getting Piper fired and causing him to stress out and die three days later as a result (that's what Haynes says), has challenged Steve Austin to an UFC style fight, with each man putting up a
million dollars and the winner take all. Austin might have a bad neck, but have you seen Haynes? Austin would kick his ass! So far, there has been no response from Austin although I'm kind of hoping that he decides to address this on his podcast Thursday night. Someone needs to rip the delusional master of the full nelson a new one and Austin would be the right one to do just that. I expect that
Austin is just ignoring the insane rantings of the delusional one.

That's probably the right idea. Haynes is a just looking for attention and publicity and will say and do anything to get that attention. I probably shouldn't even be talking about him here, but then again, I do a lot of things I shouldn't and he's such a total trainwreck, it's hard to look away and ignore him. You know that the WWE and their attorneys are listening and taking note of every single rant
and claim that he's making and are going to use his own words to totally crush and destroy him should this money-grab concussion lawsuit ever actually make it to trial. This guy is just a nut-job to be sure.

As for the lawsuit itself, my opinion is that it's a money-grab, pure and simple. I'm not saying that the WWE shouldn't reach out and help out some of these former stars and wrestlers sometimes, but blaming the WWE and Vince for drug addictions and everything that's gone wrong in someone's life is wrong. Yes, these men who are trying to sue the WWE suffered injuries in the ring.

But how many of those actual injuries occurred in a WWE ring? Is the WWE responsible for Billy Jack Haynes being injured while he was working in Portland or for Crockett? He seems to think so. Is the WWE responsible for Haynes being addicted to drugs, being arrested several times and for his being molested as a child? He seems to think so. Haynes is the most extreme, but my point is this. These men knew what the business was like when they signed on. They made the choice to be professional wrestlers. They were paid very well (at least in the WWF) for their services. They chose to wrestle and perform in that ring. They made that choice and if they didn't like it or how things went, they could have and should have quit and left. They enjoyed the benefits of the job with the good money, the fame, the
traveling around the world, the women, etc. With the good comes the bad (the injuries, the hard travel schedule, etc). Bottom line is this.

They made the decision to be professional wrestlers and with that decision, they accepted the risks as well. They signed the contracts and enjoyed the benefits. Don't come in fifteen or twenty years later and try to play dumb. Accept responsibility for your lives and move on. In this life, you make choices. If you made the wrong ones, deal with the consequences and move on. Quit trying to pass the
blame and make excuses. That just doesn't cut it. 'Nuff said!

Let's move on.

Coming up on Saturday night in New York, one night before WWE SummerSlam, will be NXT Takeover: Brooklyn. Let's do a few predictions, shall we?

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn Thoughts and Predictions

WWE NXT champion Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens: Ladder Match

I'm expecting this to be one helluva stiff and brutal match. It's going to be interesting to see how Owens holds up, working this brutal match on Saturday, working SummerSlam against Cesaro on Sunday and then RAW on Monday night. It's make or break time for the "Fight Owens Fight" superstar.
Balor won the title last month in Japan and I don't think it's time for him to lose it just yet, especially with Owens pending all his time these days on the main roster. Look for a slobber-knocker of a match, but in the end, Balor retains and keeps the NXT gold. It's what makes sense and would be best for business.

Winner and STILL Champion: Finn Balor

WWE NXT Tag Team Champions Blake and Murphy vs. The Vaudevillians

Both teams are awesome and this match could easily go either way. I like Blake and Murphy and the energy they bring. The Vaudevillians have that entertainment thing about them down to a science. And both teams rock. I've been hearing rumors that Blake and Murphy are on the short list to be called up to the main roster very shortly. That says title change. But for some reason, despite all signs pointing to title change, I just don't think so. The Vaudevillians are good, but the title is staying with the current champions, Blake and Murphy. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Winners and STILL NXT Tag Team Champions: Blake & Murphy

WWE NXT Women's champion Sasha Banks vs. Bayley

Currently, Sasha is spending the majority of her time on the main roster and once Nikki Bella gets her record cinched as the longest running Divas Champion, I'm totally expecting to see either Sasha or Charlotte to slide in and relieve her of that title. Bayley is just an awesome talent and just as good as anyone on the current main roster. She's a major star just waiting to break out and I think that this
Saturday night will be her night. Both of these women are so good in that ring and would fit in well with the women wrestlers of the Attitude Era. What was I saying? I went blank there for a moment. Oops! Anyhow, Sasha is working the main roster more and more and Bayley is ready to break out and bust loose. She's going to walk out as the new NXT Women's Champion. 'Nuff said!

Winner and NEW NXT Women's Champion: Bayley

Jushin Liger vs. Tyler Breeze

This should be a fun match. In all honestly, I think that Tyler Breeze should win. He's been in NXT for a while now and deserves it. But let's be honest. Jushin Liger isn't traveling all the way from Japan to just visit his old friend William Regal and do the job in his WWE debut. Liger will win. I'm sure that Breeze will get his spots in and get a few close two-counts in the match, but when that final bell rings, Liger will get that arm raised.

Winner: Justin Liger

Samoa Joe vs. Baron Corbin

Another match where the one that I think should win won't. Corbin is just a great talent and one of my current favorites in NXT. He's just got that "It" about him and while he doesn't strike me as a main event talent or World Champion material, I see a long and promising future as a solid upper mid-card talent. Corbin should win this match. Joe doesn't need the win and has nothing to gain from a victory. But Joe kills bitches dead and blah, blah, blah. Joe wins.

Winner: Samoa Joe

Carmella vs. Eva Marie

Eva Marie is the one who's set for a big push and is one of the stars of "Total Divas". She's been repackaged and is not coming to Brooklyn to lose.

Winner: Eva Marie

Apollo Crews vs. Tye Dillinger.

Apollo Crews is making his debut and is expected to get a big push. They even had a t-shirt made for him before he even debuted in NXT. So will Apollo lose in his big time NXT debut? I don't think so.

Winner: Apollo Crews

Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte vs. Dana Brooke vs. Emma

Four hot women who not only look good, but can actually wrestle and go in that ring. Let's figure out who's going to win. Becky and Charlotte are working the main roster so in all fairness, they should not be the ones taking that trip to the pay window. They shouldn't, but when has that ever stopped the WWE? Emma is in the process of rebuilding from her disaterous main roster run and I don't think she's
getting that push again just yet. Dana Brooke is the one who should get the win. She's damn good and by process of elimination, she and Bayley should be the female faces of NXT for the next few months. That means that she should win. All roads point to Dana. Thus, I'm going to pick Charlotte. It doesn't make sense, but then again, what does that matter. If I'm going to pick a winner, may as well do it with Flair. Wooooo.

Winner: Charlotte

Bull Dempsey vs. Elias Sampson

Squash match. Dempsey takes out Sampson in about five minutes.

Winner: Bull Dempsey

Chad Gable & Jason Jordan & Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson vs. Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady & Zack Ryder & Mojo Rawley

Eight man tag action in what should be one helluva fast paced and totally awesome match. Team Enzo wins just because Zack Ryder is part of the team and they're in his hometown. Ryder rules! Woo woo woo - you know it!

Winners: Enzo Amore, Colin Cassady, Zack Ryder & Mojo Rawley

And there you go. My predictions for the NXT Takeover: Brooklyn event. I might be right. I might be wrong. Guess we'll find out on Saturday night on the Network. And finally, let's just go totally nuts and do a Top Ten List. Why? Just because I can.

Top Ten Dream Matches I'd Love To See

10. Harley Race versus Kevin Owens
9. The Midnight Express (Eaton & Lane) w/ Jim Cornette versus The Hart Foundation w/ Jimmy Hart
8. Scott Hall & Kevin Nash versus Ole & Gene Anderson
7. Arn Anderson versus Triple H
6. Billy Jack Haynes versus Dan Spivey (Special Guest Referee: Steve Austin)
5. John Cena versus The Undertaker
4. Disco Inferno & Alex Wright w/ Tokyo Magnum versus The New Day
3. Ivory, Victoria & Molly Holly versus AJ Lee, Paige & Charlotte
2. Vampiro versus Bray Wyatt
1. Shawn Michaels versus Stevie Richards

Cheap plug: If you're on Facebook and love wrestling (and who doesn't?), go check out "That Wrestling Group" at www.facebook.com/groups/TheWrestlingPeople. You won't regret it. Them folks are a slight bit crazy, but they know their sports-entertainment / pro wrestling.

And with that, in the words of legendary star of TV and film Porky Pig, "That's all folks!" Questions and comments can be sent to Doug28352@yahoo.com. Follow me on Twitter at @doug28352 and I'm on Facebook at facebook.com/saltpalace. I'm Doug and guess what? Another column coming up soon with predictions for SummerSlam plus all sorts of other stuff. Look for it. Thank s for reading and in the words of the legendary Baron Von Raschke, "dat' is all de' people need to know!". I'm down and I'm gone.

Ubuntu!