This Or That: 11/04/2013

Everybody loves binary decisions, especially wrestling fans! In This Or That, we’ve forced ourselves to choose between two options that relate to wrestling.

Over five questions, @TimWelcomed, @typicalROHfan and @TomBlackett will have to choose one of two options and give their reasoning on each of their choices. You can then vote on which one you’d choose, giving you the false impression that you’re somehow involved and we care about your opinion chance to join the conversation! #BRANDING

More likely to get a singles match at Wrestlemania 30: Dolph Ziggler or Hulk Hogan?

Despite being in his physical prime, Ziggler’s mostly been buried on the undercard after a (very) brief World Heavyweight Title run. Meanwhile, while The Hulkster might be barely able to move, he’s still making noise about a WWE return. Who is more likely to get a singles match at Wrestlemania 30?

Tim:

I will put a little faith out there and say that Dolph Ziggler will, at the most, be on the Wrestlemania pre-show. Hogan, however, will most likely be on the main card in some capacity. I’ll even say he’s more likely to wrestle a match on the main card than Dolph Ziggler.

Best case scenario, I’m completely wrong and Hogan will just be a special guest referee that calls it down the middle in the rumored title unification match and Ziggler will have a match against someone worthwhile. This is way better.

Hulk Hogan

typicalROHfan:

Fans discussing wrestling online tend to confuse the term “buried” with “the wrestler I like lost a match” often but when it comes to Dolph Ziggler, this instance DOES seem like a case of someone being buried. Based off the way they’ve booked him even when he was being pushed vs. Cena in early 2013, Ziggler just never seemed to be a guy WWE believes in. One month in, newcomer Big E. Langston was presented as being of equal stature of Ziggler. That said a lot to me about WWE’s outlook of what Ziggler is.

On the the other end, this is Wrestlemania 30 so the show has to be even more special than usual. There’s no doubt in my mind WWE wants Hogan on the show in some capacity. I think the safe bet is he beats up some heels in a non match setting making the save for someone shades of Wrestlemania 21 but if I had to pick one of the two, I’d think Hulk Hogan is much more likely to get a singles match than Ziggler.

I do think Ziggler will be in a multi-person match or on the pre-show but can’t see him getting a singles angle going into Wrestlemania at all.

Hulk Hogan

Tom:

Yeah, short of Ziggler getting a complete reboot or saving a member of the McMahon-Levesque clan from some kind of a natural disaster, I can’t imagine he’ll be in anything other than the multi-man tag match at Wrestlemania.

Hogan’s a trickier one. It seems like a safe assumption that he wants back with the WWE, and I’m sure WWE would want to have him involved to (if the price is right). I’m not sure if he’s capable of having a match, but…. well, that’s probably not enough to stop him from trying. I assume his opponent would end up being someone like Heath Slater, picking up from where he left off from Raw 1,000 and continuing his streak of jobbing to legends.

You never know though, given Ziggler’s current career trajectory, it could be him that goes down to the big boot in two and a half minutes at ‘Mania, rendering this question completely pointless!

Hulk Hogan

Better person to own TNA: Jeff Jarrett or Billy Corgan?

TNA seems to be up for sale, but who would be better to take ownership – former head honcho, Jeff Jarrett, or Smashing Pumpkins lead singer, wrestling superfan and ‘Hitler Land’ enthusiast, Billy Corgan?

Tim:

On one hand, I have had a few problems with some of Revolution Pro’s storylines and the way they present themselves that has led to me never paying attention to them again. I don’t know how much of that really involved Corgan, though. On the other hand, Jeff Jarrett’s TNA has already existed and I don’t care about seeing that again.

With that being said, I had prefer TNA go the way of a whole new vibe, so I guess I’d go with Billy Corgan. If it’s bad I’ll care as much as I do now. How much do I care now? I don’t care. I don’t care at all. If it’s good I’ll be overjoyed.

Billy Corgan

typicalROHfan:

This is tough. If you’re going for a safe bet, Jeff Jarrett is the answer. We’ve seen TNA under his management and it was fine. Some would say it was the best TNA days. That being said, I’m going with Billy Corgan.

TNA is in a weird state where I’d rather see them in an atmosphere where things are completely different and new. Whether that leads to new unique and entertaining programming or a big fall is irrelevant in this question as the upside is what I’m looking for in this answer.

Corgan also has influenced my scarf fashion so he’s already my favorite TV wrestling promotion owner of all time.

Billy Corgan

Tom:

“Better”? Hmm. We know how TNA would be under Jarrett, and… well, I’d be fine with that! I’ve not heard enough about Resistance Pro to know what Billy Corgan’s like as the owner of an indy fed, but regardless, I’m still going to go with him. WWE’s opposition has been some combination of Biscoff / Russo / Jarrett / Carter for so long that it’d be nice to have someone a little more detached to take control for once. It could be terrible, but at least it’s more likely to be terrible in new and exciting ways.

Billy Corgan

Best opponent for The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 30: Brock Lesnar or John Cena?

“You wanna go?” asked the Undertaker after Brock’s last UFC fight, which first sparked the gossip that there’d be a match between the two sooner rather than later. However, in 2013 it’s not clear exactly how many times ‘Taker can still ‘go’, and with both Lesnar and Cena vying for what you’d assume would be one of Mr. Michelle McCool’s last Wrestlemania outings, who would be the best opponent?

Tim:

I wouldn’t mind seeing Lesnar vs Undertaker at Wrestlemania XXX at all. However, John Cena vs The Undertaker would leave open the unpredictability factor. Cena is probably the only person I think they would let take down the streak right now. Not knowing for sure if The Undertaker will win would add to the showdown huge. Not to mention that I am sure Cena would have the better match with him.

This isn’t to say that I think Cena should beat the streak or nothing. I had prefer that happen for someone younger in their career. I do think it would be more interesting.

John Cena

typicalROHfan:

These are the only two opponents I’ve been hoping to see Undertaker face since the Shawn Michaels series. They are also the only two names rumored to face off with Taker this year and I fully expect him to face Brock Lesnar at WM 30 and John Cena at WM 31. I could also see Cena being saved for his retirement match whether that is next Wrestlemania or a few years after.

For who I think the best opponent is, I think it’s Cena. With Lesnar, it’s the same thing we’ve got the last few years. A phenomental Undertaker match stealing the show at Wrestlemania. Great but we know how it goes.

With Cena, it adds the rare 1% chance in your mind. You begin to wonder and invest a little bit more into the outcome of the match. Also factor in many long time fans or old fans who come out for Wrestlemania despise Cena and him representing the current era they may not enjoy vs. a guy they are familiar with and love in the Undertaker. It’s a fun dynamic. I think Cena vs. Taker in a Streak vs. Franchise Wrestlemania main event could be one of the greatest matches of all time.

John Cena

Tom:

We’ve seen Brock and ‘Taker on the big stage before – not at Wrestlemania and not while Undertaker was in his ‘Dead Man’ persona, but even so, it’s been done. Cena would feel much fresher and like something truly ‘big’, so let’s go for him.

John Cena

Most likely to win the Royal Rumble: CM Punk or Daniel Bryan?

Neither have won the Rumble before, and both seem likely to be top-seeded participants in the 2014 Royal Rumble, but who would be more likely to win it – CM Punk or Daniel Bryan?

Tim:

My dream scenario: Bryan wins The Royal Rumble. CM Punk defeats Orton for the WWE Championship. Cena goes into ‘Mania as World Heavyweight Championship. We get a three-way unification match in which Daniel Bryan win not just one title but both titles. It’ll be the only way his Orton/Triple H feud will seem like it wasn’t a waste of time in the long run in my eyes.

Realistically, I see Punk winning The Royal Rumble and being the third man in the three-way versus Cena and Orton where Cena will win and unify the titles. The match should be okay but definitely not the best outcome or three guys that it could feature. *Looks at Randy Orton* If we get Bryan vs Michaels somehow, I’ll be more than fine with this scenario though.

CM Punk

typicalROHfan:

It’s really cool that these are the two rumored guys to win the Royal Rumble. I am hoping Bryan wins it, goes to Wrestlemania and defeats Randy Orton and/or John Cena. However, I’ve gone on record as saying my prediction is CM Punk winning the Rumble and selecting to face both Cena and Orton in a triple threat unification title match at Wrestlemania.

CM Punk

Tom:

If 2012 was Cena’s ‘year in the wilderness’ (a wilderness which featured a starring role on Raw and near monthly PPV main events, mind you), then 2013 has been Punk’s. Since Wrestlemania, everything’s been a little directionless – while the Heyman breakup had some incredible highlights, there’s only so much blood you can squeeze from a couple of stones like Ryback and Curtis Axel. It’s time for him to move on, and winning the Rumble just seems to fit with a re-emergence in the main event title picture.

I’m not sure where that leaves Bryan though. He never got a fair shake as champion and his feud with Orton has fizzled out. I’m guessing he’ll be facing Triple H or (if we’re all very, VERY good) Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania to cap off his arrival as a top star, but you just never know.

CM Punk

Who will debut on the WWE main roster first: Kassius Ohno or Solomon Crowe?

Kassius Ohno has been in developmental for close to two years now, while Solomon Crowe has been there only a few months and has yet to make his televised NXT debut. Which is more likely to make their debut as part of the WWE main roster first – the former Chris Hero or the former Sami Callihan?

Tim:

I have been a Kassius Ohno supporter for a really long time. I dug Solomon Crowe when he was Sami Callihan but not to the extent of my Chris Hero fandom. I do think I’ll like Crowe under WWE’s guidance more.

Unfortunately, it seems like the Ohno push fell away after his great feud with Regal on NXT and I’m starting to worry about his future. He should be on the main roster already. I hope I am wrong but I think Crowe will be up there before him.

Solomon Crowe

typicalROHfan:

This is a great question. I’m a huge Kassius Ohno/Chris Hero fan so I hope he makes it to the roster soon. Sadly, if I’m making an honest prediction, I don’t think either will make the main roster. I see them both being NXT lifers.

For the sake of answering the question, I’m going with Solomon Crowe. Ohno has been in NXT for so long that it’s kind of clear that he isn’t high on the developmental totem pole. Crowe is relatively new so I’ll go with the unknown.

Solomon Crowe

Tom:

Poor Kassius Ohno. After a bright few months where he seemed to be getting closer and closer to being brought up, something pulled him back down. However, he does seem to slowly be getting moved back up, and there is a certain versatility in his look and style that might work in his favour – I don’t know how likely it is, but should The Shield or The Wyatt Family ever need a new member as a replacement or an expansion, I think he’d fit in really well.

Solomon Crowe is also an interesting one. Like Ohno, you might assume that questions about his ‘look’ from certain body-building COOs will result in lengthy NXT tenures, but I think he’ll still make it and do pretty well once he does. However, I do think they’ll pull the trigger on Ohno sooner rather than later.

Kassius Ohno