This Or That (12/16/2014)

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 four questions, @TimWelcomed, @JoeySplashwater and @TomBlargh 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!

Before we start (and despite technical issues), here’s last week‘s results:

More likely?

CM Punk wins a UFC championship belt – 70%, Batista wins an Oscar – 30%

Better Slammy moment?

Owen Hart steals a Slammy– 56%, Vince McMahon performs Stand Back – 44%

Which feud bores you more?

Kane vs. Ryback – 59%, Big Show vs. Erick Rowan – 41%

Do you enjoy snow?

No – 54%, Yes – 46%

Who do you love more: Sami Zayn or El Generico?

Which loveable redhead do you prefer?

Tim:

The El Generico character was something very special to me. He got me to care for him through the wackiest gimmick and the energy he brought to the ring was phenomenal. Now take the guy behind that, give him a more grounded persona, and give him a platform to go all out.  There’s Sami Zayn.

It’s amazing how good his speaking skills are and how comfortable he seems on the mic. His facial expressions are top-notch. No wrestler in the WWE is more exciting for me on a weekly basis than Zayn.

Sami Zayn

Joey:

El Generico was fantastic but the move to Sami Zayn has been perfect. Zayn is my favorite non-Daniel Bryan wrestler right now and I can’t get enough of him. You can see the passion and emotion in him with every move or facial expression in that ring. I don’t think there’s been more than 10 wrestlers in the 20+ years I’ve watched wrestling that I feel emotionally invested/connected to the way I do with Zayn during his matches on the big NXT live specials. Sorry, Generico. At least you had cooler merch!

Sami Zayn

Tom:

What a choice. I was actually thinking about this the other day, specifically in the context that the team of El Generico and Kevin Steen were wrestling’s version of Groot and Rocket Raccoon; Steen was the mouthy, funny one prone to ultra-violence whereas El Generico was the loyal, sympathetic and (mostly) silent character who’s the ultimate innocent and will never give you a reason to hate him.

Sami Zayn is a more well-rounded and layered character that I think has a lot more main event potential but, in terms of sheer loveability, I don’t think there’s ever going to be a wrestler that tops El Generico.

El Generico

Would you trust a fruit basket from “the IWC”: Yes or No?

Wreddit sent Triple H a fruit basket to thank him for NXT. Would you trust a fruit basket gift from “the IWC?”

Tim:

No way. I would never eat anything a group of random fans of anything sent me. Especially from a group of them that comes from Reddit. I love fruit and this would be really hard but sometimes you have to make the tough decisions.

No

Joey:

I really would. The logic says no. Wrestling fans are whacky as fuck and I can easily see one sending stale fruit or even worse so I understand the skepticism. However, I’m trying to live my life without fear so I would risk it. If I die at the hands of poisonous fruit by crazed wrestling fans, that’s just the way I have to go. I will NEVER turn down free fruit.

Yes

Tom:

Not only would I accept one, I feel like I deserve one. Everyone reading this right now should go to Wreddit and demand that I be sent a fucking fruit basket.

Yes

Better announcer: Tony Schiavone or Joey Styles?

Remember the 90’s?

Tim:

Joey Styles was great for the time and for ECW. He was loud and over the top. He had a passion for wrestling. I get it. Tony Schiavone gets a lot of shit from people when his work actually holds up way better. I really enjoy watching old Nitros and WCW PPVs and Schiavone isn’t a detriment to that enjoyment at all.

He wasn’t perfect but him and Heenan together was a great thing. Maybe today’s commentary teams just make him seem better. Fire Cole, King, and JBL. Get Schiavone and clone one of him. Insert Scott Steiner in the middle and there’s your new Raw commentary team.

Tony Schiavone

Joey:

I marathon’d most of the ECW PPVs in November on the sometimes fabulous WWE Network. I’m now doing mid 90’s WCW. I’ve heard both guys very recently and both are supremely underrated. I prefer Tony Schiavone. The chemistry between Tony and Bobby Heenan are among my favorites in wrestling history. With WCW commentary from 1996-1998, they added to the product and made me laugh. I love me some Schiavone.

Tony Schiavone

Tom:

I never watched enough WCW to grow much of an affection for Shavontay (HAHA BOTCHAMANIA REFERENCE, CLASSIC STUFF) so I’m swinging towards Joey Styles here. He became a parody of himself as time went on and sure, there were moments of grotesque sexism and homophobia but FOR GOD’S SAKE it was the ’90s! We were all awful back then!

Joey Styles

Better Tom: Tom Hanks or Tom Cruise?

Tom Tom Tom

Tim:

Tom Hanks is THE BEST. Tom Cruise has some great movies under his belt but he will never match the awesome ball of joy that is Tom Hanks. Tom Hanks makes Tom Cruise look like a goon. Cast Away, Turner and Hooch, The Burbs, Turner and Hooch, Big, Catch Me If You Can, and Turner and Hooch. Those are just SOME of the golden hits that Tom Hanks has dropped on us and I’m still applauding.

He’s genuinely likable and that’s something Tom cruise is missing. Again, I like Top Gun, Rain Man, and Days of Thunder as much as the next person. Hell, I have a 436 page PDF on why I think Vanilla Sky was a shot at consumerism and our obsession with it. This doesn’t refute the fact that Tom Cruise movies are definitely not on par with Tom Hanks flicks. Don’t let your Cruise markdom blind you from the truth. *points to the post below mine and winks*

Tom Hanks

Joey:

Tom Cruise is the coolest man alive. I want to be his best friend. Please love me back, Tom. Also, he was referenced in a trendy Kanye West song. Tom Hanks is like your boring ol’ dad. Tom Cruise is like your cool dad who smokes weed with you while talking about John Lennon.

Tom Cruise

Tom:

I know a thing or two about Tom – I AM one, for God’s sake! I’m practically an expert! Anyway, I love the Cruiser a lot but he’s had his fair share of clunkers over the year. That’s not to say that the Hankanator hasn’t had his share of shiters, but his consistency is generally a little higher and there are plenty of days where I think The ‘Burbs might be the greatest film ever made.

He also seems super nice and funny and just like a pure decent guy whereas I think Tommy C might be a bit mad. In the fun way, probably, but he seems like he might be a bit too much to take more more often than not. So yeah, GIVE THANKS FOR HANKS.

Also, smoking weed with my dad while he talks about John Lennon sounds awful, just awful.