This Or That (2/17/2014)

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, @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!

Before we start, here’s last week‘s results:

Better Hall of Fame choice?

Jake Roberts – 57%, Ultimate Warrior – 43%

More likely to make an in ring appearance at Wrestlemania 30?

Sting – 59%, CM Punk – 41%

More likely to be WWE World Champ again in 2014?

Dolph Ziggler – 68%, The Miz – 32%

Better video game series?

Super Mario Bros – 93%, Sonic The Hedgehog – 7% (Largest margin of victory in This Or That history)

Who will be WWE Champion by the end of Elimination Chamber: Randy Orton or the field?

Who do you think leaves the PPV as champ – Orton or anyone else on the roster?

Tim:

I don’t think Randy Orton should lose the belt at the last PPV before Wrestlemania and I do not think he will. He hasn’t been a very strong champion anyway, but I still think they need to wait until Wrestlemania 30 to take it off of him this late in the game and I’m guessing that is what they will do.

Randy Orton

typicalROHfan:

Sad to admit but my interest is growing in the Elimination Chamber match due to a couple of rumors being out there that plans are changing for Wrestlemania and Orton is dropping the belt. I surely hope that’s an accurate rumor for the betterment of my personal entertainment. Orton’s had some impressive in ring work the last few weeks but it just seems so irrelevant whenever he’s in a top tier feud. Seeing it with Batista of all people going into the 30th Wrestlemania just seems unfathomable.

Perhaps it’s false hope but I think the title is changing hands. No shot Christian, Sheamus, Cesaro win. John Cena is highly unlikely. The field gives me other options too like a Batista early heel turn/cash in shades of 2010, Brock Lesnar stealing a spot and winning shades of 2009 or Daniel Bryan winning the title to go into Wrestlemania as champ. I think these scenarios are equally as likely as Orton somehow going into the Wrestlemania show as champion given the last month.

The Field (not to be confused with The Shield)

Tom:

Given the reaction the Royal Rumble received, I’d guess that making Elimination Chamber a home-run has become a high priority for WWE, especially since the Network is launching the night after. I don’t honestly believe that Orton leaving the PPV with the belt will affect the number of people subscribing the Network, but… well, having people enthusiastic about your product on the day of such a big launch is probably preferable to them declaring it as THE DAY THAT WRESTLING DIED™.

Really, having Bryan win the Chamber match and go on to face Batista at Wrestlemania is probably what everyone’s hoping for, myself included. As far as how likely it is… well, I know WWE’s not always quick to go back on their plans, but Big Dave’s always been more fun as a heel than a face and I think he’d be more comfortable in that role. What’s more, even if The Man Who Will Be Drax The Destroyer needs to be face for the release of Guardians of the Galaxy, that’s still a few months away and I think turning him back will be easy enough – just have him powerbomb Miz off the stage and you’re all set!

FOXTROT-INDIGO-ECHO-LIMA-DELTA, Field

Bigger return pop: The Undertaker or Hulk Hogan?

If both men return next Monday as expected, which man will elicit a louder positive reaction?

Tim:

Hulk Hogan hasn’t been seen under the WWE banner since the year 2007. The Undertaker comes back once a year, every year. I am an awful person and would love for Hogan to not get a reaction upon his return but he will and they’ll be bigger than The Undertaker’s.

Hulk Hogan

typicalROHfan:

A tough question as both guys are beloved by wrestling fans and are idolized in the history of WWE. Whether the start to the Real American theme or the gong that hits before Undertaker’s song, the place is expected to explode but I have to go with Hulkamania here.

While it’s well known on the internet, many fans in attendance for RAW in Green Bay likely aren’t avid fans of reading wrestling news sites or a part of the Twitter bubble. Most wrestling fans likely are expecting Undertaker to return at some point so I can see the reaction for many to that being “Holy shit it happened here. YESSSS” reaction for ‘Taker. For Hogan, I can see it being more along the lines of “Holy shit is this really happening? I can’t believe it” reaction and Hulkster’s initial return reaction being the bigger pop.

Hulk Hogan

Tom:

Hmmm. Hmmmmmm. Hogan’s guaranteed to get a huge reaction, but once all the air guitars have been strummed and he needs to walk down the ramp, I think the bad feels are gonna come out and everyone’s going to have to confront their own mortality. Meanwhile, even though ‘Taker might not be the same as he was in his prime, he’s still a guy who can move about without looking like a sad old grandpa. So, while Hogan’s initial pop might be bigger, I think Undertaker’s will be more sustained.

Undertaker

Who will appear on RAW first in 2014: Evan Bourne or Sami Zayn?

Perennial favorites of our readers, will Evan Bourne return or Sami Zayn debut first?

Tim:

I am eagerly anticipating Evan Bourne’s return. I had hopes of him being in The Royal Rumble but alas he was not. Sami Zayn is the best thing about NXT and is definitely one of my favorites. I think we’ll see Bourne finally come back before Zayn gets called up mainly because they just brought up Emma and Rusev and they tend to wait awhile before bringing up more people from NXT or developmental.

Evan Bourne

typicalROHfan:

Can we get them at the same time as a tag team? How dope would that be? I’m going with Sami Zayn. The first live content on the WWE Network will be a free PPV type showing of NXT. It’s a big show for Triple H especially as NXT is his baby so whatever is planned for this show will tell who is most believed in on that roster. Zayn is in the co-main event so clearly the talent is seen in him and new talents are usually debuting after Wrestlemania.

On the flippity flip, I’m starting to wonder if Evan Bourne really ever existed as it’s been so long since he was around. Did I make him up? Where did he go? Why are there no updates on him? What is going on?!

Sami Zayn

Tom:

With Rey apparently out again, there’s a real drought of high flying guys on the main roster. While I’ve almost entirely given up on seeing Evan again, the situation’s bad enough that I wouldn’t be surprised to see him brought back, even if it is just to be a recognisable face to get destroyed by a monster – who wouldn’t want to see Evan sell a Brock beatdown?

As for Sami Zayn, it seems like he’s been ready to be on the main roster for a while, and being a featured player on the NXT PPV seems like a good sign. I’m hoping he’ll be brought up immediately after Wrestlemania, maybe even to continue his feud with Cesaro.

Both are guys I’d really like to see compete on a regular basis, but if I had to pick one, it’d be Sami.

Sami Zayn

Cooler feat to accomplish in a sports game: Dunk in a NBA game or Hit a Home Run in a MLB game?

If you could have the athletic talent to do one of the two in a game just one time, which would it be?

Tim:

I am not a big baseball fan but it would be mighty pleasing to nail a home run. However, I don’t think anything is quite as pleasing as dunking. It involves jumping and slamming. That’s just cool as hell.

Slam dunk in a NBA game

typicalROHfan:

Both would be amazing but it has to be the slam dunk. The adrenaline rush (no ACH) has to be incredible, especially if dunking on someone. The aftermath makes it sweeter. With the home run, you have to run around the bases. BORING! After the dunk, you can revel in the sound of the net swishing and hang on it for a while. Also, steroids can’t help you dunk as much as it can help with the home runs apparently, so it gives the more rare feeling!

Dunk in a NBA game

Tom:

While I’m a far bigger basketball fan than I am a baseball fan, it’s still close to impossible for me to pick the slam dunk over the home run. For one, assuming you don’t score your dunk in the final few seconds of a game, you really only have a second or two to bask in the adulation and celebrate. Hit a home run? Brother, you’ve got all day to strut around the bases, high five your buddies and wave at the crowd.

Really, the only way I’d pick a dunk over a home run is if real life emulated NBA Jam. I’m talking a ball that’s on fire and a backboard that’s GUARANTEED to shatter into thousands of pieces. Honestly, they should just make all the backboards out of sugar glass so you’d be guaranteed a backboard breaking every game. It’d revolutionise the sport!

Home Run in a MLB game