This Or That (2/17/2015)

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, here’s last week‘s results:

Who will leave Wrestlemania 31 as champ?

Anyone else – 52%, Roman Reigns – 48%

Better tag team break-up tease?

Miz and Sandow – 53%, Gold and Star Dust– 47%

Better guest on the Steve Austin Podcast?

Vince McMahon – 83%, Triple H – 17%

Better video game series?

Mortal Kombat – 57%, Street Fighter – 43%

Will Bray Wyatt face The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 31: Yes or No?

Is The Undertaker who Bray Wyatt is referencing in his promos?

Tim:

I don’t see this as a good idea or something that really makes sense. I figure Vince is all excited about putting the two supernatural characters against each other. I think it will happen although it doesn’t seem like it will this late in the build-up to Wrestlemania. It doesn’t even look like they know for sure if The Undertaker will be back yet and that’s kind of absurd. The streak is over and Bray Wyatt isn’t that great. There’s nothing here for me so of course this will go down.

Yes

Joey:

The rumors about expected Wrestlemania matches during “Wrestlemania season” are almost always true but I just can’t see how they can make this match happen. The Undertaker’s Wrestlemania streak ending is arguably the greatest long term storyline in WWE history.

How can you just have ‘Taker return after finally losing only to not be involved in a story with the person who defeated him? It just would make zero sense for The Dead Man not to get his revenge and move on to someone else. Bray Wyatt has done a very good job over the last month but it would also feel like a step down for Undertaker in a match where it would be need to be its biggest for him to return after losing. I just can’t see it. Wyatt has to be referring to someone else as a fake out. Maybe someone else on the roster that will be getting a push out of this?

No

Tom:

The idea of Bray Wyatt faking us all out and targeting someone other than ‘Taker is very appealing, but I can’t imagine who else it could be and not feel like a total wet fart. Also, WWE isn’t generally that creative or restrained – if it WAS a fake-out, I’m pretty sure we’d have heard Cole and the other commentary knobs referencing Undertaker by name after Wyatt’s promos. Anyway. I think the match will be kinda bad but YES, Undertaker WILL wrestle Wyatt at Wrestlemania. Hopefully he has all the surgeries he needs by next year so he can have his actual final ‘Mania match with Bryan and it can be something fantastic.

Yes

Which era of Shawn Michaels wrestling did you enjoy more: ’90s or 2000s?

Did you prefer HBK during the Kliq years or during his return from injury?

Tim:

I think Shawn Michaels had a few better moments during his 2000 era run than he did in the ’90s but when it comes to in-ring work and charisma there’s very few that can top HBK in the ’90s. While I think a lot of modern wrestlers have gotten close to topping Michaels or in some cases have topped him in the ring they were all obviously heavily influenced by his work in the ’90s. He was a trendsetter and very important to the evolution of pro wrestling.

’90s Shawn Michaels

Joey:

If it wasn’t for ’90s Shawn Michaels, I never would have become the wrestling fan I did or enjoy the styles that I do. Before him, I just liked guys who the TV shows would tell me to. After seeing what Michaels could do in the ring, I started to actually care about what a wrestler could do inside the ring aside from the last 2 minutes. Matches vs. Bret Hart, Diesel, Sid, Mankind, Jeff Jarrett, Owen Hart and The Undertaker stand out as my favorites. Sure, he got to face better talent when he returned but other than Daniel Bryan over the last 10 years, I can’t take any wrestler over ’90s era Shawn Michaels.

’90s Shawn Michaels

Tom:

Shawn Michaels’ first main event run came at a time when I wasn’t watching wrestling, so it’s a little hard for me to judge. However, I’m still going to: ’90s HBK, I JUDGE YOU INFERIOR. SIX MONTHS IN THE CUBES, CREEP. 2000s Shawn was slower, but just that much more of a storyteller. There was no wasted movement and he just seemed so supremely confident and comfortable, whereas even though ’90s Shawn bounced around more, he didn’t seem so self-assured or able to pace things out.

He had incredible matches in both eras but I’m far more likely to sit down and watch a latter-day Shawn Michaels match than one from the ’90s. It’s a shame large chunks of his second run were wasted on DX reunions but… well, that’s just how it goes sometimes. Sometimes your pal wants to grow a silly beard, toss around glowsticks and make cock jokes on national television.

2000s Shawn Michaels

Better NXT Women’s wrestler: Charlotte or Sasha Banks?

Who’s better?

Tim:

Charlotte is pretty damn good. I usually enjoy her matches a whole lot. Sasha Banks, though. She has an “it” factor that I haven’t seen from hardly any WWE wrestlers in a long time. You can tell that she’s something special and still growing. Hopefully she’ll continue on this great path and have her time to shine on the main roster. Her and all of the women of WWE deserve to have that chance.

Sasha Banks

Joey:

I think Charlotte can do more impressive moves and has a god given athletic gift that could make her matches “better” in a TV atmosphere but Sasha Banks is a superior overall performer and that plays into how good a wrestler is. Banks just knows how to connect with an audience and make them invested in her work. For Charlotte to succeed on the main roster, I think a lot of things need to go right where I see Sasha Banks being successful in current diva’s climate or better.

Sasha Banks

Tom:

I think both are excellent. Charlotte is still kinda green in certain ways – for one, she never looks particularly comfortable selling, whereas Sasha Banks seems more complete and rounded in everything she does. I’m sure both will ultimately do well – Sasha’s only going to better and even though I think Charlotte would benefit from another year or so at Full Sail so, having her dad be mad old weepy Ric Flair means she’ll be given chances other wrestlers wouldn’t be so lucky to receive.

Sasha Banks

Better ’80s film: Back to the Future or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?

Choose one.

Tim:

I enjoy both movies but I lean towards Ferris Bueller’s Day Off as more of a favorite. It could be that I’m just tired of hearing about Back To The Future. It’s good but not THAT good. Get off of it, people. Plus, you know… Mia Sara and Alan Ruck were great in “FBDO.” Us true fans call it FBDO.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Joey:

Time for me to drop a controversial statement (a “pipe bomb promo” in the words of CMMA Punk) – Back to the Future is overrated. If you take away the coolness of time travel and Marty McFly’s awesome jacket, there’s not much there. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is just a great time. As someone who was a pro at cutting class, this was a perfect film and an absolute inspiration.

Also, the Back to the Future films go to weirdly dark places that just bring down the mood. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is fun the entire time. The principal was a more enjoyable heel than Biff.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Tom:

WOW, WHAT AN ABSOLUTE PAIR OF DICKHEADS MY COLLEAGUES ARE. No offence guys, and no offence to Matthew Broderick, but COME THE FUCK ON. Back to the Future is incredible and close to a flawless film. It is ART. It’s so smart and fun and Michael J. Fox is JUST THE BEST. You wanna hear a pipe bomb? Here’s one for you: Ferris Bueller seems like a bit of a cock. Also, he’s from Chicago and: fuck Chicago.

ALSO! In Back to the Future, Christopher Lloyd acts with the energy of a man who’s got pockets stuffed full of sugar, and YES, that is a good thing.

Back to the Future