This Or That: 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 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!

After going “old school” with a look back at some of the great debates in wrestling history, this week we look forward with some hard hitting topics that delve into what we expect to see in 2014. You have the final say so don’t forget to vote for each of the polls!

First let’s take a look at how you voted for last week’s topics!

Stone Cold or The Rock?

Stone Cold– 80%, The Rock – 20%

DX or the NWO?

DX – 42%, NWO – 58%

Bret Hart or Shawn Michaels?

Bret Hart – 50%, Shawn Michaels – 50%

Randy Savage or Ric Flair?

Randy Savage – 58%, Ric Flair – 42%

Rey Mysterio Jr. or Chris Jericho?

Rey Mysterio Jr. – 18%, Chris Jericho – 82%

More likely to win the 2014 Royal Rumble match: Daniel Bryan or Batista?

Rumors say Batista is slated to win the Royal Rumble match leading to a showdown with Randy Orton at Wrestlemania 30. Another popular belief is that Daniel Bryan aligning with The Wyatt Family leads to him winning the Rumble. Which is more likely?

Tim:

I would love for Daniel Bryan to win and go on to win the title at Wrestlemania. That would lend me some closure to the months of storyline they put into Bryan’s chase but I do not think that’s happening. Batista has more of a chance with Bryan being stuck in a program with The Wyatts. I’m prepared to be bored.

Batista

typicalROHfan:

I can’t fathom months of Randy Orton and Batista talking about Evolution and being the title match at Wrestlemania. Despite the rumors, I’m going with my heart and creating a scenario where John Cena wins the title before WM and Daniel Bryan wins the Royal Rumble. Whether as a tweener with The Wyatt Family or using the Wyatt Family to turn on them in the Royal Rumble, I’m riding with optimism and Daniel Bryan rescuing Wrestlemania.

Daniel Bryan

Tom:

When is the Rumble? Couple weeks from now? I just don’t see the whole ‘Daniel Wyatt’ thing being resolved in time for him to win the thing – if anything, I imagine it’ll just be used to progress the storyline, with Bryan’s role in the Rumble being a way for him to prove his allegiance to The Wyatt Family.

I don’t really see Batista winning either, but I suppose it’s slightly more likely, so let’s go for him.

Batista

Who will main event more PPVs in 2014: Roman Reigns or Big E Langston?

WWE is behind both talents as being the future of the company but which will get the spotlight more in 2014?

Tim:

I like both guys but prefer Langston. It seems WWE is ready to push Reigns above and beyond way faster than Langston. Reigns is also in a better situation to get to the top than Big “E.”

Roman Reigns

typicalROHfan:

This is Roman Reigns year. My prediction is he is WWE Champion by April and main eventing a few PPVs. Big E has a chance as well but Reigns is getting the skyrocket push. I can foresee a chance where Big E Langston gets the rug pulled from under him as many others before him have had happen during their push.

Even a singles run at the top of the card doesn’t work out early for Reigns, I can see the WWE Network benefiting him. The network basically assures x amount of people will have purchased the PPV already so there likely won’t be as much pressure for new main eventers based off buyrates.

Roman Reigns

Tom:

I really like Big E, but there’s something about his recent push that makes me a little anxious – they’re behind him while not being completely behind him. It’s difficult to explain, but there’s something slightly hollow about it. I think Big E’s good enough that he’ll establish himself as a main event player eventually, but it seems like Reigns is the one who’s really going to get rocketed to the big time.

Roman Reigns

Who is more likely to become WWE Champion in 2014: Bray Wyatt or Dean Ambrose?

Two more superstars with bright futures, who is more likely to excel sooner rather than later?

Tim:

I doubt Dean Ambrose will be holding the belt anytime soon. If the titles were still split I might have a little hope. Bray Wyatt is pushed pretty hard but he never really wrestles singles a lot so that makes me curious about him long-term. Maybe he should just be a manager? Anyway, I really don’t see them giving it to Ambrose and Bray Wyatt has more of a chance for a quicker rise to the championship.

Bray Wyatt 

typicalROHfan:

Of of these two, it should definitely be Dean Ambrose as Wyatt doesn’t even wrestle singles matches but WWE is clearly behind Bray Wyatt big time. Between aligning him with Daniel Bryan and rumors saying at one point, he was scheduled to face John Cena at Wrestlemania, they desperately want him to become a top tier talent.

Ambrose seems like a more safe pick in the long run to be successful for a long time but Bray has a huge boom or bust potential as he can be WWE champion as easily as he can be off television by the end of the year. More likely to win the title this year is Bray.

Bray Wyatt

Tom:

I can’t imagine Dean Ambrose being in any position to be WWE champion this year – it seems like they’re taking their time with him, what with his US Title run , whereas I’m guessing Bray will be kept out of the mix of the lower singles titles to preserve him for being launched straight into a main event feud. Whether he’ll win it remains to be seen, but I think he’ll at least get the chance.

What’s more, of all the guys from The Shield, it seems like Roman Reigns is the one they want to ‘break out’, so I’m guessing Ambrose’s role this year will mostly be giving Reigns the rub. Ultimately, I don’t think we’ll see Ambrose in a position to hold the WWE Title for another year or two, but I think the slow burn might ultimately work out best for him. Meanwhile, I’m really not sure where Bray Wyatt will be in a couple of years, even if he does get more opportunities in 2014.

Bray Wyatt

Which title is AJ Styles more likely to hold in 2014: the TNA World Title or the ROH World Title?

AJ Styles has left TNA and is competing for ROH to start 2014. Some rumors say there’s a chance he’ll be back in TNA eventually. Some say he’s sticking in ROH. Which title is he more apt to hold in 2014?

Tim:

As much as I had prefer to see AJ Styles out doing other things away from TNA, I have a gut feeling that he’ll be back. If he stays in ROH, they really should put the title on him. I know if he returns to TNA it’ll probably be the ending to the Dixie storyline so he’ll get that TNA title.

TNA World Title

typicalROHfan:

With the way AJ Styles was written off TNA TV, you’d think they have some sort of faith he will be back in the company at some point in 2014. However, TNA is also not the smartest organization in the world so the likelihood of it seems less than likely with AJ doing shoot interviews and agreeing to dates for Ring of Honor.

As much as I love Adam Cole and would like to see him have a long title reign, it really may be beneficial to put the title on AJ if he’s sticking around for the year. It’s been reported that the tickets sold tripled after Styles was announced for the recent TV tapings and the overall outlook on ROH is far more positive with him making the shows seem like a bigger deal. I think it’s ROH. I can see many factors leading to AJ becoming ROH champ and it happening as early as Wrestlemania weekend even if a very short title reign.

ROH World Title

Tom:

If there’s any guy who could actually make something of a difference for them as their champion, it’s AJ Styles. The way he left TNA was really bewildering and seemed to leave things open for him to return, but based on the interviews he’s given since his contract expired, he seems fairly ready to give the indies a go and try living life without Dixie.

ROH World Title

More likely to be released in 2014: Ryback or The Miz?

Perennial enemies of Wrestling On Earth. Ryback recently made fake rumors circulate by teasing a firing. The Miz isn’t on television anymore. With both of their futures looking bleak, who is more likely to be shown the door?

Tim:

The WWE likes The Miz to go on morning shows and stuff way too much to release him. He’s practically a droid ready to talk positive about anything WWE related any chance he gets. Ryback doesn’t really hold that kind of place and it doesn’t seem that they are too hot on him right now.

Ryback

typicalROHfan:

Such a difficult one. Whoever thinks of these questions is a real genius. I only watch live editions of RAW and PPV’s and I have no idea when the last time I saw Miz was. He has become the face of the D show on Wednesdays. Things don’t look good for him but the guy is still an asset to WWE in terms of how many appearances he does and just how well programmed a robot he is of speaking in WWE terms.

Ryback on the other hand, in addition to his lowering stock, has now developed a reputation of being reckless in the ring and is making himself a controversial figure on the internet. I would be surprised if he is in WWE at the end of the year so I’m somehow not picking The Miz.

Ryback

Tom:

Honestly, I can’t imagine The Miz getting released, unless he’s on some kind of ridiculous contract that they’re desperate to get out of. He does exactly what he’s told, he’s presentable enough and they still seem to think that he’s an entertaining talker. Meanwhile, Ryback is enormous and brother, it’s an upper body business.

So, I can see why Vince would like both guys, even if he’s mostly given up on both guys. The Big Guy seems to be the more volatile of the two, so I’d guess him However, Miz might decide he’s enough of a personality that he can leave the WWE to… I don’t know, star in more terrible straight-to-DVD movies and start a podcast or whatever. Maybe we’ll luck out and both will get ditched at once? Ah, to dream.

Ryback