This Or That: CM Punk vs. The World (12/2/2014)

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, @BradFGN 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!

Joey tried to test out Question #4 and is now injured. Brad Ward is taking his spot this week because he’s the best in the world.

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

Who would you rather see face Triple H at Wrestlemania 31?

Sting – 58%, The Rock – 42%

Better 90’s fan sign movement?

Austin 3:16 – 74%, RVD 4:20 – 26%

Better Thanksgiving day tradition?

The Macy’s Parade – 64%, NFL games – 36%

Better Thanksgiving meal treat?

Cranberry jelly – 61%, Candied yams – 39%

Who do you side with: CM Punk or Triple H?

Political wrestling war.

Tim:

Starting this thing out with a really hard one, eh? I think McMahon, Triple H, and the overall WWE backstage environment is more to blame for anything that happened with Punk leaving. I think CM Punk is unlikable and grumpy but he definitely had star power and deserved better long-term. I at least don’t see Punk as a huge liar.

There is too much out there about how Triple H is backstage for there not to be some truth to it. Neither guy is perfect but I have to side with Punk on most things when it comes to WWE as most of the people with any power there are seemingly selfish hell-people.

CM Punk

Tom:

Man. I mean, there’s a lot going on here. Are we ascribing Punk getting fired on his wedding day as being a Triple H action? Or Punk not getting proper medical attention? If so, I’d unquestionably side with Punk.

However, I think if we’re just blaming Triple H on how Punk was booked, then things get a little fuzzier. Yeah, the Cena/Rock Wrestlemania rematch was lame as FUCK, but I don’t know if Punk being added to make it a three-way would have been much better as his match with ‘Taker was pretty much the only worthwhile thing about that show and I can’t think of many other guys who would have been better placed in that position. Also, while his losses to Rock and Brock didn’t do him too many favours, I can kind of understand the reasoning – by the time he lost the belt, it seemed like Punk was never going to re-sign so using him to maintain established part-time stars who you could assume would be available for years to come sort of makes sense.

I dunno, man. Triple H has definitely been on a charm offensive for the past year or so in trying to win over the hardcore fans, but I think there’s still a certain selfish, vindictive streak that he’ll never really shake. As hard as Punk might be to work with, I get the impression that he’ll be honest about things whereas Triple H seems more likely to lie to your face if it means keeping the peace while he gets his way.

CM Punk

Brad Ward:

CM Punk did bring up some valid arguments, but only some. I don’t think Triple H was ever out to get CM Punk but I do think Triple H is inexperienced on how to do business and slightly naive. The whole deal with CM Punk saying Triple H needed to fight Punk was really silly. So I am siding with King Paul.

Triple H

Who do you side with: CM Punk or Ryback?

Employee safety war.

Tim:

I don’t think Ryback hurt Punk on purpose. I can’t stand Ryback. I think he’s sloppy and a generally irritating person but I can’t make much sense out of Ryback doing it on purpose. I can see Punk thinking he did because maybe Ryback was just that bad but I can’t wrap my mind around him doing it on purpose.

I hate to pick a side on this one because if Ryback really does have a mean streak like that he definitely shouldn’t get away with it and I would feel awful for not believing Punk but, since This or That is important, I’ll stick with trying to logically figure out why Ryback would purposefully hurt someone in one of his first big matches.

Ryback

Tom:

This was the toughest one, to be honest. Ryback seems like a dolt in a lot of ways. Clumsy and still capable of ridiculous ineptitude for a guy who’s been wrestling for as long as he has, but I never saw him as having a particularly vindictive side. If he genuinely went out of his way to hurt Punk, that’s completely terrible and he shouldn’t be wrestling. If he did it accidentally… well, that’s still not good, but it’s not quite as hideous.

I dunno! It just seems unlikely to me that he’d go into his first main event run looking to hurt the bigger star he’s working with, as opposed to just being a nervous dummy who messed up. His reactions to Punk’s comments have been pretty awful, but I still hope that he’s just an idiot rather than an asshole.

Ryback

Brad Ward:

While CM Punk is known to swing a singapore cane or two, Ryback is a beast. This isn’t ballet, things happen and Ryback never claimed to be technically sound.

Ryback

Who do you side with: CM Punk or Chris Jericho?

Podcast wars.

Tim:

If it was Austin, I wouldn’t side with Punk. If it was JR, I might would side with Punk. Since it was Jericho, I definitely side with Punk. That just sounds like some 2014 Chris Jericho type shit. That’s pretty easy to believe.

CM Punk

Tom:

If it was almost anyone else, I’d probably side against Punk here and assume it’s just his own paranoia that’s making him suspect the other individual as having another agenda. However, given just the sheer desperation that seems to radiate off Jericho these days, I can completely understand why he’d want to cut off all contact with him.

It’ll be really interesting to see how Punk’s post-WWE career shapes up. It doesn’t seem like he’s going out of his way to take on projects, but I wonder what he’ll be doing in a year or two once the initial buzz has worn off. Hopefully, he’s still happy and healthy and isn’t screaming about Shari’s Berries between cowbell solos on a podcast, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

CM Punk

Brad Ward:

I am not sure there is much of a war on Jericho’s side. CM Punk was just pandering to his basement dwelling devoted fanbase. So I support Y2J yeah boyeee.

Chris Jericho

Would you rather: Let CM Punk punch you in the fucking throat or wrestle a match with Ryback?

Try your luck.

Tim:

I’d rather wrestle a match with Ryback because I want to grab the brass ring.

Wrestle a match with Ryback

Tom:

I’m not sure if you’re aware, but CM Punk is a TRAINED mixed martial artist so he knows how to punch a throat! I don’t want any of that! As for Ryback, I can handle a spot of grappling with (sigh) ‘The Big Guy’. Chair to the back of his head (UNPROTECTED BECAUSE YOU KNOW I’M REAL) and then I’ll just scarper out of there, no problem.

Wrestle a match with Ryback

Brad Ward:

CM Punk punching me in the throat. Ryback is a legit machine. Plus CM Punk never threw very good punches.

Let CM Punk punch me in the fucking throat