Smark Out Moment

Welcome to another edition of Cheap Pop and Cheap Heat from Smark Out Moment! Each week, we break down the world of professional wrestling and examine two of the polar opposite ends of the spectrum: one thing that was by far the worst thing (Cheap Heat) and the best thing (Cheap Pop) to happen over the past 7 days in sports entertainment. So, what went down this week that we loved and hated about the business?

I am selective about whom I follow on Twitter. I keep it to a limited amount so that I can actually keep up with updates from the people I really want to hear about. One of these elite few is Heath Slater.

Why Heath Slater? This is not me merely jumping on the one man bandwagon; I have followed him for years now, simply because I have always found him very entertaining, an underrated performer, and best of all, someone who does not give up. And as evidenced by the likes of Daniel Bryan and Zack Ryder, the WWE Universe loves an underdog.

John Cena might be the spokesperson of never giving up, but at least he gets the accolades and fame for doing so. By comparison, Heath Slater has not held a title in five years, has no merchandise on WWE Shop, and should probably be known as "Mr. House Show".

Any other star would have asked for their release by now, but not Heath Slater.

It may have taken half a decade, but finally it looks like the WWE hierarchy has realized how much the fans are behind the man.

Two weeks ago, Heath Slater was voted 8th best superstar in the Slammy Awards. This earned him a sit-down interview with Michael Cole (something normally reserved for superstars in main event stories), and fans have been tweeting like crazy for a follow-up. Then, earlier this week, we saw Slater getting some rare screen time on MizTV. Sure, he was punched in the jaw for his efforts, but the crowd's enthusiasm for him cannot be denied.

With the midcard titles already tied up with the likes of John Cena, Kevin Owens, and Dean Ambrose, I am not sure where this might lead for Heath Slater, but I am ever hopeful that he can ride this deserved surge of popularity until such a time he can capitalize. Perhaps a 2016 King of the Ring winner? Or the last man standing in the 3rd Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal?

Either of these would be well-deserved for the one-man rock band, and not to mention, long overdue.



Can a rock star's death count as the worst thing to happen in wrestling this week? It can if it is Lemmy.

I know I am not alone in this belief, for WWE themselves saw fit to honor the Ace of Spades singer with a video tribute package, assembled in lightning-quick time for broadcast.

When it comes to celebrities and wrestling, it can be said they fit into two categories: those with a movie/TV show to plug that know nothing of the product, and those that have a genuine childlike appreciation for the sport. Lemmy and Motorhead fall into the latter.

They were seen countless times at wrestling events, and even performed music as well. They are also responsible for three of the most iconic and adrenaline-pumping songs in WWE history - Line in the Sand, Time to Play the Game, and The King of Kings.

At a time when most new WWE tunes are generic uninspiring electric guitar assembles, King of Kings stands out as one of the "proper" songs still in usage. There is a WWE self-made version in existence, but it sounds positively wimpy in comparison to Lemmy's vocals and guitar playing.

RIP Lemmy. You may have departed too soon from this world, but your epic music shall live on forever more.


So there you have it, my two choices for the week. What do YOU think are the Cheap Pop and Cheap Heat this week in professional wrestling? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

The December 28, 2015 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw scored a 1.2 rating (over 3 and a half million viewers) for adults aged 18-49 according to Nielsen Media Research. This is up from last week's 1.1 rating.

The most watched cable program on Monday was Monday Night Football (3.4 rating).

The WWE may have their Slammy Awards, but here at Smark Out Moment we like to take an even closer look at what happened throughout the year and award not just the best, but also point out the worst, and that applies to both what World Wrestling Entertainment had to offer you this year, as well as what happened on this site and the Smack Talk podcast.

Make sure you let us know in the comments what your choices are for the best and the worst of each award in the Technical Awards, Writing Awards and Performer Awards sections and be sure to vote on the polls set up for the Smack Talk Awards section! Official voting ended on December 27th but you can still voice your opinion by filling out this poll!




ENTRANCE

Explanation: The Best/Worst Entrance award should take into account everything including pyro, lighting, music, what the superstars do during their entrances, and so on. Your choices can be a singular entrance in particular (such as their upgraded WrestleMania one) or someone's standard entrance that happens every time he/she comes to the ring.

[BEST]: Finn Balor

[WORST]: Emma

SIGNATURE MANEUVER

Explanation: The Best/Worst Signature Maneuver award asks what your favorite and least favorite regularly seen wrestling move was that had been featured multiple times as something on a superstar's repertoire. Typically, these are finishers (such as the Attitude Adjustment) but it could also be a signature setup (such as the Five Knuckle Shuffle) or something along those lines.

[BEST]: Neville's Red Arrow

[WORST]: Anyone without a finisher (Adam Rose)

SPOT VS BOTCH

Explanation: The Best/Worst Spot & Botch award splits things down the middle. What is the Best Spot and what is the Worst Botch of the year?

[BEST SPOT]: Seth Rollins gets foot on the ropes after Red Arrow @ Raw 8/3/2015

[WORST BOTCH]: (tie) Titus O'Neil elimination from Royal Rumble + Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar struggle over title belt on the go-home show of Raw before WrestleMania

RECOGNITION

Explanation: For this award, tell us who you think has been the Most Underrated and the Most Overrated people in WWE for the past year. Perception is everything, so who deserves more credit and who was unworthy of all the praise they received?

[MOST UNDERRATED]: Fandango

[MOST OVERRATED]: Bray Wyatt

IMPROVEMENT IN A SUPERSTAR

Explanation: The Best/Worst Improvement in a Superstar award asks who you think was the wrestler who was Most Improved from last year or who was the Least Improved. Who improved their work and saw the biggest upgrade and who saw the biggest downgrade in terms of their performance, spot on the roster, quality of value and so forth?

[BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT]: The New Day

[BIGGEST REGRESSION]: Damien Sandow

FUTURE ENDEAVORS

Explanation: The Best/Worst Future Endeavors award asks who you were Happy to See Released and who you were Sad to See Released.

choose between the names listed here

[HAPPY TO SEE RELEASED]: Rey Mysterio

[UNHAPPY TO SEE RELEASED]: Hulk Hogan

RING SKILLS

Explanation: The Best/Worst Ring Skills award is rather self-explanatory. Which two superstars were the best and the worst when performing in the ring?

[BEST]: Kevin Owens

[WORST]: Rosa Mendes

MIC SKILLS

Explanation: The Best/Worst Mic Skills award revolves around promo skills, charisma, and performing as an entertaining character with all of the verbal aspects of WWE.

[BEST]: Kevin Owens

[WORST]: Eva Marie

TITLE REIGN

Explanation: The Best/Worst Title Reign award asks who had the most meaningful time with a championship to their name, where the matches were good, the feuds were interesting, and you were enjoying their reign, as well as who failed to meet those expectations and perhaps had a boring, uneventful, bad run with a belt.

choose between the names listed here

[BEST]: John Cena (US Open Challenge)

[WORST]: Daniel Bryan (Intercontinental Championship)

MATCH OF THE YEAR

Explanation: The Best/Worst Match of the Year award is self-explanatory. Matches can be on any show, including Raw, SmackDown, NXT, Main Event, Superstars, pay-per-views and special events.

[BEST]: Sasha Banks vs Bayley (@ NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn)

[WORST]: Neville & The Lucha Dragons vs Stardust & The Ascension (@ Raw 9/14/2015)



CATCH PHRASE OR SLOGAN

Explanation: The Best/Worst Catch Phrase or Slogan award includes any kind of a saying that was used in WWE on a regular basis, whether it was something like Ryback's "finish it" or even something like Michael Cole's tendency to say "as Raw rolls on"

[BEST]: "New....Day sucks/rocks"

[WORST]: "This is my house!"

GIMMICK

Explanation: The Best/Worst Gimmick award is all about rewarding and chastising the characters people portray.

[BEST]: The New Day

[WORST]: Adam Rose

HEEL OR FACE TURN

Explanation: The Best/Worst Heel or Face Turn award asks which character turn (whether it was from heel to face or face to heel doesn't matter) was the most effective and interesting and which one was stupid and a mistake.

choose between the names listed here

[BEST]: The New Day

[WORST]: Los Matadores

COMEBACK

Explanation: The Best/Worst Comeback award revolves around the old school wrestlers who aren't a regular part of the roster. Which was your favorite to see make an appearance and which one were you less than thrilled about?

POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Raw Reunion from 1/19 (HBK, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, X-Pac, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, APA, New Age Outlaws), New Age Outlaws (Royal Rumble), Bubba Ray Dudley (Royal Rumble), Diamond Dallas Page (Royal Rumble), The Boogeyman (Royal Rumble), The Rock (Royal Rumble), Ric Flair (Raw 2/16), Hall of Famers, Legends endorsing Daniel Bryan (WrestleMania), The Rock (WrestleMania), Bret Hart (Raw 5/4), Chris Jericho (Night of Champions), Steve Austin (Raw 10/19), HBK (Raw 10/19), Ric Flair (10/19), Alberto Del Rio and Zeb Colter (Hell in a Cell), Tommy Dreamer (Raw 11/30) — if I'm forgetting any, please let me know in the comments

[BEST]: DX vs nWo at WrestleMania

[WORST]: Ric Flair's repeated returns

IMPROVEMENT IN A DIVISION

Explanation: The Best/Worst Improvement in a Division award asks which section of the WWE hierarchy became more entertaining than it was last year and which one fell by the wayside and downgraded.

POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Legends, Main Event (WWE), Midcard (WWE), Tag Team (WWE), Divas (WWE), Enhancement (WWE), Main Event (NXT), Midcard (NXT), Tag Team (NXT), Divas (NXT)

[BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT]: Main Roster Midcard

[BIGGEST REGRESSION]: Legends

SHOCKING MOMENTS

Explanation: What was the Most Shocking Moment of the year and which thing did you see coming from a mile away to the point where it was the Least Shocking Moment of the year?

[MOST]: Shawn Michaels eats kid's pizza (@ Raw 10/19/2015)

[LEAST]: lol Cena wins at WrestleMania

SMARK OUT MOMENTS

Explanation: The Best/Worst Smark Out Moment award asks what you considered to be the overall coolest thing to have happened this year to make you happy as a fan and which moment was so horrible that made you the most disappointed with the product.

[BEST]: Kevin Owens powerbombs Machine Gun Kelly off the stage through table (@ Raw 6/15/2015)

[WORST]: Wiz Khalifa concert (@ Raw 3/9/2015)

STORYLINE

Explanation: The Best/Worst Storyline award goes to the actual stories being told by WWE, whether they applied to specific in-ring feuds (such as John Cena vs. Rusev for the United States Championship) or more generalized and longer ideas (such as Seth Rollins and Kane having problems while both in The Authority).

[BEST]: "Anyone but you" Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt

[WORST]: Love rectangle with Lana, Rusev, Summer Rae and Dolph Ziggler

TV SHOW OR WEB PROGRAM

Explanation: The Best/Worst TV Show or Web Program award goes to the regular programming you can catch on standard television, WWE's YouTube channel, or the WWE Network

PRIMARY SHOWS: Raw, Main Event, Superstars, NXT, SmackDown, Total Divas, Tough Enough

RECAP SHOWS: Afterburn, Bottom Line, Experience, Slam, Vintage

YOUTUBE SHOWS: 5 Things, 30 Second Fury, Fallout, Top 10, UpUpDownDown

NETWORK SHOWS: Beyond the Ring, Breaking Ground, Cheap Pops, Countdown, Culture Shock, Jerry Springer Too Hot for TV, Legends with JBL, Live with Chris Jericho, Monday Night War, Music Power 10, Quick Hits, Rivalries, Slam City, Stone Cold Podcast, Superstar Ink, Swerved, Table for 3, This Week in WWE, Tough Talk, Unfiltered, WrestleMania Rewind, WWE 24, The WWE List

[BEST]: Breaking Ground

[WORST]: Every recap show

PAY-PER-VIEW OR SPECIAL EVENT

Explanation: The Best/Worst Pay-Per-View award applies to all shows labeled "special events" in some capacity that aren't a normal television show. These include the regular pay-per-views, the NXT TakeOver events, and the in-ring action live specials for the WWE Network.

POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Royal Rumble, TakeOver: Rival, Fastlane, WrestleMania, King of the Ring, Payback, TakeOver: Unstoppable, Elimination Chamber, Money in the Bank, The Beast in the East, Battleground, NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, SummerSlam, Night of Champions, Live from Madison Square Garden, NXT TakeOver: Respect, Hell in a Cell, Survivor Series, TLC, NXT TakeOver: London, Slammy Awards, Tribute to the Troops

[BEST]: NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn

[WORST]: Fastlane


NEWCOMER

Explanation: The Best/Worst Newcomer award applies to anybody who made their debut on NXT, came up from NXT to the main roster to make a debut there, or were repackaged into a completely different gimmick with a different name.

POSSIBLE OPTIONS: 

Main Roster Call-Ups from NXT = The Ascension, Kalisto, Neville, Kevin Owens, Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks and Braun Strowman

New NXT Stars = Adrien Reese, Aliyah, Apollo Crews, Asuka, Billie Kay, Chad Gable, Dana Brooke, James Storm, Johnny Gargano, Liv Morgan, Nia Jax, Peyton Royce, Samoa Joe, Tommaso Ciampa

Tough Enough Cast =Josh Bredl, Sara Lee, Amanda Saccomanno, Zamariah "ZZ" Loupe, Mada Abdelhamid, Patrick Clark, Daria Berenato, Tanner Saraceno, Giorgia "GiGi" Piscina, Chelsea Green, Gabi Castrovinci, Dianna Dahlgren, Alex Frekey, Hank Avery

[BEST]: Kevin Owens

[WORST]: ZZ

DIVA

Explanation: The Best/Worst Diva award involves every woman who is an on-screen character in the company.

POSSIBLE OPTIONS: AJ Lee, Alicia Fox, Brie Bella, Cameron, Emma, Eva Marie, Layla, Naomi, Natalya, Nikki Bella, Paige, Rosa Mendes, Summer Rae, Tamina Snuka / Lana, Stephanie McMahon, Renee Young, Eden Rhodes, Lilian Garcia / Alexa Bliss, Bayley, Becky Lynch, Carmella, Charlotte, Dana Brooke, JoJo, Sasha Banks, Blue Pants, Dasha Kuret, Devin Taylor, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Asuka, Nia Jax, Adrien Reese, Liv Morgan, Aliyah

[BEST]: Bayley

[WORST]: Rosa Mendes

TAG TEAM

Explanation: The Best/Worst Tag Team award includes both sets of duos as well as stables of three or more superstars and/or divas.

POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Cesaro and Tyson Kidd, The Miz and Damien Mizdow, The Usos, Los Matadores, Goldust and Stardust, The New Day, The Ascension, The Vaudevillains, The Mechanics (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder), Shoot Nation, SAWFT, Tye Dillinger and Jason Jordan, Jason Jordan and Chad Gable, BAMF, Lucha Dragons, New Age Outlaws, Prime Time Players, Macho Mandow and Axelmania, Team BAD, Submission Sorority/Team PCB, The Hype Bros, Beef Mode, The Dudley Boyz, Cosmic Wasteland/Astral Alliance, The League of Nations

[BEST]: The New Day

[WORST]: Shoot Nation

MANAGER OR VALET

Explanation: The Best/Worst Manager or Valet award includes anybody who regularly accompanies someone down to the ring in some capacity, but is not their tag team partner in the ring.

POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Paul Heyman, Lana, Rosa Mendes, Rosebuds, El Torito, Summer Rae, Zeb Colter

[BEST]: Paul Heyman

[WORST]: Rosebuds

OTHER CHARACTER

Explanation: The Best/Worst Other Character award applies to anybody who is a supporting role, guest role, extra, or ancillary character on screen in some fashion. This could go to General Managers, celebrities, or random background people with lines in an oddball segment on television. This award has a wide range of variables.

POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, Vince McMahon, William Regal, Rosebuds, El Torito, Hornswoggle, Joey Mercury, Jamie Noble, Dr. Corbett (Raw 1/12/2015), Drummer Guy (Raw 1/19/2015), Taps trumpet guy (Raw 1/19/2015), Boris Attorneyburger (Rusev's attorney with Bono glasses on Raw 3/16/2015), Lawsuit camera man and two fake cops who arrest Dean Ambrose (Raw 5/25/2015), Hawaiian Crew and Car Model for Authority Gifts (Raw 6/29/2015), Stephen Amell, Ashley from Human Resources (Raw 9/28/2015), Tyler Breeze's VIP section guard (Raw 10/26/2015) — if I've forgotten any, please let me know

[BEST]: Triple H

[WORST]: Rusev's attorney

BROADCASTER

Explanation: The Best/Worst Broadcast award applies to all those doing work on commentary, interviews, pre-show panelists, and so forth.

POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Alex Reyes, Alex Riley, Booker T, Byron Saxton, Carlos Cabrera, Corey Graves, Dasha Kuret, Devin Taylor, Eden Rhodes, Jason Albert, Jerry Lawler, Jerry Soto, Jimmy Uso, John "Bradshaw" Layfield, Kyle Edwards, Marcelo Rodriguez, Michael Cole, Renee Young, Rich Brennan, Scott Stanford, Tom Phillips

[BEST]: Renee Young

[WORST]: Devin Taylor

ANNOUNCER

Explanation: The Best/Worst Announcer award applies to all those who announce wrestlers in the ring—not the people on commentary.

POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Eden Rhodes, Greg Hamilton, JoJo Offerman, Lilian Garcia, Tony Chimel

[BEST]: Greg Hamilton

[WORST]: Lilian Garcia

HEEL

Explanation: The Best/Worst Heel award applies to all those who have portrayed a "bad guy" this year. Who did a good job and who performed poorly?

POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Adam Rose, Aiden English, Alberto Del Rio, Alexa Bliss, Alicia Fox, Aliyah, Angelo Dawkins, Baron Corbin, Becky Lynch, Big E, Big Show, Blake, Bo Dallas, Braun Strowman, Bray Wyatt, Brie Bella, Brock Lesnar, Bull Dempsey, Cameron, Cesaro, Chad Gable, Charlotte, CJ Parker, Curtis Axel, Dana Brooke, Dash Wilder, Emma, Erick Rowan, Eva Marie, Fandango, Goldust, Heath Slater, Jason Jordan, Kane, Kevin Owens, King Barrett, Kofi Kingston, Konnor, Lana, Luke Harper, Marcus Louis, Murphy, Naomi, Natalya, Nia Jax, Nikki Bella, Paige, Paul Heyman, Randy Orton, Rhyno, Rosa Mendes, Rusev, Samoa Joe, Sasha Banks, Sawyer Fulton, Scott Dawson, Seth Rollins, Sheamus, Simon Gotch, Stardust, Stephanie McMahon, Summer Rae, Sylvester Lefort, Tamina, The Miz, The Undertaker, Titus O'Neil, Triple H, Tye Dillinger, Tyler Breeze, Tyson Kidd, Viktor, Xavier Woods, Zeb Colter

[BEST]: Kevin Owens

[WORST]: Adam Rose

BABYFACE

Explanation: The Best/Worst Babyface award applies to all those who have portrayed a "good guy" this year. Who did a good job and who performed poorly?

POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Adrien Reese, Aiden English, Alex Riley, Alexa Bliss, Apollo Crews, Asuka, Baron Corbin, Bayley, Becky Lynch, Big E, Billie Kay, Blue Pants, Brock Lesnar, Bubba Ray Dudley, Bull Dempsey, Carmella, Cesaro, Chad Gable, Charlotte, Chris Jericho, Colin Cassady, Curtis Axel, Damien Sandow, Daniel Bryan, Darren Young, Dean Ambrose, Diego, Dolph Ziggler, D-Von Dudley, El Torito, Emma, Enzo Amore, Erick Rowan, Fandango, Fernando, Finn Balor, Goldust, Hideo Itami, Hulk Hogan, Jack Swagger, Jason Jordan, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, John Cena, Kalisto, Kane, Kofi Kingston, Lana, Liv Morgan, Mark Henry, Mojo Rawley, Naomi, Natalya, Neville, Paige, Peyton Royce, Randy Orton, Rhyno, Roman Reigns, R-Truth, Ryback, Sami Zayn, Samoa Joe, Simon Gotch, Sin Cara, Solomon Crowe, Sting, The Undertaker, Titus O'Neil, Tommy Dreamer, Tyson Kidd, William Regal, Xavier Woods, Zack Ryder

[BEST]: Dean Ambrose

[WORST]: Solomon Crowe

SUPERSTAR OF THE YEAR

Explanation: The Best/Worst Superstar award is self-explanatory. Which man or woman did you think was the most and the least entertaining in 2015?

POSSIBLE OPTIONS: every superstar that was on the roster at some point in 2015, including those who have been released

[BEST]: Seth Rollins

[WORST]: Adam Rose


Below are my choices for what I voted on. The results from YOUR votes which count as the official winners are in the video, so be sure to check that out.


"DID YOU KNOW" PARODY OF THE YEAR

POSSIBLE OPTIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE POLL

[MY VOTES FOR BEST]:

Episode #181 — [Bringin' Da Book 2 U] JTG is releasing a book titled: "Damn! Why Did I Write This Book?" The reviews will probably be titled: "Damn! Why Did I Read This Book?" Source: Da Shout Out.

Episode #193 — [I Feel Strong About Right and Wrong] Dear Hulk Hogan, Booker T is DEFINITELY coming for you now. Source: Fight for the rights of every man

Episode #199 — [Take the Sting / garbage out] Don’t worry about the statue of Seth Rollins after it went into the garbage truck. It will just come back even bigger in the sequel as the Super Statue, played by Kevin Trash. Source: I’d prefer to watch The Secret of the Uso

[MY VOTES FOR WORST]:

Episode #172 — [Blayze's Hall of Flame] According to ancient lore from WWE mythology, if you look Madusa in her eyes, you turn into Stone Cold. That was, at least, until she was beheaded by Showtime Perseus Watson. Source: You're all going to hate this one.

Episode #204 — [Hill-Rod] In WWE, Seth Rollins is currently dealing with Demon Kane’s hellfire and brimstone. In politics, Hillary Clinton is feeling the Bern. Coincidence? Source: I think Sanders has a shot, guys!

OUTRO SONG OF THE YEAR

POSSIBLE OPTIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE POLL

[MY VOTES FOR BEST]:

Episode #200 - "All Sonic Shaked Up" by Mike Paden
Episode #202 - "Fantasea League" by Tony Mango
Episode #206 - "Otunga's Family" by everyone

[MY VOTES FOR WORST]:

Episode #166 - "The Game" by Drew White
Episode #171 - "#GiveOutrosAChance" by Tony Mango
Episode #182 - "Demoutrolition (Take 2)" by Miguel Leon

SEGMENT

POSSIBLE OPTIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE POLL

[MY VOTES FOR BEST]:

2014 Awards
Mailbag
PPV Reviews

[MY VOTES FOR WORST]:

Outside Interference
Rest Hold Commercial Breakdown

RECURRING JOKE

POSSIBLE OPTIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE POLL

[MY VOTES FOR BEST]:

Annoying Tourist Ryback
Bulbasaur
David Otunga has dead family for a living
Kane's got a shot
The No-Bell Prize for Book

[MY VOTES FOR WORST]:

Batista's lunchbox
Bread Salad
Islamic Rash
The Gehrd the Behhhd and the Ugly

CO-HOST OF THE YEAR

POSSIBLE OPTIONS: Calen Ferris, Leslie Joy, Miguel Leon, Caroline Oliveira, Mike Paden, Stephen Wago, Shaun Walker, Drew White, Angie Williams

On a special edition of the SMACK TALK wrestling podcast, the panel breaks down the best and the worst of both WWE's content as well as the Smack Talk show itself in the 2015 SMARK OUT MOMENT AWARDS!

Make sure to subscribe, comment on the video and this post, and let us know your thoughts!

This week's episode of WWE Thursday Night SmackDown was taped on December 29, 2015 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The following are spoilers for the results of what transpired during the show:

• Kalisto and The Dudley Boyz defeated The New Day
• Tyler Breeze defeated Goldust
• Luke Harper and Braun Strowman defeated The Usos
• Brie Bella and Alicia Fox defeated Naomi and Tamina Snuka
• Dolph Ziggler defeated Bo Dallas
• Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose defeated Sheamus and Kevin Owens by disqualification

This week's episode of WWE Main Event was broadcast on December 29, 2015 and is coming to you from the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. The following are the results of what transpired during the show:

• R-Truth defeated Heath Slater
• Titus O'Neil defeated Adam Rose
• Jack Swagger defeated Stardust

Big thanks to Peter Piccininni for taking part in the Sign Me Up initiative to help promote Smark Out Moment!

This is the third time Peter's brought a sign to an event, having done so before at this past SummerSlam pay-per-view where he came dressed as a member of The Wyatt Family and at the live Madison Square Garden event where he dressed up as Stardust. This time around at the most recent edition of Monday Night Raw from 12/28/2015, Peter came ready to cheer on Dean Ambrose and The New Day:

Tonight's episode of WWE Monday Night Raw for December 28, 2015 is coming to you live from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Follow along here for live, ongoing coverage of the results of the show to find out what happens as things occur and chat with fellow WWE fans in the comments below and in the chat on the sidebar!

This is the last Raw of 2015, and after the show last week they really need to go out with a bang. 2015 has been a tough year on the WWE and their ratings. NXT's explosion, Lucha Underground breaking onto the scene, and Ring Of Honor getting a TV spot has given wrestling fans a lot more options and has shown them the different varieties that a wrestling show can have. WWE, even though they still own the business, is definitely lacking in comparison. Last week was a great example. Just about every segment, minus the main event, was simply hard to watch. Luckily, things are already looking up for this week with the announcement that Mr. McMahon will be on his second Monday Night Raw this year as he shows up after being Superman Punched by the champion Roman Reigns a few weeks ago. Will HHH be there to talk about the beating he took at TLC? Do you think that WWE can close out 2015 on a good note, or will we be starting 2016 with yet another sour taste in our mouth?


We start off Raw with Vince McMahon in the ring, calling out Roman Reigns. The crowd's behind Roman, but they eventually start chanting for Daniel Bryan and CM Punk. Vince talks trash about Roman's family, which prompts Roman to put his hands on him and Vince to overact that his neck is hurt. Security comes out, but they see through the ruse and refuse to arrest Roman. Instead, Vince gets himself arrested for being belligerent.

Neville vs. Kevin Owens

RESULTS: Neville wins via pinfall almost immediately.
THOUGHTS: This ended just as it began, basically, with Neville getting a random quick roll-up out of nowhere and Owens beating him down afterward. I don't know what WWE's end game is with either of these guys, but I just hope it doesn't make Owens look bad in the long run.

After we come back from the break, Owens is still attacking Neville. Shame that security that was out earlier isn't around to arrest him, right? Out comes Dean Ambrose, though, after a good while (nice guy, making sure he finished his coffee first) to brawl with Owens. Owens eventually escapes through the crowd.

JoJo talks to Becky Lynch backstage. Becky says she's not holding any hard feelings against Charlotte for not helping her on SmackDown when Team BAD attacked her. She says she can handle things on her own.

Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks

Sasha says Brooklyn doesn't compare to Boston. Naomi calls the town a stank dump among other things.

RESULTS: Sasha Banks via submission.
THOUGHTS: Good finish to the match, but the rest of it went on a little too long and was kind of boring.

Kofi Kingston vs. Kalisto

RESULTS: Kalisto via pinfall
THOUGHTS: Fun match, but too short.

Xavier Woods is pissed that Kingston lost the match and challenges Sin Cara to a match...against Big E.

Big E vs. Sin Cara

RESULTS: Big E via pinfall
THOUGHTS: Outside of the botch, this was pretty good overall.

The Miz comes out for another edition of MizTV. Ryback interrupts to say 2016 will be the year of The Big Guy. Goldust comes out as well. Then Zack Ryder. Then R-Truth asks people to cast their vote for him for Superstar of the Year at the Slammy Awards. "My bad, this one's on me. I really need to get me one of those daily planners." Heath Slater comes out. Then Big Show, who knocks out Slater, tosses Ryder out of the ring, knocks down Goldust, and R-Truth pretends to knock himself out so Big Show doesn't do anything (but Big Show chokeslams him). That leaves Ryback, but Show tosses him out of the ring as well. He says he wants to enter the Royal Rumble as the #1 entrant.

Ryback vs. Big Show

RESULTS: Ryback via count out
THOUGHTS: So this just sort of happened after the break, and rather quickly ended with Big Show leaving, after saying he wanted to prove himself. Pointless.

Dean Ambrose & The Usos vs. The League of Nations (Sheamus, King Barrett and Rusev)

How long before Kevin Owens ruins the match for the babyfaces?

RESULTS: League of Nations via pinfall (Sheamus pins one of The Usos after a Brogue Kick)
THOUGHTS: Credit where it's due, they didn't do the obvious Owens interference like I had expected. Still, at this point in the night, I'm so unenthusiastic about Raw that---oh wait, here's Kevin Owens coming out to attack Ambrose---as I was saying, I'm bored with Raw and this wasn't as good as it could have been.

Possible highlight of the night = Kevin Owens powerbombing Dean Ambrose through the commentary table.

United States Championship: Alberto Del Rio (c) vs. John Cena

RESULTS: John Cena via disqualification
THOUGHTS: A title change would have woken me up. A DQ finish—as expected, since it happens all the time—just makes me sigh. The last episode of Raw for the year really just wasn't good.

The Usos come out to help John Cena even the odds, but they're beaten down for their efforts. Time for Roman Reigns to come out. And here he comes. And now that he's taken them out, Vince McMahon is coming out. He announces that next week, Reigns will defend his title against Sheamus in a match where Vince himself will be the special guest referee. He then repeats "happy new year" about 10 times awkwardly as the show fades out. Weird.

This week's episode of WWE Superstars was taped on December 28, 2015 before Monday Night Raw at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The following are spoilers for the results of what transpired during the show:

• Darren Young defeated Adam Rose
• Mark Henry and Jack Swagger defeated The Ascension

Each week, DIVAS DEBRIEF runs down the events that transpired in women's professional wrestling from the past couple of days. From the WWE Divas to the TNA Knockouts including some other companies as well, Smark Out Moment attempts to keep you up to date on all things going on with the ladies of the ring.

Becky Lynch vs Brie Bella
Paige Nikki Bella wins Slammy for Diva of the Year

Charlotte is at ringside for Becky as she dominates early on. Brie then hangs the arm up on the ropes and gains the upper hand. Brie continues to target the arm of Becky, but Becky attempts a comeback but gets thwarted. Brie then hits the "YES!" kicks for a two-count. Brie keeps assaulting the arm of Becky as Charlotte watches on. They show Team B.A.D watching on a TV in the back. Becky finally starts a comeback with a lot of clothesline knock downs. Brie hits the arm to get separation for a missile drop kick for two-count. Becky then locks in the Disarmer out of no where for the win.

As for the Slammys, one of the awards was for Diva of the Year. R-Truth came out to present the award. He reads out the nominees and then announces that Paige won the award. As she is starting her acceptance speech, R-Truth pulls a Steve Harvey and says that he made a mistake and that Nikki Bella is the true winner.





Paige, Sasha Banks, Tamina Snuka, and Naomi vs. Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Brie Bella, and Alicia Fox

Naomi and Charlotte start things off. Charlotte with a armdrag to Naomi. Naomi bounces Charlotte head off the top turnbuckle. Charlotte with chops to the chest of Naomi. Charlotte with a knee drop and tags in Brie. Brie with kicks to the chest of Naomi. Brie with a running dropkick. Tamina tags herself in and clothesline Brie for a two-count. Tamia tags in Banks. Banks with boots to the chest of Brie in the corner. Banks drag Brie back to the corner and tags in Paige. Paige with a running knee to Brie for a two-count.

Paige irish whips Brie to the corner and tags in Naomi. Brie with right hands to Naomi. Brie sends Naomi face first to the top turnbuckle. Naomi tags in Tamina and tries to creates separation, but Brie with a dropkick and tags in Lynch. Tamina sends Lynch onto the ring apron. Lynch with a flying dropkick to Tamina for a two-count. Charlotte with a spear to Naomi. Paige superkicks Charlotte. Fox with a big boot to Paige. Tamina tags in Banks. Banks knocks Lynch off the ring apron. Banks with the Bank Statement and Fox taps out.



Charlotte vs Brie Bella

Lock up and Charlotte pushes Brie to the corner. Charlotte pushes Brie's legs over the second rope and drops her down in a neckbreaker. Charlotte keeps Brie grounded locking her head and throwing knees to the face. Charlotte dropsa knee and Brie moves out of the way. Brie with elbows and jumping clotheslines. Brie with a knee to the face of Charlotte. Brie with a dropkick off the second rope. Brie with kicks to the chest. Charlotte with a spear. Team B.A.D. interrupts walking out. Naomi pours eggnog over Becky Lynch, who joined Cole, Lawler and Booker T on commentary during the match. Lynch then tackles Naomi and starts throwing right hands as Charlotte looks on. Team B.A.D. starts attacking Lynch. Inside the ring, Charlotte applies the Figure Eight. Brie taps out to give Charlotte the win.



So there you have it, the breakdown for the week in women's wrestling. What were some of your favorite and least favorite moments from these women? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Welcome to another edition of Power Rankings from Smark Out Moment! Each week, we will break down the current roster and examine who has gone up the WWE hierarchy and who has unfortunately taken a step down the ladder. Factoring in things such as wins and losses, suspensions, injuries, making a name for one's self, being humiliated, and more, who is at the top of the food chain and who needs to make up some ground next week?

Stephanie McMahon opened Raw with a promo with Roman Reigns.


The Ascension lost against Titus O'Neil and Neville on SmackDown.


Cena won a Slammy for "The Hero in all of us Award". His comeback next week was also teased on Raw.


Ryback lost against The Wyatt Family on SmackDown.


The Lucha Dragons lost against The New Day on SmackDown.


O'Neil beat The Ascension on SmackDown.


Charlotte beat Brie Bella on SmackDown.


Seamus lost against Dean Ambrose in Raw's main event.


Brie Bella lost against Charlotte and Becky Lynch on SmackDown and Raw respectively.


See above.


Tommy Dreamer lost against The Wyatt Family on Raw.


Swagger lost against Alberto Del Rio on Raw but beat The Miz on Main Event.


Kane lost against The Wyatt Family on both Raw and SmackDown.


See above.


The Usos beat The New Day on Raw, then lost against Alberto Del Rio and Rusev on SmackDown.


Dolph Ziggler lost against Kevin Owens on Raw. He then lost an Intercontinental Championship match against Owens and Dean Ambrose on SmackDown.


The most entertaining guys on the roster lost against The Usos on Raw, then beat the Lucha Dragons on SmackDown.


Kevin Owens beat Dolph Ziggler on Raw before losing against Ziggler and Dean Ambrose in SmackDown's main event.


Rusev beat Neville and Raw. He then beat The Usos on SmackDown.


Del Rio beat Jack Swagger on Raw, then The Usos on SmackDown.


Neville won The Slammy for "Breakout Star of the Year" before losing against Rusev on Raw. He then beat The Ascension on SmackDown.


The Wyatt Family beat Kane, The Dudley Boyz and Tommy Dreamer on Raw. They then beat Kane, The Dudley Boyz and Ryback on SmackDown.


Reigns opened Raw with a promo alongside Stephanie McMahon. It is ridiculous how over Reigns has become in just two weeks.


Ambrose beat Seamus in a cage match in Raw's main event. He then defended his Intercontinental Championship against Kevin Owens and Dolph Ziggler in SmackDown's main event.


Rollins won the Slammy for "Superstar of the Year". How good is this guy? He made one speech and became the most talked about superstar this week. That's how good he is!

The December 22, 2015 episode of WWE SmackDown scored a 0.7 rating (over 2 million viewers) for adults aged 18-49 according to Nielsen Media Research. This is up from last week's 0.6 rating.

The most watched cable program on Thursday was The Big Bang Theory (1.1 rating).

Since it's the end of the year and the 2015 Smark Out Moment Awards are currently being voted on, to refresh everyone's memory on the different outros that are eligible to be voted on, we present to you another compilation!

For those who don't know, the end of every episode of the Smack Talk podcast finishes off with some kind of a song parody that ties to professional wrestling or one of our recurring jokes. These are meant to be one last bit of fun while the credits are up to avoid complete silence and end everything off with a laugh.

This year's medley consists of every outro from episodes #164 up until the most recent one—episode #214—as they were originally presented in those respective editions of Smack Talk.

Listen below and don't forget to cast your votes on the best and the worst of the year! Enjoy!

They may be the SmackDown of award shows, but the Slammy Awards gave us three good things on Raw this past Monday:

1. They ended.
2. Nikki Bella's speech
3. Seth Rollins

Rollins' Slammy appearance was fantastic. Cheered upon his arrival and put over by Michael Cole, babyface Rollins felt good. Starting as his smarmy self, Rollins eventually transitioned into humility and then palpable determination. As he vowed to return as the best version of himself, a chemical reaction was initiated. If there's one trait carried by all storyline WWE megastars, it's resilience. WWE has just been given such a story.

Look at that baby-face elation.

We all did it. Some more than others, but we are all a little guilty. That goes for all of John Cena's children. Frankly, it goes for WWE, too.

We all took Seth Rollins for granted.

This is no astute observation. In the same moment Rollins' knee buckled, WWE had its pleated slacks yanked down to reveal embarrassing (and probably red mohawked) genitalia. How could we ever have known the void that Seth Rollins was filling? Perhaps carrying WWE for 7 months loosened those knee ligaments.

We smeared his campaign by concluding he was a weak champion. There's numbers to back it, too, as Raw had its ratings dip to squeamish lows. WWE betrayed him by having him work with cadavers liked Sting and Kane. Objectively, he was probably trending towards overexposure, but to no fault of his own. WWE's oversaturated TV schedule and thin roster were the only culprits worth blaming. And still, despite holding the US Title and WWE Championship, no one ever said "he's being pushed down our throats." You know why? Because he's awesome.

Already drawing comparisons to the likes of Shawn Michaels, Rollins—at least before his injury—was the best in-ring talent in WWE. His ability had not only been recognized by WWE, but arguably abused. I mean, why, oh why, is he fighting Kane in a house show in Europe? It's easy to question in retrospect, but it's the equivalent of racing your greyhound with bloodhounds.

Rollins was thrust into a situation that asked him to cover an unsustainable amount of ground. He was everywhere. Maybe his promos had gone stale, but how could they not have? Can you imagine 15-minute soliloquies from Roman Reigns to kick off every Raw?

At 29, Rollins' arc has been stellar if not meteoric. He was NXT's first champion and seeing what NXT has become, there's something acutely gratifying about that. Given the title of The Shield's "architect," also grows in impression by the day. Seeing that Reigns will be a face of the next era, and Dean Ambrose being right behind him, only solidifies Rollins' resumé. On top of everything, he was last sharing the screen with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon regularly.

Rollins' most remarkable deviation lies within his timing. If we were to look at the approaching time in WWE, it may just be called the "Indy Guy Era." While someone like John Cena is technically an "indy guy," Seth Rollins had a lengthy underground career. In a similar respect are Daniel Bryan, Cesaro, Ambrose, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Finn Balor and Apollo Crews all of which have factored or will factor significantly in WWE's future. All undersized, at least by WWE's standards, yet all are somehow limitlessly capable. They have begun a charge that will transcend wrestling—and we're ready for it.

This model of wrestler has yet to fully capture the WWE and its audience. Yes, Daniel Bryan's moment was incredible, but it was certainly momentary. No indy guy has fully climbed WWE's summit. CM Punk—the most coherent starting point of Indy Guy Era—was monstrously successful, yet never got to headline a WrestleMania. It's worth pointing out that he lost the matches that would have vaulted him to the next level: Brock Lesnar, The Rock, The Undertaker. Maybe all these indy guys inherently lack something; genetically deficient when it comes to encapsulating the wrestling world. If there is anyone who can do it though, it's Seth Rollins.

Though being The Authority's gladiator gave Rollins a tremendous stage, the gimmick began to hold him back. This injury may be a gift. He can evolve.

Rollins could be a true People's Champion

His character lacked visceral appeal. This is a compliment more than a critique as it is one of the most evasive qualities a wrestler can attain. At the Slammy Awards, Rollins flashed that he and WWE will be eyeing our hearts. After getting "thank you" chants after missing one month, what will he be like in the summer of 2016 when he returns?

It will be nuclear.

The internet has been WWE's greatest ally and worst foe as it forces transparency into a world that thrives on the antithesis of the concept. WWE needs to make sure they keep the beast at bay, giving us enough to wet our CrossFit Jesus palates yet keeping us ignorant to let our imaginations run wild. Let's just hope he's coming up with a new finisher in the meantime.

WWE has an opportunity to shoot a star into an echelon that rarely presents itself. He'll come back as a babyface with an edge, and holy balls will it work. This is a chance that WWE will not miss, mainly because they've never missed it before.

Yeah, Reigns is cool now, but if he keeps saving The Usos, we'll be booing him by February. WWE is starving to find its new Face That Runs The Place. Reigns can fill in, but he may just have a few too many detractors to be a perpetual champion. The throne will indeed be kept warm, potentially lukewarm. When Rollins returns, let's all be ready to scream.

Welcome to another edition of Cheap Pop and Cheap Heat from Smark Out Moment! Each week, we break down the world of professional wrestling and examine two of the polar opposite ends of the spectrum: one thing that was by far the worst thing (Cheap Heat) and the best thing (Cheap Pop) to happen over the past 7 days in sports entertainment. So, what went down this week that we loved and hated about the business?

There is no denying that the Divas Revolution caused an initial spike of interest to the division, but the renewed excitement was short-lived after it became apparent that WWE did not have a long term master plan for it after all.

A further cause of my own waning interest was the decision to build everything around Charlotte. As previously stated, I found her wrestling skills to be top-notch, but always thought her personality boring.

However, since adopting her Hall of Fame father's cheating ways, my interest in her story with Becky Lynch has increased. For instance, last week's SmackDown saw Charlotte give her friend a hand in her match (quite literally), allowing Becky to reluctantly pick up a win.

The disparity between the pair's integrity makes for a far more interesting dynamic than their being "bezzies", and I am hoping to seeing it accumulate into a title match for Becky Lynch.

Forging a character based on family heritage does not guarantee success. The likes of Curtis Axel and Ted DiBiase are testaments to this, but I do feel a female Flair is no bad thing for her to aspire to.

Besides, she does not have to remain this way her entire career. She could always later see the error of her ways and return to her former saintly self, but with the added experience of knowing how to express personality in a far more interesting way.

Woo!



The WWE Slammy Awards have come and gone, and the question on the WWE Universe's lips is "are they actually fixed after all." Unless there is some political picking going on backstage, how on earth did The Usos get Tag Team of The Year instead of The New Day?

First off, The Usos were missing as a tag team for a large part of the year, whereas The New Day have been active since early 2015.

Secondly, the popularity of The New Day is unprecedented. They are heels by definition of character only, and WWE knows this. How many Monday nights have gone by without a New Day section or two (or three or four)? The New Day often open shows, work a midcard match, and then appear in the main event too.

Lastly, let us look at the gold. Those belts have been around the waists of Xavier Woods, Big E, and Kofi Kingston for the majority of the year. They lost them briefly to The Prime Time Players, but were quick to regain them and keep hold of ever since.

How does being a main event player, titleholder, and one of the funniest acts around NOT equate to Tag Team of The Year?

The ONLY legitimate reason one can disqualify them is that they are a "freebird rules" tag team, not a traditional two-man team. Even then, I would have picked The Lucha Dragons.

The Usos may have ended up with the trophies, but at the end of the day, we all know who the real winners are.


So there you have it, my two choices for the week. What do YOU think are the Cheap Pop and Cheap Heat this week in professional wrestling? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

This week's episode of WWE NXT was taped on 12/16/2015 at the SSE Arena in London, England. The following are spoilers for the results of what transpired during the show based on the original tapings. There is a chance WWE will edit things differently.

• Jason Jordan and Chad Gable win a Fatal 4-Way match that included The Vaudevillains, The Hype Bros and BAMF
• "The Drifter" Elias Samson defeated Bull Dempsey
• Sami Zayn defeated Tye Dillinger

The December 21, 2015 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw scored a 1.1 rating (over 3 million viewers) for adults aged 18-49 according to Nielsen Media Research. This is down from last week's 1.4 rating.

The most watched cable program on Monday was Monday Night Football (3.4 rating).

What's been going on this week in the world of professional wrestling? It's time to break it down in the latest edition of SMACK TALK, my wrestling podcast and the quick notes below. Make sure to subscribe, comment on the videos and this post, and let us know your thoughts.

Watch each part below:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

This week's episode of WWE SmackDown will be live on December 22, 2015 at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA. The following are the results of what transpired during the show:

• The New Day defeated The Lucha Dragons
• The Wyatt Family defeated The Dudley Boyz, Ryback and Kane
• Alberto Del Rio and Rusev defeated The Usos
• Neville and Titus O'Neil defeated The Ascension
• Charlotte defeated Brie Bella
• Dean Ambrose defeated Dolph Ziggler and Kevin Owens in a triple threat match

This week's episode of WWE Main Event was broadcast on December 22, 2015 and is coming to you from the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA. The following are the results of what transpired during the show:

• Tyler Breeze defeated Goldust
• Bo Dallas defeated Fandango
• Jack Swagger defeated The Miz

Old Time Wrestling is an independent professional wrestling organization located in Williamstown, New Jersey, focusing on classic pro wrestling styles and a family environment. This past Saturday, December 19th, was the LIGHTS OUT event.

Here are the results of the show:

• Damian Adams defeated Konqueror Kinnally
• Damaris defeated Varla Ray
• [OTW Tag Team Championship Match]: Dave Davis & Chris Bohren defeated Valiente & Dre Drummond (c)
• Eddie Hawkins defeated Matty Ice
• Brian Johnson defeated PRR Inc to become the President of OTW
• [OTW Classic Championship Match]: Mik Drake (c) defeated Ike Phillips
• Elia Baratz defeated Jimmy Lloyd
• [OTW Heavyweight Championship Match]: Justin Pusser defeated Adam Chandler the Great (c)

OTW's next special night show event will be the WINTERFEST coming January 30th. Stay tuned to www.oldtimewrestling.net for news on the upcoming shows every Saturday at 2pm with monthly special events at 7pm.