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?


There are two reasons why the returning King's Court segment on SmackDown makes my pop choice.

Firstly, Jerry Lawler deserved having this. Since being taken off full-time commentary after the brand split, The King found himself almost exclusively used on pre-show panels—a role that I never felt quite fit his style, nor one that he looked at complete ease in. But put in him in his little angle without having to promote a sponsor every few seconds? This is where Jerry shines.

Incorporating the elements of reality by harking back to the heart attack was also an interesting addition. Any little bits of reality blurred into a story will often make things that little bit more special. Also, hats off for taking a super kick to the chest at age sixty seven! How many other legends are capable of doing that?

Then we come to Dolph Ziggler's long overdue attitude change. A good idea, as there are only so many times that you can do a passionate "I'm working hard and never get a push, but I keep on going" speech before it becomes meaningless, especially when each and every time, he finds himself right back to square one again.

I am unsure where they are heading with it, but I damn well sure want to find out.



Referees in WWE just cannot seem to make up their minds on the rules these days. Monday Night Raw saw The Club defeat Cesaro and Sheamus for the Raw tag team titles, only to have the decision reversed seconds later by John Cone after getting accidentally clobbered by Sheamus moments earlier.

So, while The Club still picked up the victory as a result of a disqualification, the championships stayed with the Fellaship of the Swing.

Now, I fully endorse Cesaro and Sheamus remaining as tag team champions for a long time to come, but this was a very peculiar way to go about it. A dusty finish like this is normally reserved for a face to garner sympathy, not for a heel team to have their victory pulled from under their feet. This was a confusing turn of events that benefited no one in particular.


Extra Heat: A Squandered Surprise?

Kurt Angle going into the Hall of Fame is great news, but I cannot help but feel WWE missed a golden opportunity here. Maybe ESPN leaked this before they were supposed to and WWE had no choice? But with just two weeks to the Royal Rumble, could they really not have waited? Could you imagine the pop if his arrival was a complete surprise? There are not many stars left WWE can do this sort thing with anymore, so it seems a shame to have just used a video package to let us known that he was coming.

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!