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?


It is rare for me to highlight the same wrestler or story two weeks in a row in this column, but I am going to make an exception this week to once again talk about Goldust.

Fresh off his (popular) heel turn, Goldust appeared in a vignette on Raw exhibiting a behavior which I can only liken to his controversial character from the mid to late nineties. Gone was the black and gold Darth Maul makeup and weird Golden Truth portrait T-shirt, replaced with a more classic golden paint job, golden gear, and director's chair. I have always liked Goldust, but it is in this guise that he truly shines. There was something mesmerizing and mysterious about the glitzy presentation that is missing from many of today's superstars. What was he alluding to by declaring himself the director and that the Golden Age was back? Can we expect him back in a title hunt now? I have no idea, but I want to find out.

Let the golden times roll!



After seeing Jinder Mahal rise from jobber to champion in six weeks, it would be hard to argue that SmackDown is not the land of opportunity.

However, we are also told that these opportunities are not given, but earned. So, why do we now have a Money in the Bank match in which all the participants were just given a slot? It would have made sense if all the winners from Backlash were automatically let in, but by also allowing the losers, WWE are really drilling home the wins and losses do not matter mantra.

Yes, the people chosen are the cream of the crop and will put on a hell of a match, but would it not have been more fun to have had qualifying rounds in the weeks leading up to it? That is how Money in the Bank normally works.

This keeps people guessing over the outcome, allows for a surprise rank outsider to wheedle his way in, and would also have prevented the inevitable barrage of these six men now facing off against one another in a rotating mix of single, six man, and tag matches. It dampens the experience of the big event if we have already seen them go at it too many times prior.

However, it is notable there are normally seven slots for a Money in the Bank ladder match. Could Rusev be filling the vacant slot? I hope so, as that will be a real missed opportunity if not.


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!