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?


The Undertaker's response to Bray Wyatt's challenge, Damien Wizdow's rap, John Cena's return to his ruthless aggression roots...I had a lot of choices for this week's POP choice—all of the above being honorable mentions.

But this week's accolade goes to WWE's decision to create a new subdivision in the Hall of Fame: the Warrior Award. Inspired by the eerie last words of Jim Hellwig's last poignant promo, the award is attributed to an individual demonstrating great courage in the face of adversity.

Fittingly, the first recipient shall be Connor "The Crusher" Michalek, the cancer-stricken boy who loved WWE and Daniel Bryan more than anything in the world. He touched the hearts of all the WWE superstars that met him, and I challenge anyone not to cry at the 5-minute video presentation WWE created in his memory.

WWE gets accused/blamed/slandered for a lot of things, but time and time again, I will say they do far more notable charity and community work than any sports organization I can think of.

As I scanned the comments on the WWE Facebook wall regarding the news, I could not find a single negative thing said—not even an illiterate rant about CM Punk! Admittedly, I did not read every single one of the 3000+ comments, but you have to be a special kind of stupid to legitimately hate on this.



The #GiveDivasAChance movement has divided opinions. Some say it's long overdue while others feel it is unnecessary, and the time given to Divas' matches is appropriate.

Whichever side of the fence you may sit on, Vince McMahon heard and prompted us to keep watching. It appeared that changes would be coming — for better or for worse.

On Monday Night Raw, two decent Divas matches took place. Perhaps this was a conscious effort, since there is usually only one match and whether it is decent or not varies widely. But this feels a bit of a piecemeal offering when you consider what is happening at WrestleMania 31.

We have learned that Paige and AJ Lee will take on the Bella Twins in a tag team match and unless another is announced soon, only four of the division are on the card. What really flies in the face of the movement, though, is the Divas Championship is not on the line.

I accept that single titles are not usually defended in a tag team match, but I cite the Two Man Power Trip vs. The Brothers of Destruction match at Backlash 2001 as an excellent example. This was a match which saw the Heavyweight, Intercontinental, and Tag Team titles all up for grabs, and it made for a fantastic main event.

Granted, the wrestlers involved were of a different caliber and division, but I think it would add to the dynamic of the match were a similar approach be taken. The Bellas would likely remain on the same page, but having AJ Lee and Paige simultaneously cooperate and compete to score the winning pinfall would make for an much more interesting affair.

If WWE is serious about #givingdivasachance, why not have the Divas title showcased and defended on the grandest stage of them all?



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!