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?


Some wrestlers have their promos scripted word-for-word. Others are allowed to work off bullet points. And then there is R-Truth.

I am convinced R-Truth is allowed to say absolutely whatever he likes, whatsoever, and nobody even asks him what it is going to be.

The past few weeks have seen R-Truth in a feud with King Barrett over his kingship. Though it is—to our knowledge—impossible to win somebody's King of the Ring title off them, this has done little to stop Truth's belief a win over Barrett has made him the self-proclaimed "King Whassup."

Since he started believing he is royalty, Truth has delivered his strangest, yet hilarious, interviews to date, and that really is saying something for a man who spent the better past of two-years palling around with his invisible best friend, "Lil Jimmy."

After his recent victory on Thursday Night SmackDown, Truth was involved in a post-match interview which saw him announce the latest instructions by royal decree. Namely that there would be a Royalty Day, and it would involve all subjects getting a duck or walking a duck if they already owned one. The day would also involve the "sprinkling of water" and borrowing water from your neighbor if you had none left to sprinkle.

Does any of that really make sense? No, but fans don't care. Somehow, R-Truth makes rambling about nothing hilarious. While, in contrast, Wyatt's doomsday nonsensical ramblings are just that—ramblings.

While I am not expecting any major payoff to where they go with "King Whassup", neither do I mind. I am just enjoying the sheer stupidity of it all.

Ain't that the Truth?



My choice of Heat this week may divide some opinions, but as is the nature of any such opinion based article. However, what I have not been enjoying as of late is Jimmy Uso's SmackDown commentary.

I was discussing this recently with one of my Smark Out Moment colleagues and we agreed that good commentary should complement and blend in with the match. It should be part and parcel of the package and not distract viewers from the in-ring action altogether.

Sadly, I am finding myself noticing Jimmy's commentating more than I am the matches. The style does not work for me and I find it simply too loud and just too distracting.

Now, I respect the fact Jimmy is by no means a trained commentator, and I am pleased they have found something for him to do to stay relevant while his brother nurses his wounds, but let us not forget that Jimmy is not injured himself. Yes, he is a tag team wrestler, but there is no reason for him to be excluded from in-ring competition altogether. It is a good chance to develop him in a storyline that will differentiate him from his brother, and I am not sure this commentary gig is the best path to do so.

Uso Crazy? No, I am afraid I am 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!