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?



What an unexpected and pleasant surprise to have Mustafi Ali fight Daniel Bryan this past week on SmackDown Live. Firstly, despite the short time limit, this was an excellent match that really showcased both men and 205. I have said it before, but having the cruiserweights mix it up with SmackDown or Raw guys is an excellent way to not only build the purple brand awareness, but also to help freshen up the main roster programs.

Can you imagine an Essa Rios taking the likes of Triple H to the limit in the Light Heavyweight title days? Or a Hornswoggle nearly gaining an upset victory over Randy Orton amidst the original Cruiserweight title era? We all know that there were excellent competitors in these divisions, but rarely would they be positioned as viable threats against the top dogs.

Sure, Ali picked up a loss and a brutal post-match beat down by Bryan, but I do feel that the stock of both these men, and the brands that they represent, have taken a significant upswing in momentum as a result of their encounter.



A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about my dislike for the Natty/Ruby story where The Riott Squad leader destroyed a pair of Natalya's late father's sunglasses. It felt awkward, the motivation unclear, and it did not come across as being a necessary story in any way. Thankfully, it quickly found itself buried, and everyone was seemingly happy to forget that it ever happened and moved on.

So, why on earth has WWE decided to smash open the coffin and bring this back from the dead? This past week we learnt that at TLC we would not only have a table match between the pair, but one with a special Jim Neidhart motif table for one unlucky soul to be thrown through.

Why? On so many levels, I have to ask why? Why did they only just remember that they were feuding over this? Why did someone think that this was a good idea? Why did the family agree to it? Perhaps Anvil would love the idea of being involved in some form or fashion, but it still comes across as somewhat ghoulish to me.

Katie Vick, Big Boss Man driving off with a coffin, Vince McMahon being blown up, and that awkward exchange between Paige and Charlotte over her late brother. These are but a few of the failed attempts to interject the very human experience of death into a quasi-fantasy world.

If history has taught us anything, this feud always was going to be dead in the water.


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!