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?
CHEAP POP OF THE WEEK:
THE CHAIN OF COMMAND
There was significant developments across the board with the Tribal Chief angle, and all of them excellent. For a start, unlike many current stories, this one has managed to merge Survivor Series into the thread, and not have it detract from the real meat of the story.
Chided by a jovial Kevin Owens, Jey Uso showed that, despite his alignment to Roman Reigns, he was still very much a face, and did not aggressively retaliate. Well, at least in the early part of the show!
However, just like Reigns was not a complete dick when he turned heel, the cracks are there for Jey, and we can see his turn, whether he wants to or not, is happening.
That alone would have been a good story beat for this week, but it did not end there. A chain of command for the group was also established, with Reigns admonishing Jey for an interview with Kayla Braxton that he had given no permission for. However, the ticking offs did not end there, with Paul Heyman getting his for failing to stop it before it even happened.
I had hoped that WWE would extend this story after Jey was unable to defeat the Reigns, and I cannot say that I am remotely dissatisfied with anything that they have done since. Long may this continue!
CHEAP HEAT OF THE WEEK:
SURVIVOR SERIES BUILD
Survivor Series is upon us once again, and, like most years, it has it share of problems. Where to start? Well, that NXT are not involved does feel like a demotion for the yellow and black brand, but, rumor has it that this is more to do with COVID-19 safety than anything else. Fair enough, just a bit of shame. Next we come to its closeness to the draft.
We are only a few weeks removed from the most recent shuffle, and, save the biggest names and champions, many are still adjusting to exactly who is where. The idea of a wrestler having extreme loyalty to one brand after such a short time is a bit laughable. Having something at stake, such as when The Authority's power was on the line, would make up for it, but, like most years, there is nothing beyond bragging rights which will be forgotten about within a fortnight
Lastly, this feels like it is getting in the way of some decent stories that WWE want to tell. The Hurt Business vs. The New Day is clearly on the cards, but it will have to wait till they finished tangling with The Street Profits. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton will also be there, but, let us face it, it is his story with The Usos is what we want to see. Thankfully, the latter is doing a betting job integrating Survivor Series into the plot.
Ultimately, I will always have a soft spot for the Survivor Series brand, but there is no denying that it need a lot more focus to bring it anywhere close to Royal Rumble or SummerSlam notoriety again.
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!
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