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:
RIGHT ON THE MONEY
I am loving the Million Dollar Man and Cameron Grimes skits that have been part of NXT lately. Firstly, they look beautifully done, with the cinematic look and locations really making them stand out when measured against the Raw and Smackdown backstage arena approach, which, let us be honest, they rarely strayed from even pre-pandemic.
Presentation aside, it is great to see Ted DiBiase used in a more substantial role. Typically, his cameos are limited to rocking up every Raw reunion show and letting out a maniacal laugh here or there with no actual impact on a story. Here? Well, he is Grime's chief antangonist!
Furthermore, one cannot but help speculate upon where this is going. Maybe nowhere at all, but could Ted become his manager? It is questionable how much time the ordained minister would want to dedicate to such a return, but perhaps long enough to bequeath Grimes as a new Million dollar champion?
Yes, the belt did not do much to elevate the likes of Virgil and Ted Diabse Jnr, but, let us face it, if anyone could make it work, it is surely Cameron Grimes?
CHEAP HEAT OF THE WEEK:
REPEAT-A-MANIA
Forgive my ignorance, but I thought that WrestleMania Backlash was the show in which rematches from the grandest stage of them all took place. The clue is in the name, no?
Admittedly, the rematch on said card are modified versions, but way to water down the anticipation by having, not only, some of the real rematches from WrestleMania less than a week prior, but managing to make them feel insignificant while they were at it.
Asuka vs. Rhea Ripley, somehow, felt like nothing special, whilst Drew McIntyre vs. Bobby Lashley ended in an all so predictable disqualification. There were no stakes, stipulations, or anything much to progress the stories.
Sadly, these two matches were a microcosm of episode itself though, with so much of it feeling like we had seen it all before.
Thank goodness for SmackDown.
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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