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?


Not being a fan of UFC, or any sport where ten-year-olds cannot win championships in ridiculous circumstances, I had no interest in the idea of Ronda Rousey being in WWE.

Her first few months did very little to change my opinion, either. Her presentation and promotion skills came across as awkward and unpolished, and rarely did they exhume the star power that so many seemed to be in awe of. However, when she properly entered the angle with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon for WrestleMania, that is when my opinion started to change.

Her match at WrestleMania and attack of Stephanie on Raw were more than enough to win me over and realize what the fuss was all about. Has any other wrestler in history been that good during their first ever match? I stand very much corrected on her belonging here.

Furthermore, her ability to go from smiley happy-go-lucky to stone faced killer in half a second is brilliant. That flip of the switch tells me all I need to know about her character. Once that smile turns upside down you know that you are in trouble.

No wonder Hot Rod was so cool in giving her permission to use his moniker. Who wouldn't want to be represented through her?



Time and time again, managers have proven to be an invaluable part of a wrestler's overall package, but WWE has always been reluctant to fully embrace this in more modern times. It is a shame, as there is so much many can offer both on and off screen. It was for this reason that I was sad to see The Authors of Pain end their association with Paul Ellering following their Raw debut call-up. His strong authoritative presence gave them a real old school classic south wrestling feel, and he felt very much part of the act.

Ellering is a rare breed of a manager who was known for being more than just a screen figure in this role. During his time with The Road Warriors; he booked their matches, lined up their flights, set up hotel reservations, and kept track of their expenses. While he was probably did not do this for this most recent protégés, his experience and insight would have been invaluable in fine tuning the immensely talented hulking duo. I likened him almost to a beast master, and the only one capable of stopping his creatures from inflicting absolute annihilation.

Thankfully, there has not yet been any announcement over Ellering actually being let go, and at sixty-four years old, there is speculation that he merely did not want to do the grueling and unsettling schedule required for being on the main-roster.

So, it is still possible we may see him again partnered with another up and comer in NXT, or possibly be used in a training capacity at the Performance Center. If not, at least we got to see him do one last well deserved run, and have him impart knowledge on a team that will undoubtedly be a destructive force on Raw for years to come.


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!