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?



I never thought that Bayley's heel turn was the best idea. It felt far too much like she was trying but, despite sharing a hairdresser with AJ Styles, never even slightly authentic.

However, on the woefully dull Super Showdown, her match with Naomi was a highlight. Firstly, as much we laugh about the mad Saudi shows and greedy WWE, that they have managed to slowly breach the boundaries by having women compete is something that we should not disregard entirely.

Now, as for the match itself, I was actually feeling Bayley as a villain a lot more than normal. On the mic? Not quite yet, but in the ring? Her style really lent itself to it here. The ending was especially heelish and creative, with Bayley tying Naomi up in her own baggy modesty jumper to get the pin. I loved that moment.

I was very ready for someone to take the title off her, but, if she did more of this, I would not mind seeing a reign of sneaky terror go on far longer.



Putting obstacles in one’s path is a good way to disrupt or derail them from reaching their destination, but it only works if you actually place them near their line of trajectory. My point? WWE is not doing the best of jobs to convince fans that there is any doubt as to how some major WrestleMania matches are going to shape up.

The excitement of the upcoming Women’s Elimination chamber is somewhat reduced by WWE near enough telegraphing that it will be Shayna Baszler squaring off against Becky Lynch come WrestleMania. Was there ever any doubt after the Queen of Spades attacked and bit Lynch’s neck two weeks earlier? Could that not have come after she won the Chamber? Similarly, why was it only Baszler that Becky was left to confront after the contract signing went askew? WWE have already made it painfully obvious that the other women are not for us to take seriously just now.

I understand that they may have wanted to go with a longer build, but a once a year big gimmick match like this with six potential winners seems wasted when we are 99.9% sure of the outcome.

Admittedly, we do have Asuka in there, who is a credible threat to Baszler, but her booking does not exactly point to a third attempt at Becky being where WWE wants to go.

I have no doubt that it will be a fun match, but what a shame it will the tension and speculation will be largely bereft.


Extra Heat: Bray Wyatt losing to Goldberg. Sigh. Will he ever get to the same height with this character? Or are we done? Here is hoping that John Cena is true to his word and thinks of the future come WrestleMania...

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!