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?



Unsurprisingly, the positives in the world of wrestling this week have been a little hard to find this time around. Deaths, layoffs, and dodgy deals have created a great sadness within the wrestling community, but we will get to that in the heat segment.

For now, I just want to use the pop section to highlight the actions of Ring of Honor, who, reportedly, sent cheques to wrestlers who had been scheduled for an event that has since been cancelled. They did not need to that. Indeed, their cash reserves are nothing like WWE, and doing so in such uncertain times is a true act of generosity. Similarly, New Japan has made precisely zero cuts.

If only others could be more like that...



What a dismal week it has been for wrestlers and fans alike. Let us start with the death of the legendary Howard Finkel. He was the voice of ring announcing that spanned generations, nobody  said the word new like him, and our thoughts go out to his immediate family and friends.

A true legend with an unforgettable voice. Rest in peace, Howard.

Now, the releases. Ok, some are not surprising, such as No Way Jose and EC3, but Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows? They are AJ Style's best buddies, and just played a big part in an incredibly well received WrestleMania match. They also just signed long-term contracts!

Where is the loyalty for the likes of Mike Chioda? Kurt Angle? Zack Ryder? And so many others that have given years of literal blood, sweat, and tears for the company.

Yes, some will be re-hired later, but when? Would it have killed them to have renegotiated contracts and put people on a lesser salary while not working? It would be understandable if they were a small company that needed to do this for long-term survival, but WWE did not need to do this. They could have easily paid out for another six months without dipping into the red.

This is pure greed.

I love you WWE, but…you're making it harder day by day right now.


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!