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 MIZING PIECE
I am really glad that Maryse is back managing The Miz again.
There is something about his persona that just works so much better with her in tow. While I like him teaming with John Morrison, their place is firmly established as comedic heels, and I feel that both are due a change in direction at this point. Morrison trying his luck for singles gold, and The Miz...well...being The Miz, but with Maryse at his side!
I think that I like the pairing because I associate it with The Miz's best run, as it was just after he beat Zack Ryder for the Intercontinental Championship that she joined him full-time, and then he went on an absolute tear both on the mic and in the ring. Everything about his presentation stepped up around this time, and it no longer felt that he was just a reality star in a wrestler's world.
Ironic, I know, as he has gone back to doing that with his Miz and Mrs. Show, but, at least that one is wrestling related!
Of course, I am very aware that this could be nothing more than a very short-term return to promote new season of said show, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that this might go on a little while longer.
CHEAP HEAT OF THE WEEK:
TAKING OUT THE TRASH
Woopsie.
A bizarre WWE practice got revealed this week when Mickie James took to Twitter to post a photo of some returned items held by the company. Wrapped up in a literal bin bag with Mickie scrawled on a piece of paper, James, and the internet, was not impressed. This was just one week after she been let go by the company, and this lack of care, while not too surprising, feels like like insult to injury.
However, what was surprising, was the culprit, Mark Carrona, was swiftly identified, and let go with immediate effect. Was it a purposeful dig like the, alleged, serving of CM Punk's termination papers on his wedding day? Hard to say, but other former contractors were quick to confirm that, they too, had possessions returned in such a fashion. Was it always Corona? Or has he just been used as a scape goat?
Clearly, this is a not a release that fans, or even many wrestlers, will cry about, with many now speaking out to condemn the talent relations director as a deeply unpopular figure, and more akin to a snake than a human.
Yikes.
Let us hope this bad publicity at least shocks WWE into taking more a little care in how they treat talent, past and present, going forward.
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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