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:
CLOCKING UP THE WINS
I know that they were not won by traditional means, but that Nikki Cross now holds victories over the Raw Women's Champion and the near unbeatable Charlotte Flair warms my heart.
While Flair vs. Rhea Ripley at Hell in a Cell isWWE's focus, I have to ask if there is more to this for Cross? Could they be testing the water for something bigger and better further down the line? I would love to think so, as it would really freshen up the main-event scene to have her involved.
Realistically, I cannot see her beating either for the title any time soon, but stranger things have happened, and I would argue that Nikki's victories could just have easily been done by disqualification, distraction, or count-out. Her outlasting the clock is easily the more respectable of fluke victories.
Plus, who the hell beat Charlotte Flair by any means if WWE does not have an iota of interest in them? A fun little milestone for a well-deserving wrestler.
CHEAP HEAT OF THE WEEK:
BIG RELEASES
When WWE clean house and release several wrestlers go, the lists largely, with an exception or two, make for unsurprising reading. Mostly it is those that are never seen, rarely seen, and some that we are unaware were still even contract.
The latest batch? Significantly more head scratching, and mostly for the inclusion of one Braun Strowman. He is a home-grown WWE talent who has been a consistant part of the main-event scenes, a former Universal Champion, and, encase you had not noticed, stupendouly tall. Braun was good fun to watch, and always did everything WWE wanted from him. Surely he was everything Vince McMahon wanted? Well, yes, and that is what many are saying was the problem.
So desperate to keep him in the company, Strowman was offered a 1.2 million dollar a year deal all the way up to 2023. Did he get the Good Brothers treatment? Cut because his deal was too sweet? What sort of lesson is this? Do not work to try to improve your conditions too much, lest you become too expensive? I do not understand this company sometimes.
Oh, and one more thing. WWE does realise that they have just gutted their women’s tag division too, right?
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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