Author: James Martinez

Follow on Twitter @cheapopculture.
What the World is Watching

Baywatch

James Martinez

Baywatch-Logo“Bash at the Beach”
Season 6, Episode 15
2/19/1996

Some people stand in the darkness. Afraid to step into the light. Some people need to help somebody, when the edge of surrender’s in sight. When it comes crashing down and it hurts inside, you gotta take a stand it don’t help to hide. I am a real American. Forever and always, I’m always here.

Just as I was able to seamlessly mash up “Real American” and “I’m Always Here”, so were the producers of Baywatch who brought together two of the most popular, half naked, blondes of the 90’s.

Continue reading “Baywatch” →

10 Count!

Macho Moments in Pop Culture

James Martinez
IMG_6032It’s been five years since the wrestling world lost the “Macho Man” Randy Savage. But while today most wrestling sites will celebrate his in-ring career highlights, let’s not forget that the world of pop culture also lost the Macho Man. Whether he’s still being remembered by Tumblrs showcasing him beating pop culture’s greatest bad asses, or in video games which contain a Macho Man-esque alternate outfit, or a modified dragon, it’s time we celebrate Randy Savage’s greatest contributions to pop culture. Mandatory “Oh yeah!” here.

Continue reading “Macho Moments in Pop Culture” →

Create-A-Wrestler

Thunderlips

James Martinez

ThunderlipsMedium: Film
Title: Rocky III
Bio: “The Ultimate Male” is also the ultimate performer. Despite being a world champion wrestler, he was all for boxer vs. wrestler charity events. He also didn’t mind breaking kayfabe immediately after a match and posing for a photo with his opponent.
Signature Move: Exposing the business.

10 Count!

Kyle’s Wrestling T-Shirts on Maron

James Martinez

IMG_5589

Season four of IFC’s Maron premieres tomorrow, and since I haven’t gotten around to reviewing the episode that features “MMA fighter” CM Punk and Colt Cabana, I figured I’d just list the ten best wrestling t-shirts that Marc’s assistant, Kyle, has worn over the past three seasons. By the way, is actor Josh Brener an actual wrestling fan? Has he been spotted at PWG shows? Can he start sporting wrestling tees on Silicon Valley, as well? Anyway…

Continue reading “Kyle’s Wrestling T-Shirts on Maron” →

Create-A-Wrestler

El Rey

James Martinez

Screen Shot 2015-05-29 at 11.41.04 PMMedium: Animation
Title: Viva Lucha
Bio: A once decorated champion luchador, El Rey has since moved on from the squared circle to the tiny confines of an office cubicle. Faced with his greatest rival yet, a malfunctioning copier.
Signature Move: Processing TPS reports.

Create-A-Wrestler

Sakura Hagiwara

James Martinez

Sakura Hagiwara - Wanna Be the StrongestMedium: Anime
Title: Wanna be the Strongest in the World
Bio: The former lead vocalist for pop group, Sweet Divas, is determined to prove that she is the strongest in the world by consistently losing every wrestling match, but showing lots of heart. Eventually, she’s able to string together a few notable wins here and there.
Signature Move: Sakura Special

Create-A-Wrestler

The Masked Mabels

James Martinez

Mamas Family 2 - Masked Mabels

Medium: Television
Title: Mama’s Family 
Bio: The Masked Mabels were once the most dominant tag team in the women’s wrestling division. Despite their size and years of wrestling experience, they were easily defeated by a wrestling grannie on the biggest show in the history of Raytown.
Signature Move: Jobbing to an older lady who has never wrestled.

10 Count!

Game of Thrones Wrestling Characters

James Martinez

Game of Thrones Logo

With season six of Game of Thrones premiering this Sunday, I figured I’d do a non “Game of Thrones Characters and their WWE Soulmates” list that Sports Illustrated’s Extra Mustard already did, and was then done by WhatCulture a year later. There are more connections between WWE and Game of Thrones than just hypothetical soulmates. Like Samoa Joe voicing The Beast in the video game version. Or the fact that the actor who played The Mountain, Hafthór Júlíus Björnsson, showed up at an NXT show and… well, that’s all that happened.

But what about those crazy wrestling gimmicks that would actually fit within the Games of Thrones universe? Spoiler alert: A lot of these guys would fit in perfectly with the wildlings.

Continue reading “Game of Thrones Wrestling Characters” →

Create-A-Wrestler

The Green Bastard

James Martinez

Trailer Park Boys 1 - Green Bastard

Medium: Television
Title: Trailer Park Boys
Bio: The Green Bastard roams the Sunnyvale Trailer Park looking to take on all comers. As long as they take off their shirts. Has only had one professional backyard wrestling bout,  which was a tag team match that saw him on the losing end due to a disqualification.
Signature Move: Hammerin’ people.

Create-A-Wrestler

“The Electric” Shawn Harley

James Martinez

Supernatural-ShawnHarley

Medium: Television
Title: Supernatural
Bio: Top Notch Wrestling’s brash, young, up and comer. Complains about having to wrestle drunken wrestlers, and apparently is against jobbing to Crazy D. Rumored to have backstage heat with booker, Gunner Lawless.
Signature Move: Refusing to job.