Author: James Martinez

Follow on Twitter @cheapopculture.
A Winner is You

Zangief

James Martinez

IMG_2152Height: 7′
Weight: 256 lbs.
Hometown: Russia
Finisher: Final Atomic Buster
Video Game: Street Fighter series & Marvel vs. Capcom series

Often perceived as a villain, in particularly the few films he’s made appearances in, the “Red Cyclone” is actually considered to be “good natured, with a great sense of humor, and totally fearless.” according to the Capcom Wiki page of Street Fighter II: Special Championship Edition. The grappling Ruskie is also considered to be the first fighting video game character who relies on a rasslin’ moveset. So you can thank this man for your Kings, Wolf Hawkfields, and Big Bear/Raidens.

Continue reading “Zangief” →

What the World is Watching

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

James Martinez
 ItsAlwaysSunnyLogo“The Gang Wrestles for the Troops”
Season 5, Episode 7
10/29/2009
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has been able to consistently find unique ways to have their group of drunken underachieving sociopaths exploit topics from the mundane to the taboo. Pro wrestling falls somewhere in between those two. Okay, maybe it’s not taboo (at least not since the Attitude Era) but when you mix in a healthy dose of jingoism and xenophobia you’re bound to rub some people the wrong way. Even Rusev and Lana’s schtick has made it into the mainstream news coverage. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia not only skewered the forever trite storyline of good vs. evil in the form of warlike foreign policy, but also lampooned the depressing, all-too-real, downward spiral most pro wrestlers’ lives take when they’re no longer headlining sold-out arenas.

Continue reading “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” →

What the World is Watching

Trailer Park Boys

James Martinez

trailer-park-boys“The Green Bastard”
Season 4 Episode 4
5/2/2004

The Trailer Park Boys is a documentary style sitcom much like The Office and Parks and Recreation. It’s also a sitcom about white trash. More specifically, Canadian white trailer trash. And in the grand tradition of white trash sitcoms, like Married with Children and The Beverly Hillbillies, Trailer Park Boys has an episode that involves pro wrestling. Actually, it’s backyard wrestling. But still, it counts. Plus, it gave us one of the best gimmicks in all of sitcom professional wrestling: The Green Bastard!

Continue reading “Trailer Park Boys” →

10 Count!

Wrestling-Themed Sitcom Episodes

James Martinez

raw_80s_open_effect02With the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards airing tonight, it’s only fitting that I take a look at the ten best wrestling-themed sitcom episodes in TV history. As in situational comedy. No one-hour dramas or animated shows. None of which feature Hulk Hogan surprisingly enough.

Continue reading “Wrestling-Themed Sitcom Episodes” →

Paid for by the Following

Paid for by the Following: Juicy Drop

James Martinez

IMG_2017In case you forgot, Juicy Drop was the official sponsor of the WWE pay-per-view/Network special Extreme Rules 2014. Apparently this candy has been around for quite a while which I was not aware of. Before luchadores, skaters were shilling the candy. Guess it was time for a reboot. I’m not quite sure why a wrestler, let alone a luchador, would be the right type of spokesperson for a candy commercial. They at least could’ve gone for an actual wrestler, as opposed to a fake luchador, but I guess hiring an actual wrestler would’ve cost more. This is Juicy Drop after all, it’s not like they have that sweet Post Fruity/Cocoa Pebbles money.

Continue reading “Paid for by the Following: Juicy Drop” →

It's Clobberin' Time!

What Pro Wrestling and Comic Books Have in Common

James Martinez

WarriorComicWhile not necessarily a post regarding a certain wrestling-themed comic book series or character, our friends (although they don’t know it yet) over at http://www.comicbook.com broke down the 10 things comic books and pro wrestling have in common.

Continue reading “What Pro Wrestling and Comic Books Have in Common” →

Art of Gimmickry

The Ultimate Bad Ass Wrestler

James Martinez

brock_cena_title_win_imageWith Brock Lesnar having dominated John Cena at SummerSlam 2014 in a way nobody has ever done, and in a championship match no less, it’s only fitting The Art of Gimmickry explores the bad ass character. It’s safe to say that the idea or gimmick came about during the late 90’s, specifically around the Attitude Era. But not because of guys like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, who was more of an anti-hero than a one-man wrecking machine. What really helped inform the creation of the bad ass gimmick was the rise of the UFC.

Continue reading “The Ultimate Bad Ass Wrestler” →

What the World is Watching

Merrie Melodies

James Martinez

IMG_1952“Bunny Hugged”
3/10/1951

Pro wrestling seems to be good fodder for cartoons. It’s already outlandish and slapstick as it is. Wrestling is built on magnifying everything related to the real world to a ridiculously excessive interpretation. Within the boundaries, or lack thereof, of the animated world that ridiculous interpretation is further heightened to even more preposterous levels of absurdity. This is exactly why every cartoon should have at least one wrestling-themed episode. Wrestling and cartoons go hand in hand. They’re the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups of the entertainment medium.

Continue reading “Merrie Melodies” →

10 Count!

Comedians Who Are Legit Wrestling Fans

James Martinez

NWA20090809Wrestling fans love to know about celebrities who actually enjoy watching wrestling. It makes them more like us! However, we don’t care for the ones that were somehow coerced into being at a WWE event, despite getting awesome front-row seats, for the sole purpose of reminding non-wrestling fans how mainstream and culturally relevant WWE is. Nor do we care for the ones that are guest hosting Raw for the simple reason of pimping out their latest movie/show. No, we like the ones that actually watch on their own accord and are fans of the product. Whether they’ve just gotten on the bandwagon or have been fans for years. It’s even better when those fans happen to be comedians. Especially, when you consider the several parallels between the lives of professional wrestlers and stand-up comedians. Plus, it helps to have a sense of humor and a healthy dose of self-hatred when watching wrestling. Which is why it makes sense that comedians would be legit wrestling fans. And here’s a PWI 500-ish ranking of them.

Continue reading “Comedians Who Are Legit Wrestling Fans” →

What the World is Watching

Quantum Leap

James Martinez

QuantumLeapLogo“Heart of a Champion – July 23, 1955”
Season 3 Episode 20
5/8/1991

Watching the opening title credits for Quantum Leap made me nostalgic for 80’s and 90’s cheesy TV opening credit sequences. I’m sure I’m not the only one who pines for the days of edited footage from previous episodes with terrible music and actors turning at the right time just as their name is displayed across the screen. Why else would WWE.com decide to reimagine Raw as a 90’s sitcom? Other than that bit of nostalgia, I don’t know much about Quantum Leap other than it used to be on after Monday Night Raw back in the day. Having watched this particular episode I kind of want to binge on the entire series courtesy of Hulu Plus. Then again, I’m sure the other episodes cannot compete with Scott Bakula time traveling to 1950s professional wrestling as a kayfabe Russian heel.

Continue reading “Quantum Leap” →