I Listen So You Don't Have To: Cheap Heat Feb. 3

Lots of Miz talk on Cheap Heat this week Photo Credit: WWE.com

If you’re new, here’s the rundown. We listen to a handful of wrestling podcasts each week. Too many, probably, though certainly not all of them. In the interest of saving you time — in case you have the restraint to skip certain episodes — the plan is to give the bare bones of a given show and let you decide if it’s worth investing the time to hear the whole thing. There are many wrestling podcasts out there, of course, but this feature largely hews to the regular rotation we feel best fit the category of hit or miss. If we can save other folks some time, we’re happy to do so.

Show: Cheap Heat
Episode: What’s Best for Mizness (Feb. 3, 2016)
Run Time: 1:06:36
Guest: None

Summary: It’s a regular studio show for Peter Rosenberg, David Shoemaker and Stat Guy Greg. Rosenberg’s on his way to San Francisco, and after the small talk they reflect on the news of Bret Hart’s prostate cancer. Shoemaker is the only one who saw a portion of the Lucha Underground season premiere, so talk turns to AJ Styles and his interaction with Miz, speculation on the right way to do a WWE brand split, then doubling back to praise for Miz’s mic work before wandering entirely off topic. They get back on track with a look at why Dolph Ziggler and Kevin Owens work well together and suggestions before Titus O’Neil’s ring attire, then they end with another breakdown of the flaws in Roman Reigns Royal Rumble story.

Quote of the week:
Rosenberg: “Do we agree, do we think at this point he will ever truly get over as a wrestler?”
Greg: “No.” // Shoemaker: “Sure!”

Why you should listen: You might think any talk of WWE brand splitting is a long dead horse, or else irrelevant, given the recent spate of significant injuries, but the topic is given appropriate depth and as such deserves its spot in the show. If you’re finding yourself digging Miz’s work of late, you’ll definitely be bolstered by his rave reviews herein. And then there’s the Reigns Rumble stuff. If you need the deepest of dives on that topic, fire up the scuba tank, tighten the flippers and roll off the side of the boat.

Why you should skip it: This is by no means the worst example of a Cheap Heat, as Rosenberg seems genuinely engaged for the majority and the talk is almost exclusively wrestling related, but it’s still a downer after a few strong weeks. The lack of show planning is evident throughout, no topic ever seems to truly find a foothold and when the dust settles, much like on Monday’s RAW, it’s not clear anything actually happened.

Final thoughts: You won’t get mad while you listen, but you’re probably not coming out of this one feeling like it was well worth the time. If you need to check in with the guys to tick a box on your wrestling week, by all means do so — just don’t expect another great effort like we may have been spoiled with in January.