Hello and welcome to the WrestleTalk News! I’m Oli Davis.
WWE Cancels Talking Smack There’s an old public relations trick of
releasing bad news last thing on a Friday. That way, the initial outrage is somewhat
quelled by everyone going off for the weekend. Which is probably why, exactly a week after
WWE released Austin Aries late on Friday 7th July, the company used the same timing trick
to announce they’re cancelling the beloved weekly Smackdown post-show Talking Smack:
“We continuously review WWE Network’s programming line-up based on a variety of
factors, including viewership and subscriber research. Talking Smack and Raw Talk will
air following pay-per-view events, and Tuesday will continue to feature 205 Live.”
It’s fine, everyone. We’ve lost Talking Smack. But at least 205 Live is ok.
Unfortunately, in waiting until the last moment on Friday to drop the news, WWE appear to
also have not told the very people who work on the show.
“Hmmmm that's one way to get news.” Host Renee Young tweeted on hearing her programme
had been axed, then retweeting a gif of her angrily throwing a present behind her from
the infamous Bad Santa episode of the show and favouriting a fan’s tweet about WWE
“jerking [her] around a LOT this year.” An hour later, Young finished with a more
politically savvy - albeit still frustrated - post:
“Really disappointed about #TalkingSmack. We tried to make that show great. Guess I'll
go back to welcoming my guest at this time.” Co-host Daniel Bryan, however, just decided
to be angry: “I come online to support #SamiForSyria
and find this out. I'm the GM!!! Nobody tells me anything!!!”
Wait...wait a second. Did Daniel Bryan just give an f-word? Have we got the counter? We
need the counter ready. Last time we checked in with the How Many F**** Does Daniel Bryan
counter, it was at -1. But that sounded to me like did give an f-word! It’s back to
zero! Bryan actually gave one! He actually gave a f***-
Even Young and Bryan’s constant foil The Miz semi-broke character for the news, as
the realistic, unscripted show played a big part in getting over his brand split career
resurgence. “RIP #TalkingSmack I enjoyed the freedom
this show gave @wwe talent to showcase what they could do @ReneeYoungWWE brought the best
out of all” In response to Talking Smack’s cancellation,
sometimes-WWE-Creative-Consultant Max Landis has started an online petition to ‘Bring
Back Talking Smack’. Catchy. But if Sports Illustrated is to be believed,
Vince McMahon has already made up his mind. While Talking Smack’s ratings on the Network
weren’t that strong, the article reports the show wasn’t cancelled because of a lack
of viewers - as WWE’s press release claims - but because “McMahon was unhappy with
the show and strongly believed it did not serve the company’s best interests...”
and “...The unscripted nature of the show ultimately played a role in its removal.”.
Although Vince “is just not as physically present as he once was” and his backstage
appearances at WWE’s weekly TV shows “is becoming increasingly irregular”, he “...remains
the singular voice of the company” - still micromanaging key details on both Raw and
Smackdown. It appears last Tuesday was Talking Smack’s
last weekly episode, with WWE’s statement saying the programme will now only run after
pay-per-views. But even that, it seems, is in jeopardy, with Sports Illustrated adding:
“the long-term plan, per McMahon, is to eradicate the program.”
You know what else Vince McMahon wants you to forget? That time he made Trish Stratus
strip and bark like a dog. And how should WWE book a Bayley heel turn. Click the videos
to the left to find out more, press subscribe and support WrestleTalk on Patreon.
I’ve been Oli Davis, and that was wrestling.