Talking Smack decides to #ThinkBig!

This really is a big episode. In fact, it could be called the biggEST episode of Talking Smack, with Big E, Bianca Belair, and even ADAM PEARCE as guests!

Kayla Braxton welcomes us to the show!

Fresh from the Royal Rumble and now on the Road to WrestleMania, SmackDown was nothing short of eventful! We heard from and saw the Women’s Royal Rumble winner, Bianca Belair, then Big E retain his Intercontinental Championship. But the big story right now, and something Paul Heyman will have something to say about, SmackDown ended with Roman Reigns confronting Edge, only for Kevin Owens to make a surprising return! Has Heyman had a chance to speak with Roman since then? Heyman’s conversations with the Tribal Chief are privileged information. For Kayla to ask about them is rather imposing.

The question she should be asking as a journalist is, “How does Heyman as Special Counsel to the Reigns-ing, Defending, Undisputed, Uncontroverted Universal Champion feel, now that everyone is eyeballing Roman Reigns?” Heyman tells us that everyone is watching Roman as well they should be. Edge goes to Monday Night Raw, Wednesday Night NXT and finally then Friday Night SmackDown because he is playing games with the Tribal Chief. Those games won’t work, because the winner of the Royal Rumble match is promised to main event WrestleMania.

Roman is a four-time WrestleMania main-eventer, advertised for five, and showed everyone who is in charge around here just last year. The main event this year will be THE champion, THE main event, THE top box office attraction in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment: Roman Reigns. The fact Kevin Owens screwed the fans out of Edge’s answer means two things. First, and mark Heyman’s words, no more chances for Kevin. Kevin can go to Raw or look at another title because he’s not getting at Roman again.

And second, Edge’s answer is obvious. Unless WWE is guilty of false advertising, Edge’s answer HAS to be Roman Reigns, or it’s just a co-main-event or whatever. Because the main event IS Roman Reigns. Kayla says Adam Pearce will be a guest, too, maybe he can speak to this. But first, the Intercontinental Champion is here!

Big E joins Talking Smack!

The champion is fired up as he sits and says he is a rare breed. A lot of humility and what not, but name someone who can make you laugh the way he makes you laugh. Or someone who can give you hard hitting matches, physicality, strength, power, speed and explosiveness. He isn’t here as an “indie darling,” he came from the mud, the ground up. He went into FCW, signed by WWE, with zero experience, but look at him now. Heyman says those high kicks were great. Yes, flexibility! That leg can go wherever you want it. Don’t get nasty now. Heyman tried something like that once and hurt his groin. Well sorry about that.

And look, side plates! Shout out to Jonathan Davenport for designing these. Heyman congratulates Big E on his win and Kayla says that was perhaps one of the bigger hurdles he’s had to overcome. Two opponents, Triple Threat, was Big E worried? Kayla, you too much! Big E doesn’t worry. How many times is he going to be facing Sami and/or Apollo? They pushed him, yes, and he’ll do it all over again with another person, Fatal 4 Way. Kofi Kingston gave Big E his blessing to be do this, but Big E isn’t just here to be here. Big E is going to establish a legacy. This isn’t the “I Made It” moment, this is the beginning of something great.

Big E put 8 years of greatness in already, but this is building on that. So when it comes to Apollo Crews, Big E mentioned the respect for him. But what about Sami Zayn’s constant claims of conspiracy and such? Is Big E taking this serious? Big E surely wants to be champion come WrestleMania, so who does he see as a challenger? Big E doesn’t worry about that ‘Outside noise.” Big E can just close the door! Good, strong, soundproof doors. Big E sits back, relaxes and watches Doom Patrol on Netflix. Kayla says Heyman has been a supporter of Big E, has given him advice, so what is his assessment at this point?

Well, Heyman told Big E before, and Big E has taken that counsel and used it to his advantage. Big E got by Apollo, just as Heyman knew he would. Big E is pretty sure Heyman was telling Apollo things, too. Heyman explains that a champion is only as great as the challengers he defeats. Apollo is a bonafide challenger. Big E is a rare breed, winning his title on the first try. Apollo couldn’t because he was against Big E, and kudos to Big E. But, there’s always a “but,” Heyman knows Big E is the Powerhouse of Positivity so he won’t be the “Nincompoop of Negativity” here, but… As the Intercontinental Champion, Big E has a chance to be part of WrestleMania. But he won’t be the main event.

“Now, solidifying a legendary title reign can get you to a position for WrestleMania next year, the main event for the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns. And that’s what that championship should be to you.” It should be a sign that Big E is a great champion worthy of the main event, and the fact that he isn’t main-eventing this year should piss him off. Doesn’t it? Big E says it doesn’t, actually. It motivates him, because everything Big E has done, as great as that was, it will all pale in comparison to what Big E will do this year. So Big E will see Roman Reigns in the main event in 2022, if he still has the title then.

Big E takes his leave, and Heyman is offended Big E suggested Roman will not have the title. Roman will have the title for as long as Roman wants it. But also, take your mic with your! This is so annoying! It’s so simple, and disrespectful to Kayla! Heyman apologizes for Big E’s rudeness. But moving on from big to perhaps the biggEST moment, it’s the Women’s Royal Rumble match winner!

Bianca Belair joins Talking Smack!

She’s back again! She might as well be the guest every week. Kayla has talked with Bianca a lot this week, but still, how does Bianca feel? The same! It finally hit Bianca earlier when she pointed to the WrestleMania sign, a moment she always wanted. She finally stopped crying, don’t make her cry again, even if they are happy tears. But she’s on top of the world, so happy, this momentum is amazing. They also talked on Friday, no decision on who she’d face for WrestleMania, but what is she waiting for? Well she asked this earlier, everyone asks! Bianca says this is the biggest decision, both champions are amazing, she just can’t decide yet. She will, just not today. She wanted to make a moment for Talking Smack, but not this week.

Kayla says seeing Bianca walking around, she sees that new sense of confidence. Heyman surely sees it, he is a big believer in EST. He’d be stupid if he wasn’t. This IS her moment, so congratulations. Bianca had a truly wonderful performance in the Royal Rumble. She has the perfect strategy, and it’s obvious because Edge is copying her! But here it is, at such a young age, and Bianca has a Mania Moment. So let everyone wait until she is ready. Bianca came into the WWE as an unknown, dominated every opponent in the ring, and moves up to “the main roster,” as they call it, and then what? Mops the floor with everyone. Why? Because she is the EST, the B EST in the WWE!

So it doesn’t matter who she chooses, Heyman knows Bianca, on the biggest event of the year, goes in a challenger and comes out a champion. That isn’t a prediction, that’s a spoiler. And then, Bianca will have a chance at such a young age to not only create a legacy, but to be what we look back on in decades from now, as the legend of Bianca Belair. Heyman says there is no one on her level, and is looking forward to her holding a title high up in the air as she begins a journey into legendary status. It is his honor to see it happen. Savor every moment, because she’ll look back and see this was the moment it all started.

Bianca thanks him for this talk, because how can she follow it up? Follow it up by taking the mic, unlike Big E. Bianca agrees and heads out. And lastly, perhaps some insider information from SCRAP DADDY!

Adam Pearce joins Talking Smack!

But he doesn’t look very happy about it… Kayla says this is the Road to WrestleMania, and Pearce has a lots of knowledge about the in’s and out’s, but then Heyman turns to Pearce and promises him Roman isn’t here. And Jey Uso isn’t here, either. Kayla doesn’t like Heyman so she won’t do anything. Anything Pearce wants to say? The floor is his. Pearce smirks and says he could ask Heyman when they’re going to have that match Heyman “challenged” him to. But he won’t ask that, because he won’t pretend this is what he wants to do. He says we can act like he had a choice to be a guest here and that he likes sitting next to Heyman.

They’ll act like Pearce has something he wants to say, but he doesn’t. The reality is, the floor isn’t his, the floor is always Heyman’s. Heyman wants to say something to Pearce, so just get to it and Pearce can leave. Heyman says Pearce is good. Really good. Best authority figure in the WWE in decades. Heyman says here’s some inside info for Pearce: “If you’re not fired by next Tuesday or Wednesday, then Roman Reigns and I will have the distinct honor and pleasure of watching you get fired live next Friday on SmackDown.”

Pearce may think that’s hyperbole, or that it’s a bluff, but Heyman puts it this way: “Edge, under your watch, is pulling everybody’s strings. The tail is wagging the dog. And Edge, manipulating this situation, so that everyone has to wait for him to make his answer, to make his decision, is putting you on a direct path to the unemployment line. WWE moves forward without anybody standing in it’s ways.” Bruno Sammartino Era, WWE moved forward. Hulk Hogan Era, WWE moved forward. The Rock, Steve Austin, Attitude Era, WWE moved forward. John Cena Era, or even the Brock Lesnar Era in Heyman’s mind, another subject for another day, but WWE moved forward.

Vince McMahon Sr. sat in the chair for many years, and WWE moved forward. Vincent Kennedy McMahon is the head now of this multi-BILLION dollar global conglomerate, and when the day comes, even without Vince McMahon, this company will move forward. But we’re all supposed to wait on Edge? Under Pearce’s watch? WWE waits for no one. Elimination Chamber is coming. Has Pearce even considered a main event for Raw at that PPV? The moment Edge did NOT give an answer to Drew McIntyre, Pearce should’ve named a main event for Raw at the Chamber to determine Drew McIntyre’s opponent.

This isn’t just Heyman talking. The board of directors want to advertise, promote, etc, but they can’t because of Edge. Edge put Pearce in a compromising position not just with the fans, but the Chairman, Vince McMahon, who Heyman has known for 40 years! And Heyman doesn’t even need to say “Mr. McMahon,” he can just call him Vince. Who else can say that? Vince wants an answer. Heyman isn’t confirming or denying if he’s talked with Vince, but it’d be at the behest of the Tribal Chief, who doesn’t like Pearce at all. Everyone wants an answer and Pearce isn’t giving us that.

Heyman knows Pearce will be on Raw, and he will have no choice but to announce a main event for Elimination Chamber, for McIntyre’s opponent as Raw’s match for the PPV. Because otherwise, Pearce will be in a position to either head for a major advertising campaign for Elimination Chamber, or straight to the unemployment line. Heyman thinks Pearce is doing a great job, but what about the board of directors and the WWE Universe? WWE will move on without Pearce. Sonya Deville has a “mad crush” on Heyman, and would love to be in the position to make all the decisions once Pearce is gone.

The next move is Pearce’s, so make it wisely for the family, the board of directors, and most importantly, the fans who pay the bills. Make a main event, or pack your bags. Talking Smack ends with Pearce soaking that all in. What will his decision be come Monday?

My Thoughts:

Wow, this was definitely a great episode of Talking Smack. Heyman was another strong presence, but he continues to be excellent so whatever. He had another great segment with Big E, and Big E’s counter was great. Roman Reigns is great but there’s no guarantee he’ll be the champion this time in 2022. No one knows what’ll be anything, just look at the year we got through. Bianca’s segment was short but it’s fine, she would’ve just been recycling everything she’s said this whole week. Heyman was great there, that was probably genuine commentary on her career, because it is true. She’s young, started with NXT, and has already reached a top level.

And then it was amazing with Pearce and Heyman. The way Heyman is posing it, is this giving away that BOTH Rumble Winners are going SmackDown? Heyman is making it like there is no other option, even though there should be, so this is really intriguing stuff. I really do hope it goes the other way, just to stick it to Heyman and Roman.