#JustKeepFighting, Talking Smack!

After a brutal Last Man Standing on Friday night, somehow, some way, Kevin Owens is here for Talking Smack! What will he say about going to MITB?

Kayla Braxton welcomes us, and Pat McAfee, back to the show!

Just over two weeks away from Money in the Bank and Fridays are just getting wilder! Kayla is again honored to have Pat here and Pat is happy to be on The Talking of the Smack. This is also a holiday weekend so Pat is pumped to start it off right. It is the greatest show on The Peacock. Pat being on here brings it down in his own opinion but he loves being here. And speaking of MITB, this makes it the second-to-last week in the ThunderDome! WWE is heading on the road soon, and that itself is a first for Pat. Pat doesn’t think the ThunderDome has gotten enough credit. He came in at the middle, but it is spectacular. Hate to see it go but it’s going to be great to have fans again.

Kayla wants to talk MITB. Last week, the big return of Edge brings a big rematch with Roman Reigns. We saw Edge go after Roman last week, and we saw Edge go after Jimmy Uso last night. Where was Roman last night? Pat and Michael Cole were talking about that, and then Pat was talking with Kayla about this before this. Yeah, where was Roman? Roman could’ve saved the day but Edge “edge-ucated” Jimmy. Not just beat him up, SPEARED him down! That’s the move that made him a Hall of Famer! But then using a piece of a chair to make Jimmy suffer and tap out! Pat points out how Edge had a picture of Roman’s face from WrestleMania, Jimmy looked a lot like him.

For a supposed family man, Roman sure didn’t step up for his family here. Kayla has had a problem with Roman’s treatment of the Usos the entire time. Pat is very confident that the man who usually sits here, Paul Heyman, would have a wonderfully worded way of saying this, but Roman has looked out for the family. Tonight was one thing, but Roman is the top dog, the Tribal Chief, the Head of the Table, the face of SmackDown, and SmackDown’s the number one show in sports entertainment. Roman’s at the top, now his cousins are in the same stage. Okay, tonight, Jimmy ate metal. But overall, Roman has done a lot. Kayla wonders if the next cohost will be less biased.

Anyway, moving on, bad things happen in threes, and they sure did for Baron Corbin. His music, his match, and his car. Kayla has never seen Corbin like this, and has never pitied him until now. Pat says the fall from penthouse to outhouse is real, but didn’t think it’d be this quick. Look at Corbin! The scruff, the car being taken, and apparently a loss in investments. How much do those “G Wagons” go for? Oh about $200,000 or so. Especially the one Corbin had. Then the loss was just insult to injury. Next week, Corbin has a MITB qualifying match with Shinsuke Nakamura, the man who took his crown, but he might’ve already hit rock bottom. But there’s only up from here.

Is the glass half full or half empty? Pat appreciates Kayla trying to be optimistic with saying it’s half full, but when you get a smaller cup, that thing gets filled. But Corbin is in trouble: no G Wagon, no crown, no… nothing! He’s got nothing! Maybe he can crawl out of the hole. But you can’t be like that for long in WWE or you’ll get run out of here. Moving on to Otis, he has a new look and he looks mean! Kayla is still surprised that Otis is no longer that big teddy bear. Otis crushed Angelo Dawkins after destroying him last week, and he took out Montez Ford, too.

Heavy Machinery, steaks ‘n’ weights, laughing and having a good time, that was all fine. But Chad Gable has made Otis into an absolutely barbaric savage! He isn’t just the Street Profits’ problem, he’s gonna be everyone’s problem. HUGE head, too. Otis cut the pony tail, shaved the beard, his head looks HUGE. A jug! A round mound o’ muscle, angry, flying around! The Alpha Academy is a problem. Well speaking of big, a big return from one Zelina Vega last night, and she’ll be one of the guests tonight, alongside Bayley and Kevin Owens!

Bayley joins Talking Smack!

The Role Model, the first-ever Women’s Grand Slam winner, Ding Dong Hello Bayley! Thank you for that introduction, but Bayley is a little annoyed at Kayla. Before the break, listing off the guests, Kayla was kinda like, “And also Bayley.” Kayla thought she put her over pretty well. Well, next time, let Pat take it. Pat says he’s just lucky to be here. But hey! Bayley has another championship match coming up. And not just a normal match, either. It will be an I QUIT Match! It was interesting to hear Bayley say that if she is forced to say “I quit,” she might just quit competing completely. As in, just wrestling or any competitive anything? Like, even cornholing.

Bayley says it is that ridiculous to think Bianca Belair can make Bayley say those words. Bianca got lucky once with the cheating, then again with the ladder and all that. But there is no possible way Bayley will sit there and say those words. Bianca is an idiot for choosing this match, and Bayley is such a genius for getting inside the head of a champion, someone who should have a different mindset and be on a different level than everyone else. Bianca doesn’t get that Bayley is 10 THOUSAND steps ahead! Since like 1902! But Kayla is pretty sure the end of that moment was Bianca getting in Bayley’s head.

Yes, Pat does note that Bianca said that. Bayley has accomplished just about everything, winning and winning and winning, but Bianca is legitimately taking over. Is Bayley envying Bianca? That’s what people are saying. Pat is not biased. But what would Bayley have to do to make Bianca quit? Because it doesn’t seem like Bianca’s ever going to stop. She’s the EST. Yes, she is at the top of her game and is the champion, but it isn’t Bayley’s fault that Bianca became champ. The only time Bayley would’ve said “I Quit” was the night Bianca won, because the idea of her having the title sickens her.

Bayley was just thrown off last night because she didn’t think Bianca would do this. After having their Hell in a Cell match in the Cell, Bayley didn’t realize Bianca knew what an I Quit match was. But if this is what Bianca wants, then Bianca will eat her words while Bayley takes the title. Pat asks what happens if you merely mutter the words. Is Michael in his ear? No! Bayley gave Pat a quick shoutout and this is how he treats her? Well it’s his job to say names so… But there is a lot on the line. The title, the prestige, and it’ll get ugly! “I Quit” are powerful words put together. Bayley says this isn’t a match she ever thought she’d have, or ask anyone to have, because she wants a fair fight.

Bayley would say she’s beaten Bianca twice, which no one else has. Bianca cheated once to win, used weapons in the next one. Kayla says it isn’t really cheating. No, it’s not, but she still needed something to help her win. You go in a Cell, Kayla! Bayley’s been asking for a match since 1901! Long time! Try Michael Cole first. But Bayley says an I Quit is intimidating. So imagine how Bianca feels going into this! It intimidates Bayley, but Bayley’s been ready for everything thrown at her in her career since day ONE! Bayley is ready, Bianca is done! It doesn’t matter what title Bianca holds, it’s coming home to Bayley, and it’ll be for the live friends! Bayley’s dad lives in Dallas, Bayley can win in front of him and then give him a hug!

Kayla thanks Bayley for her time, and Bayley thanks Pat. High-five as Bayley heads out, and Kayla has to mentally prepare for Zelina Vega next.

Zelina Vega joins Talking Smack!

La Muneca is back on SmackDown to Kayla’s “utter joy.” Vega says Kayla knows she wanted Vega back. Kayla can’t believe no one let her know Vega was back and then no one let her know Vega was going to be on this show. Oh, nO oNe ToLd KaYlA~! Yeah, right. Do you see Vega’s hair? This is excellence. Pat says hi and likes her comeback, being put right into the MITB match. He isn’t sure what this tension is with her and Kayla but alright. Vega says it is irrelevant, it’s all fine. MITB here, though. Concentrate on Vega. Kayla will be professional. Vega made a shocking return, she hadn’t been in a match yet this year but she got to be the second SmackDown entry in the Women’s MITB.

Vega says thank you, she is just that good. She doesn’t need to, she just is. Liv Morgan slapped Vega pretty hard though, right? And then Liv won, right? What was Vega’s thoughts? Pow! Slow-mo! Liv tried to smack the jaw off Vega’s face. Vega says she tried to do the same later, and Kayla can get that, too, if she doesn’t watch it. Second, Liv caught Vega off-guard. Vega’s from Queens, it’s fine. Vega will take that slap, but when you need to have handfuls of tights to win, does that make you credible? Pat isn’t sure what Kayla will say but it’ll surely be snarky. But didn’t Vega try to do it, too? Vega got caught, Liv didn’t, what’s that about? Yeah, right?

Vega says the ref is biased. Pat gets it. Yeah the footage shows it. Liv is a new Liv since a little while ago, what comes around goes around. Did that impress Vega? No, it didn’t. Unfortunately, Vega’s known Liv for some time now. But Vega’s been doing this a lot longer, so just because Liv gets some new tricks, all the things the kids want to do, that’s fine. But MITB has Vega in the match, not Liv. So talk about those who matter. The graphic comes up and Kayla points out the others: Nikki “Almost Super Hero” Cross, Naomi, Asuka, Alexa Bliss, and Carmella. Anyone here a threat to Vega? Vega isn’t saying she has bad vision, but she doesn’t see competition in that field.

Wow, real recognizes real and these all look unfamiliar. Well if Vega does win- Uh, when she wins. Well, when it comes to titles, does Vega have her eyes on any particular one? Hmm… Vega has unfinished business with Bianca. If Bianca is still champ. Vega isn’t fond of Bayley, either, but whoever has the blue belt is her first target. Well she did mention Raw and NXT, too. Yeah, she’s good with getting them all. Vega is better than everyone and that’s why she’s back, “Kaylynn” or whatever. And why she looks better in red, too. Kayla wishes Vega luck but Vega says she doesn’t need it. Pat says not to wish her luck, Kaylynn!

Kevin Owens joins Talking Smack!

After defeating long time nemesis, Sami Zayn, KO is in MITB! Pat shakes Kevin’s hand and isn’t even sure how Kevin is still moving! That Last Man Standing was unbelievable! Kevin says he and Sami do that a lot to each other, but Kevin wonders why Pat is here. Kayla says, “They switch cohosts up on me on this show like…” Well where’s Heyman? Well after seeing what Edge did to Roma and Jimmy the last couple of weeks, it makes sense. Pat is pretty sure it’s something about being the Special Counsel and the family issues. Pat just gets to be here to sit next to greatness so it is an honor to be here. That was good, right? Almost Heyman like. Yeah, almost as full of s*** as him.

Whoa now, can’t say that on Peacock! Kevin says he has something to say to Heyman so he’ll call him. Wow, alright. But Heyman is probably in the middle of something. Kevin doesn’t care. Well, Jimmy did eat a chair so… Kevin says it is unfortunate Jimmy went that way. Kevin had high hopes Jimmy wouldn’t follow in Jey’s dumbass footsteps and be another one of Roman’s bitches, but… Kayla agrees there, at least. Pat can’t believe the words right now. Is Kevin going to FaceTime Heyman? No, no. Kevin doesn’t want to see Heyman, he’ll just call. Kevin will hide his number or else Heyman will just shut him down.

Oh yeah, *67 that stuff. Kayley did that all the time, she loved doing prank phone calls in middle school. Pat says he knows nothing about that as he was an honorable young man. Kevin puts it on speaker for us, and everyone hushes. Heyman answers and Kevin says hi, and don’t hang up. Just listen. That’s hard, Kevin knows, but this will only take a minute. Kevin reminds Heyman about an episode of Talking Smack a month or so ago, when Kevin came on and told Heyman that he was going after the MITB contract. Last night, Kevin qualified for the match. Kevin wants Heyman to know, he’s excited to say this but Heyman isn’t here.

Kevin promises to win the MITB contract. Make sure Roman knows that when Kevin does, Kevin is coming for him, and there is not a DAMN THING Roman can do about it. Heyman claims Kevin has the wrong number then hangs up. Pat can’t help but laugh, but he says he’s laughing with Kevin, not at him. Kevin says that’s alright. He’ll get the contract, beat Roman’s ass then be the one laughing in the end. Kevin heads out and Pat asks Kayla if Kevin was mad at him. No, he wasn’t. Well Kevin had a great performance last night, is going hard into MITB, Pat is pumped for it! Kayla wishes us a Happy Fourth of July and hopes to see us for both MITB and next week’s episode!

My Thoughts:

Another good Talking Smack, and with Pat McAfee as cohost. Pat had a good segment talking about Corbin and Otis, and he has good points about both. Corbin might keep getting dumped on, and Otis might keep demolishing people. Bayley had a good segment, but she sure seems out there with her metaphors, like “since 1902” when no one here was even alive. But I do like there was a bit of retrospection with taking on her first I Quit match, but also kinda saying this is on Sasha Banks for losing at WrestleMania without saying Sasha’s name. Being an I Quit Match, Bianca VS Bayley could go either way, and could definitely be the match for a same-night cash-in.

Vega had a good segment, too, and it’s actually smart they don’t make as big of a deal about Vega being back because all of those issues that were behind her release aren’t important in kayfabe. But I do appreciate they acknowledged Vega bringing up targeting NXT just as much as Raw or SmackDown, and that she said that at all last night. One of these days, NXT needs to be included in the MITB matches. Things would get really interesting then, and really help all brands (mostly Raw) if for an entire year, we could see an NXT star use a cash-in as their call-up, or a RawDown star use a cash-in to move and refresh themselves in NXT.

Kevin’s segment was great for being so short. I like that he was hoping Heyman would be there, and then him calling Heyman to keep up the continuity that he wants to use the cash-in to finally get even with Roman. Even Heyman was strong between last night and Talking Smack, even though he barely said anything compared to his usual pompous and profuse pontificating. But as I said in the SmackDown article, this could be setting Kevin on a longer path. We all think he’ll win but then he doesn’t, and perhaps has to fight his way up, maybe even win the Royal Rumble in 2022.