Is Seth Rollins the Savior of Talking Smack?

After qualifying for SmackDown’s Survivor Series team, both the Wolf King and Savior are here to talk some smack with Kayla Braxton… and Paul Heyman?!

Kayla Braxton welcomes us back!

She and the new cohost are here, and they shake hands. She admits she’s nervous because she’s interviewed him before but they’ve never cohosted anything. How should she address him? First, let go of his hand. Sorry. Heyman gives his own introduction as the Special Counsel to your razing, defending, undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman Reigns. And, so that they can keep Kayla on the straight and narrow, he serves the public as cohost of Talking Smack. Because Kayla, as we can all see, has been talking smack just a little too much. Right, sorry, but to go off of that from SmackDown… Kayla may have been stirring up controversy, but she didn’t mean to. Is everything okay now?

Heyman would love to have Kayla as a neighbor because of all her gossiping. She’s a journalist! Gossip. Aren’t journalists just professional gossipers? Cronkite is rolling in his grave. Kayla says Talking Smack hits the hard hitting questions. But Jey Uso beat Kevin Owens, so is Roman proud of him? She keeps painting Roman as this shark. Roman is a family man, the head of the table. Roman loves cousin Jey, they grew up together. “Everything that he’s doing is for the betterment of Jey Uso” and Jey Uso’s family. Anytime a family gets in a situation like this, one person has to make the decision. That person says where the family is going. One person drives a car, and that driver navigates the family to relevancy.

Then final question, if he can answer this. Last year, Roman was team captain for SmackDown. Will that somehow happen this year? Well he IS SmackDown’s captain, but he doesn’t need to be on the team. Roman already has his match with Randy Orton, Universal Champion VS World Champion. Roman is the single biggest superstar in all of the WWE. Kayla thanks Heyman for that, and moves on to their first guest tonight.

Carmella joins Talking Smack!

The Untouchable Princess of Staten Island feels amazing after ambushing Sasha Banks on SmackDown. Kayla is glad to see Carmella back because last time was Money in the Bank in May. What has she been doing since? Oh y’know, just hanging out, scoping the competition, and waiting for her perfect moment to come back. And she did, because the people aren’t talking about Sasha retaining but Carmella arriving. What message was she trying to send? That she wants the title, obviously. She said that she makes her own rules and does whatever it takes to get ahead. Kayla points to social media, Carmella’s tweet after her own attack. “What a match” with clapping emojis. Carmella says she thought the match was great, yes, but she just wanted to get in Sasha’s head, too.

So she was paying attention to the entire Sasha VS Bayley story? Um, it’s all about Carmella. Heyman has advice for Kayla, that the story is Carmella. As it should be. Heyman says the videos Carmella was presenting showed her beautiful, sexy and empowered side. He says, in a professional capacity, she never looked more beautiful or more powerful than she did when she knocked down Sasha Banks and she towered over the successful and reigning champion. Now that, is beautiful, sexy, empowering and Carmella. Carmella says they should have champagne out to celebrate. Kayla is doing a no drink November. Well Carmella isn’t so where is it? Heyman says Kayla is stirring things up. She’s just jealous, like everyone else.

Kayla points out this huge change in her, and asks why. Well that other Carmella wasn’t her. That’s who they wanted her to be. But she’s here to be herself, and to do what she wants. Soon, the entire world will know exactly why she’s Untouchable. Well it was posted that Carmella’s been here six years. Did she see herself being where she is now six years ago? Just look at what she’s done. Her track record speaks for itself. Ms. MITB, SmackDown Women’s Championship, defeated Charlotte and Asuka twice, and certainly lasted longer as champion as Sasha Banks. Won the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal, and so on! Oh, and she won the Mixed Match Challenge. And she did that without notes! Kayla does say she looks forward to what this new Carmella will do in the future. Carmella thanks Heyman for his time and then leaves to find some champagne.

Sami Zayn barges in!

He would like to know what the hell is going on here! Why is Heyman in Sami’s seat? Why is the cohost not the cohost? Why is the Champion of the People not here tonight? He wants Kayla to answer because he knows what she’s been up to. They’ve had problems, she was making fun of him, she has no respect for him. That’s the problem here. No one here has respect for THE Intercontinental Champion! Is this her doing? No of course not! She was just trying to bond last week for Halloween! This is above her pay grade. Heyman might have something to do with this.

Sami asks man to man so Heyman answers man to man. It was her idea. What? Heyman didn’t want this job. Sami is believing Heyman! Heyman says he’s too busy as Roman’s Special Counsel. He claims Kayla sent her a private memo that she’s glad to have Heyman and glad to be rid of Sami. Kayla defends her case. Heyman asks if he’s ever lied to Sami. Yes, actually. Well okay but Heyman defends he’s not lying now. Sami says the “powers that be” are frustrating him. He is the voice of the people of multiple countries! All the countries! He is the champion of the people, and yet he can’t even be his cohost? Or be on SmackDown last night! THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION!? Heyman says that is just wrong.

But Sami will show everyone, and especially Bobby Lashley at Survivor Series. No one is taking Sami seriously. We’ve all seen Lashley. Big, strong, scary, but he only represents ONE nation. Sami won’t even continue with that. But Sami will represent the rest of the world, and those people will will Sami to victory! Keep that seat warm, Heyman. He will be back. Moving on to the next guest…

King Corbin joins Talking Smack!

The Wolf King wants to be King of SmackDown and King of Survivor Series, and now he’s on Team SmackDown. Heyman shakes Corbin’s hand and Kayla congratulates him on his win. Was there any doubt? No, not even after seeing his opponent was Rey Mysterio. We all know Rey’s history, but Corbin knew he’d put him down 1-2-3. Well he did attack Rey backstage… Corbin says too many people are soft these days, he’s just toughening them out. It was a warm-up, if anything. Rey was too busy with his phone, Corbin was motivating him. Heyman knows what that’s like. Snooze, you lose. When you enter the ThunderDome, you’re ready for a fight. It’d be like getting into the octagon and thinking you need more time. No, when there are stakes on the line, you gotta be ready. Shame on Rey.

Kayla asks if Corbin was taking advantage of the family drama? Corbin kept his focus. A superstar of his caliber can keep his focus no matter what. Heyman asks Kayla, “The Queen and the King.” Kayla is the queen? No! He means in the Corbin home. The “princess” and “prince” and so on, does Kayla know how Corbin is getting along with all of them? No, you don’t, because he doesn’t bring his personal life to work. He comes to work to work. And what is his job? To fight. And why does he fight? To make a living. There is drama in the Mysterio home playing out here, and that leaves Rey vulnerable to someone ambitious like King Corbin. So then what does Corbin think of his teammates? Jey Uso, Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins.

Corbin says Jey got toughened up and that will help the team. But Corbin is the king, they will fall in line with him. Survivor Series will be SmackDown’s. They will make money for the families of the team. Well there has been no captain named. Last year was Roman but- Heyman says they don’t need a captain, they have a king. Okay, but does Corbin want that spot? Corbin says he will put people in their place. These aren’t friends or family. If you need to, use force. No weak links. Well alright then. They thank Corbin for “gracing” them with his presence. Kayla needs a pay raise… Heyman says Corbin’s suit looks great, probably a $5000 custom piece, but nothing looked better than the confidence he had just now. Speaking of confidence…

Seth Rollins joins Talking Smack!

“He is the future. The future cannot be stopped.” The Savior of SmackDown loves that custom introduction. So much to talk about! They’re on the brink of history! Rollins says he’s beat up. Otis is a big boy. Kayla does say the jacket is great. Is the fur part of it? Of course it is! He isn’t wearing a scarf or something. She was just complimenting him. Can’t catch a break. But congrats on the win over Otis to join Team SmackDown. Leading, honestly. A lot of people think they’re leading, he appreciates that ambition. But there is only one leader. He will be leading SmackDown for the first time ever, and to victory. Well it was a great night, and it seems Murphy has come back around. Was that surprising? Rollins will say no, and he’ll explain why.

“The truth always lights the way.” Everyone, even Kayla and Heyman, are part of the greater good, like it or not. Murphy plays a special role in that. From day one, Murphy’s allegiance has meant so much to Rollins. Children stray, they have their own minds and will, but they will find their way back. Kayla says there’s similarity here between Rollins and Roman. Wanting to be leaders and wanting those who follow him. Heyman says Rollins spoke out on the ills of the industry, promised to lead us to a greater good, and has! Everyone Rollins “touched” on Raw has benefitted! They have risen in value! With the exception of the Mysterios, though. In fact, the value of SmackDown has gone up because they have Rollins! Clearly, Rollins has enjoyed doing what he’s done to the Mysterios.

No no no. Let’s get this straight: Rollins doesn’t enjoy the implosion of the Mysterio family. He is dismayed by that. Rollins is here to change things for the better. He gave the Mysterio family opportunity after opportunity to join him, yet they have defied him over and over. It doesn’t have to be this difficult. Rollins doesn’t enjoy the things that have to be done, but he has to because no one else will. Has he considered trying to convince Dominik to see things his way? It does seem like he would enjoy that. No, not at all. Rollins would love if Dom saw the light, but sometimes that’s a difficult process. We all make mistakes. No one is perfect. It takes time to figure out who we are and who we want to be.

Rollins knows Dom is extremely talented, and Rollins says that in time, Dom will realize the truth. Whether that’s sooner than later, that’s not for Rollins to say. Kayla thanks Rollins for being here, and says she had fun cohosting with Heyman. See you again, next Talking Smack!

My Thoughts:

Not a bad episode, but the highlight was that Heyman took over being the cohost and that Sami was very upset by that. It is definitely an interesting surprise, and it even adds a layer to the kayfabe power and influence Roman has backstage. Sami does have a good point about not being on SmackDown at all, even for just a moment. I don’t see this being that likely, but I could imagine Sami turning every so slightly Face to take on Roman or even Jey. Maybe after Survivor Series, Jey is positioned by Roman to be a contender and bring the Intercontinental Championship to the family. After the great chemistry Sami and Kevin had on last week’s Talking Smack, I would love if the Roman story was how Sami and Kevin became friends again and they stand against Roman.