Can you dig Talking Smack, SUCKAAAA?!

SmackDown was on FS1 for this week, and so will Talking Smack! FS1 will have Carmella, Bayley, the Street Profits, Kevin Owens and special guest cohost, BOOKER T!

Kayla Braxton welcomes us back to the show!

This is a very special LIVE edition of Talking Smack after the final SmackDown before the final WWE PPV of 2020! Her special guest cohost is the two-time, two-time Hall of Fame inductee, BOOKER T! He is ready to give us caviar dreams and champagne wishes! But the usual cohost, Paul Heyman, walks up a bit earlier than expected. Kayla brings up how things ended on SmackDown, with Kevin Owens emerging from being buried. Booker says Kevin is reminding him of Rocky Balboa, getting beat on and beat on but never stopping! Heyman should let it go with this situation.

Kayla gives a quick run down of who the guests are, from Carmella one more time before her rematch with Sasha Banks, plus Bayley, The Street Profits and if possible, Kevin Owens. Heyman is almost ready, and Booker knows Heyman is never short on words. Booker and Heyman shake hands and Heyman sits on the other side of Kayla this time. Booker says it’s fine that he’s a little late, and Kayla is sure he has a “rant” prepared. Is that what he’s been reduced to? Well it’s what he does. No he doesn’t, and he doesn’t have one prepared. But if he were to rant, he’d… Surprisingly, Heyman is having a hard time putting this into words!

“We have an athlete, a fighter, a very capable man with lethal hands and lethal feet, to use his body as a weapon.” That man stands after beating after beating, after beating, from the Universal Champion! Not just any man but THE man in the WWE! Kevin still says he will be champion or die trying! Heyman says Kevin is not a masochist but a MARTYR! All because Kevin won’t give into fear. “I fear Kevin Owens. Because I fear what Kevin Owen sis going to bring out in Roman Reigns.” Heyman makes that clear. As scared as Heyman is of Kevin, he is more afraid of Roman! Not because of the short fuse and the Samoan blood, but because Roman is a very dangerous man! Roman is just as willing to make Kevin pay a price and go through whatever suffering necessary.

Heyman quotes Franklin Delano Roosevelt in saying “We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Heyman disagrees with that. “We have Roman Reigns to fear.” Kevin better bet his ass that if he makes it home from TLC, he will have learned to FEAR Roman Reigns. Kayla isn’t sure if that was a rant, but that was a powerful monologue. But from one championship match to another, our first guest is the UNTOUCHABLE challenger to the SmackDown Women’s title!

Carmella joins Talking Smack!

Booker says Mella is looking good. Mella says of course she is. Did you see what she did to Sasha? She smashed her with another bottle of champagne. Kayla apologizes and will get her a replacement bottle. Not quite as pricy but- Then keep your money. But Mella is looking good and feeling confident. Just look at her! But not for too long. But Sasha ruined her toast! Sasha tried to be sneaky but Mella was a step ahead of her. She had way more bubbly to spare, and it was all for her!

Kayla asks Booker and Heyman if they have advice for Carmella. She has been champion once before, so any tips on how to be champion again? Booker says Mella just needs to be ready. One thing she and Sasha have in common, aside from hair, nails and make-up all perfectly flawless, which Heyman agrees with, it’s that Sasha has a high IQ. Mella might not match that, actually. He invites Mella to say if he’s wrong. Mella counters by asking, “How many times has Sasha successfully defended a title against Charlotte Flair? How many times has she beat Asuka?” Not as much as Mella! But Sasha has a lot of history, part of big moments in the WWE, while Mella hasn’t.

Oh really? Who was the first Ms. Money in the Bank? And technically the second, too! Mella is so upset that Booker would say such things! Mella cashed in successfully on Charlotte Flair, then successfully defended the title against Flair! Then she defended her title twice against Asuka! And is a two-time WWE 24/7 Champion, a winner of the Women’s WrestleMania Battle Royal, and a Mixed Match Challenge winner! Who is the history maker here? Booker says that was a great retort. Kayla says Sasha says Mella isn’t in the same league, but Mella counters with, “How many times has she smashed a bottle of champagne over me?” Sasha doesn’t carry champagne…

That’s because Mella outsmarted Sasha, that’s what! Mella vows to win the title on Sunday and be a two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion! Then she’ll call Booker up and tell him she made history again! Kayla wishes Mella luck and apologizes for the disrespect, they did not mean it. Mella says she doesn’t need luck, and doesn’t want them staring at her butt as she walks away. But will Mella be walking away with the title after TLC?

Talking Smack returns from break!

Before the Street Profits join the show, we go to Jay Glazer’s interview with the Most Electrifying Man in ALL of Sports Entertainment!

Jay Glazer talks with The Rock!

It was on One Glass with Jay Glazer that Dwayne Johnson told him, “When I first started in the WWE, I was this good guy, ‘Babyface,’ fresh out of University of Miami, I was told ‘You gotta go out there and you gotta smile!'” But he knew that the fans knew he wasn’t genuine with the smile and character. They’d shout something like, “YOU F***IN’ SUCK!” and he’d just have to smile, give a thumbs up and say, “Thank you! I know I do!” But when it came time to become a bad guy, a “Heel,” he asked Vince for just two minutes on the mic on Raw. There was a group at the time, Nation of Domination, led by Ron “Farooq” Simmons, perhaps the greatest Florida State football player ever.

Vince gave Rock his two minutes with NOD, and Rock was on live TV, which is saying a lot for back then because Raw was only TWO hours. Glazer is surprised because that is very bold to go to the boss as a rookie and ask for the ball. Exactly. Rock told Vince that if he sucked, that’s on him, he’ll never talk again. “The Rock” was born as he told the fans, “I heard chants of ‘Rocky Sucks.’ Well Rocky Maivia is a lot of things, but ‘sucks’ isn’t one of ’em!” The Rock now says it wasn’t a White thing, it wasn’t a Black thing, it’s just a respect thing, and he earned it by talking smack. It was that moment when the crowd said, “That’s real. What he just said, that’s real.” And the rest was history. There was no going back from being authentic.

NOW The Street Profits join Talking Smack!

Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins are “permanent residents” of the show and Kayla likes that. Profits talk smack, so being here is second nature. They got to talk some smack after retaining the SmackDown Tag Team Championships, and that is also something they do so Kayla isn’t sure why anyone was surprised. Ford says they are the only tag team not to be pinned for the Raw Tag Team or the SmackDown Tag Team titles. Ford is still sore, though. Those ribs got beat up. Heyman confronts Kayla on why anyone would be surprised, but that’s what she said, we weren’t.

Booker knows he’s a special guest himself, but he wants Heyman’s honest thoughts on the Profits. Heyman says they are the most important, transformative tag team in the WWE. No one on Raw beat them, and no one has beaten them on The A Show, SmackDown! Raw is inferior because it does not have Roman as the top champion, and it does not have the Profits as the tag team champions. Undefeated on Raw, undefeated so far on SmackDown! Beat teams decisively, like a first round knockout in UFC! Heyman is a huge fan of the Profits. Did he have some of the “happiness” tonight? Heyman tells Booker about that stuff. It’ll definitely make you a Profits fan.

Wait, Sami is barging in? He has two Sami Awards! And he gets a mic to say this is NOT for the Profits, sorry. Sami doesn’t want to ruin anyone’s night like how his night was ruined. But- Wait why is Kayla laughing? Well, the awards are just Sami’s action figure- NO, they were hand sculpted in Brazil! Don’t you laugh at them! But as the first and only two-time Sami Award Winner, Sami Zayn should be celebrating and making our nights better. But he wants to know one thing, everyone please shut up! Sami is a champion, too! He just wants to know how he was ROBBED of the third Sami Award for Superstar of the Year?

Dawkins brings up how Sami had his own awards show and he got awards. No, no, Sami simply hosted the Sami Awards, as represented by “the will of the people.” Well, then how did he lose the third? It was stolen from him because Big E was somehow on standby! Can Booker help Sami figure this out? Booker was going to be the Lifetime Achievement Sami Award winner. Booker says he has no idea how it happened. Sami wants Booker to look him in the eyes and say that! To review, Sami won Comeback 2020 and Match of the Year 2020. The Profits are laughing, despite Ford’s bad ribs.

Booker asks what is going on here. Kayla says this is the best Sami has ever looked. If only he had three. Dawkins knows if they had the Street Profit Awards, the Street Profits would’ve swept. Sami is usually above this, but he’ll point out how awful Dawkins looks right now. Sami is dapper, Ford is in a suit, but Dawkins is garbage! This should be the best night of Sami’s life! Booker stays out of this, aside from the fashion sense. Heyman knows people in the production truck but cops to them not liking him. Kayla says Big E must have his ways.

Sami says Big E is obviously watching. One Sami, two Sami. Sami is coming for Big E, and heads are going to roll! Dawkins congratulates Big E on that Superstar of the Year Sami, though. Wait, Sami left his mic behind! This is why the production team doesn’t like Heyman! But as a reminder, the Slammys are coming, so get your votes in!

Talking Smack shares Charlotte Wilder’s interview with Sasha Banks.

2020 may have been rough in many ways, but it was still The Year of the Boss! Sasha herself recounts how she was WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, Raw Women’s Champion, and now SmackDown Women’s Champion. She won every title in one year, and is the only woman to pin Drew McIntyre, because he ended up involved with her match against Asuka. At only 28, Sasha has accomplished so much!

Charlotte Wilder goes into detail about the actual timeline of Sasha’s 2020. It was Friday Night SmackDown on June 5th that she defeated Bliss-Cross for the Women’s Tag Team titles. What was the difference between the first time and the second time being tag champion? “I felt like the second time was even more delicious.” Sasha got to get it off Alexa and Nikki! It felt amazing showing the world that Sasha was going to take over the company!

Then, on July 27th on Monday Night Raw, Sasha defeats Asuka for the Raw Women’s Championship and became #TwoBeltsBanks. What was her favorite part of her record-breaking fifth title reign? It was everything from on screen to backstage that she beat Asuka! All Sasha wanted to do was have fun over the Summer, and all of that with Asuka, Bayley and being Two Belts Banks was the most fun. Then fast forward to October 25th, Hell in a Cell, her grudge match with Bayley to become the third-ever Women’s Grand Slam Champion. What’s next? If there are more records to break, that’s what she’s after. Sasha wants to be CEO of the WWE! Will Stephanie McMahon have something to say about that?

Talking Smack returns to Kayla, Heyman and Booker!

Kayla braces Heyman for talking about how SmackDown ended. Any thoughts given Kevin is ready for a fight? There were moments Kayla was watching where she worried Kevin wouldn’t be able to make TLC this Sunday. Booker says the way it began was fired up. Jey hits Kevin from behind, and Booker asks Heyman man to man. Let’s just be real about Roman. He’s privileged, right? To come from a really good background and upbringing, the kid who had the college football experience, the guy who was in the lead.

But then he looks at Kevin, someone like Booker who came from nothing, from a place where the lights would be turned off, there would be rats and roaches and whatever else, never wanting to go back to that. Kevin has scratched and clawed to get here, and has nothing to lose. “That could be the most dangerous opponent for a guy like Roman Reigns, being in this position come Sunday.” Just saying.

Heyman agrees, Kevin is very dangerous, perhaps the most dangerous challenger, and someone who comes from nothing. But no, Kevin is not the poster boy for WWE, nor is he the stereotypical WWE superstar, which makes that unorthodox style “so damn dangerous.” How far will that push a Division I athlete, with the Samoan upbringing and warrior culture, like Roman? Roman has had four WrestleMania main events, it would’ve been five if Roman chose to, but he didn’t like how WWE was treating him so he set an example for who is THE MAN in the WWE. And then his first night back, he became THE champion in WWE. And that man will be pushed past his limits by Kevin. God help Kevin against Roman this Sunday.

Kayla says that while we’re about to go to break again, she wants to ask out of respect, Kevin will still be joining the show. Does Heyman want to stick around for that? Is Heyman some cliché 1980’s manager? Gotta scurry away~! No, Heyman wants to have a talk with Kevin. There’s nothing Kevin could do to Heyman that’d match what Roman will do to Heyman if Heyman ran away. Plus, if things get out of hand, Booker is here and Booker will save him.

Talking Smack returns with Bayley!

Bayley is excited as she mockingly sings Bianca Belair’s theme. But she says that’s not mocking! “Imitation is like, the biggest form of flattery!” Bayley is a fan of Bianca’s. Kayla isn’t fooled, but congrats on the win. Bianca put up a fight, though. Bayley said Bianca is overrated, but surely she thinks differently now, right? Bayley asks when did she ever say something like that? An interview? A tweet? Was Kayla snooping on her texts? Kayla can’t place it but she’s pretty sure Bayley’s said something like that before. Bayley said just today that Bianca has all the potential in the world. She will be a star someday, but not tonight! Not against the longest reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion in history!

Kayla asks Booker his opinion. There’s no way Bianca is done with Bayley, right? She is the EST for a reason. Booker says he was never a big fan of Bayley, but he always knew that while Bayley wasn’t great at anything, she was good at everything. Ooh, that’s a good one! But that is a compliment, and Booker has seen this transformation. All she does is win, win, win no matter what! Bayley likes that, too! Booker says getting a win over Bianca, it shows Bayley is on her p’s and q’s, and is still a step above Bianca. It was GOODT!

Kayla asks what Heyman is doing sitting like that, leaning on the desk. “Admiring a great talent.” And someone who should still be SmackDown Women’s Champion! DING DONG, HELLO! That is what Bayley was hoping to hear! Bayley is Heyman’s favorite, and she should be a cohost for Talking Smack. Kayla wants to stick with the subject at hand, but Bayley would love replacing Kayla. Kayla says this position is filled. But Bayley is a “Role Model,” but what does that mean?

Bayley wants us to look at all of SmackDown this past year. The were only two people who have held the SmackDown Women’s Championship in 2020. Yes, Sasha has it now but for like a little time. Bianca wants after Bayley for a reason. She is the annoyingest for a reason! It is because she knows if she wants to be at the top and ever have her eyes on the prize, she’s got to go through a top dog, a general, a veteran, a captain, a history maker! Bayley was there to see Bianca’s tryout, and Bianca was the one admiring Bayley! She’s seeing a lot of Bianca in Heyman right now. Just in the eyes. Maybe some day, but not today! Bayley won! Kayla thanks Bayley for her time and congratulates her. Bayley will go celebrate now.

Talking Smack returns again!

And the only guest left is Kevin Owens. He makes it to the table, walks over to Heyman, and asks Kayla if he could borrow her seat for this. She obliges and sits on the other side of Booker. Kevin looks at Heyman and offers a handshake. Heyman hesitates but he figures he’ll just get hit if he doesn’t. But if he does shake hands, Kevin could reel him in, put him through this table, and it’s a glass table. Kevin promises he wouldn’t put Heyman through a table. But if he doesn’t want to see the table up closer, just shake his hand. Heyman shakes Kevin’s hand, and Kevin asks Heyman to do something for him that will be very hard for him to do: just listen. Then after, Heyman can say whatever. But for now, listen. Heyman agrees to do that.

“Paul, I know you always say nothing but the truth. But earlier on this Talking Smack, you lied.” Because Heyman doesn’t fear what Kevin brings out in Roman on Sunday. Kevin knows Heyman is scared, but he’s scared because he’s followed Kevin’s career for a very long time. Well before WWE. Heyman is scared because he’s seen Kevin endure things that nobody should, when the stakes were nothing compared to what they are at TLC. What Heyman fears is the fact that what Kevin said at the end of SmackDown is true. “You know I’ll stop at nothing to take the Universal title back. You know that except for my wife, my kids and my parents, there is nothing I am not willing to sacrifice to get that title back.”

Kevin tells Paul that he has a message for him. Heyman likes to be the innocent messenger, and Kevin will humor him. Kevin has a message Heyman needs to give Roman. Make sure Roman understands that he is in trouble. “Because after tonight, as important as winning the Universal title back is to me, beating… beating Roman Reigns is even more important.” Does Heyman understand? He does. And Kevin says he lied, because he won’t let Heyman reply.

Normally, he’d let Heyman have his rebuttal, but Kevin has neither the interest nor the patience to hear him speak. And if Heyman tries to speak, Kevin will knock the teeth out of his mouth and down his throat. So just don’t, okay? “Just shut up, process what I’ve told you just now, find Roman, and give him my message. Please.” Heyman nods and Kevin holds his hand out again. Heyman flinches, but then shakes Kevin’s hand. Then Kevin thinks. “Remember what I said? Not a word. But do me a favor. After I beat Roman on Sunday and I take the Universal title, you’ve got my number. Call me. Then we can talk.” Is Kevin giving the Special Counsel a way out after he breaks the Head of the Table?

Talking Smack returns once more, to make TLC predictions!

For the SmackDown Women’s Championship, Sasha Banks and Carmella face off one more time! Then another TLC match for the WWE World Championship, Drew McIntyre defends against AJ Styles! And for the first time anywhere, it will be The Fiend VS Randy Orton, in a FIREFLY INFERNO MATCH! But of course, Kayla asks what that even is. Booker has no idea, why is she asking him? But Bray Wyatt, the Fiend, anything he does, Booker wants to be far away from. Kayla says Randy Orton, one of the most decorated superstars ever, but he might have wanted to leave this one alone. Booker says if anyone is capable of handling that match, it’s Orton.

Any thoughts from Heyman? He’s still contemplating Kevin’s ultimatum. So moving on, the world title TLC match! This has been McIntyre’s year but Styles doesn’t care. If anyone as capable as Styles, “that’s my guy!” but Booker knows McIntyre has made 2020 his year. Booker says McIntyre will retain. Heyman doesn’t want to talk about this match, either. That’s fine. We heard from Carmella earlier, Booker gives her an A+ on her hair and make-up, but for the title, it’s all Sasha. And now Heyman is getting annoyed that Kayla wants to ask him.

But then about the one he both does and doesn’t want to talk about, the Universal Championship TLC match, Roman VS Kevin. Heyman is giving up and taking off his earpiece. Booker says this is big stuff. Lay it on us, Paul! “Thanks for your help.” Heyman’s done, this week’s special Talking Smack is done, watch TLC this Sunday!

My Thoughts:

This was a very good Talking Smack, and not just because it was an hour long live on television. I expected more out of The Rock having a part to play in this, but it was just a replay of his interview with Glazer reviewing the origins of The Rock. Everyone was hoping this would be him teasing a program with Roman or just a return to the ring at all, but I do like his line about being authentic and there’s no going back. That is probably a lesson to be learned in entertainment, even past wrestling. We got really good segments out of all the guests tonight, and Booker was a great addition for the night. It worked out since Heyman was preoccupied in his own way because of what happened on SmackDown tonight.

Mella had a good enough segment, and I like that Booker said she’s the one having to catch up to Sasha, for her to then refute with her own accolades. I hope for TLC, the assistant isn’t as active and we get a match worthy of two accomplished women. The Profits had a good segment, but I’m surprised Sami crashed it. They had good banter, and Sami of course furthers the idea that he and Big E will have a title match soon enough. And Kevin had a great segment, that I honestly wished finished the show completely, with a great tease that he’d gladly be a Heyman Guy if it meant Heyman ditching Roman.

With Sami and Kevin both on the same brand again, I really hope one day they reunite and go for the tag titles. It’d be great story as Sami and Kevin have been frenemies forever, but Kevin is the one who has been on good terms with the Profits, and it’d be about loyalty to his oldest friend. And also about Kevin finally becoming a Grand Slam Champion.