WrestleMania is just a week away!!

Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins, Natalya and Tamina all join Kayla Braxton and Paul Heyman for a penultimate edition of Talking Smack before WrestleMania!

Kayla Braxton welcomes us back to the show!

Just ONE WEEK AWAY from WrestleMania~, and Kayla is pumped! There was one heck of a SmackDown, too! Kayla asks Paul Heyman how he’s doing. He mockingly repeats, “Ey, yo, how you doin’?” What kind of greeting is that? Well she knew he wasn’t in the greatest of moods, which he usually isn’t anyway, but especially with SmackDown this week, he might be a bit “tiffy.” Is that even a word? It is now! Well the Special Counsel- Why is she talking over him? Just to talk about Sami Zayn’s conspiracy? Well the trailer premiere didn’t go as Sami planned, and Sami will surely discuss that later. Kayla’s a morning person, isn’t she?

The other guests this week are two women who have been shaking things up in the Women’s Tag Division in Natalya & Tamina, and the man who avoided one more swing from Cesaro in Seth Rollins! Heyman asks if he’s throwing Kayla off at all. A little. Aw~, sorry~! Kayla says applications for a new cohost will be taken after WrestleMania. Oh? Where’s Kayla going? ESPN? They’ll hire anyone nowadays. Kayla gets to the business that happened at SmackDown. Daniel Bryan was standing tall in the main event, and there’s footage replaying of Bryan hammering Jey Uso with the steel chain wrapped elbow, and then clamping on the Yes Lock!

Heyman says Kayla says things the wrong way. It isn’t A main event at WrestleMania, it is THE main event at WrestleMania. Bryan is “just a guy.” The guy on top of the world! But he’s not the end all, be all, Head of the Table. Yeah, just the guy who tapped Roman Reigns out. Oh, so then Bryan’s the Universal Champion? Congratulations, Bryan, on defeating Roman! Oh but Kayla and her “little butterflies” and too much caffeine in her system, if Bryan tapped Roman, why isn’t he champion? Because he (technically) didn’t tap out Roman Reigns! And he won’t tap out Roman Reigns at WrestleMania, and Roman will retain, and that’s not a prediction, it’s a spoiler.

Jinx, Heyman owes her a coke. A what? A Coca Cola. Good, he thought she was referencing the Freebirds from the 1980’s. Kayla moves things on and Heyman says he’s in no mood given it’s “fight week.” And he says they’re going to talk during the commercial.

Talking Smack encores Justice for Sami: the official trailer.

Sami Zayn joins Talking Smack!

He isn’t in the best mood, and is still in his golden tux, jacket slung on his shoulder. He walked the streets all night and hasn’t really slept. But he’s glad to be here. Sami says it’s been a rather strange 24 hours. He wants to talk with Heyman. He wants to address a couple weeks ago, where he thanked Heyman for just blurting out that he was part of the massive conspiracy while executive director on Raw. That was the smoking gun that connected everything! Heyman then called Sami a prick behind his back, which is fine.

But then he went from Honest Paul to the world-famous Deflecting Heyman. Heyman started doing his “thing,” saying it wasn’t his fault, it was Kevin Owens who said things. Kayla likes Sami’s impression of Heyman. Sami almost dismissed all of that. “Even geniuses make mistakes!” Sami made one, because he dismissed Heyman’s words. But Sami thought it over after last night’s SmackDown, Sami has a hard time believing Kevin is NOT part of this! Sami sees what Heyman is saying. Kevin is in on it! Kevin has betrayed Sami so many times they can’t even count. What Kevin did last night was the worst thing he’s done ever, the most personal betrayal.

Do you know how hard it is to get someone as influential as Logan Paul to come here? And then Kevin pulls a SNAKE move, telling Logan that Sami is delusional! The only reason after walking all night, looking for a form a clarity, is because Sami got an ounce of revenge as he attacked Kevin back. Then at WrestleMania will be Sami’s sweet revenge on Kevin! Sami apologizes to Heyman for dismissing what he said and he is man enough to apologize. Sami tells Kayla he doesn’t take anything she’s done personally, but we all saw the trailer. The documentary is coming out, and when it does, Sami wants to hear it from Kayla.

Kayla has been one of his biggest detractors and doubters, but his documentary will show her, and he wants to hear from her first. Production is telling Kayla we have to wrap this segment and move on. Heyman says this is the conspiracy! Sami says “of course” there’s no time. But the documentary will make it so they have nothing but time for Sami! Oh~ there’s the music~! Time to leave~! Heyman again claims this is all Kayla, no one was telling Heyman this segment was over. Kayla keeps things moving along and says that after the break, we’ll meet with the second generation superstars shaking things up!

Tamina & Natalya join Talking Smack!

The Queen of Harts and Daughter of Superfly are here, Heyman jabbers on but Kayla welcomes the guests. Natty says thanks and compliments both Heyman and Kayla on their looks today. Kayla also congratulates Natty for pinning one half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. “Statement makers, bone breakers, title takers,” it felt good beating one half. And then it was better putting the rest of the Women’s Tag Division on notice! You think they’re afraid of Lana? She’s like Malibu Barbie. You think they’re afraid of Naomi? She can barely do a toe touch these days. You think they’re afraid of Mandy & Dana? Nope!

And after tonight, Nia Jax isn’t family to Tamina Snuka. Nia would stab anyone in the back to win. And it’s WrestleMania season! Are they excited to be here? Heyman is. Not only is Natty rich, beautiful, smart, funny and talented, she’s the #BOAT, and Tamina is the #YACHT. But what’s most exciting is WrestleMania Season. But what’s missing? Tamina says it’s them! Natty says what’s missing is the WOMEN! The WOMEN need to be the main event! No more screwing around! As exciting as it is to be here, they’re leaving no stone left unturned! They’re not following the directive, they ARE the directive! Was that good enough for an answer? Was it politically correct enough?

Is Natty sweet enough, kind enough, pretty enough? Should she knock on Vince’s door and ask what THE HELL he wants from her? She’s tired of being a good girl! Being a good girl and a doormat got her NOWHERE! Doormats get walked on, BITCH! Tamina calms Natty down and Kayla says it is very clear these two have passion as a team and about the Women’s Division as a whole. Heyman says he loves these two. If he hasn’t proven it over the years, with the support and texting, Natty is like his own sister. But he wants her to cut the shit. Stop bitching and moaning and complaining. DO something.

If knocking on Vince’s door, or even kicking it down, or even taking Vince down and stretching him out doesn’t get it, then just smack everyone around on the roster until they’re the only two left! Just get rid of those in your way! There shouldn’t be anyone in their way because they’ve earned their spots for years! They didn’t fall off a cliff, they’ve been deserving of this the whole time! If Natty’s father saw this, he’d be pulling the hair off of his chin, then the chin off of his face. And if Natty’s grandfather saw this, he’d slap her dad around for raising her this way! Heyman won’t even say anything about Tamina’s dad, either!

If they want to be on Mania, get their asses on Mania! Impose your wills! That’s what their families have always been about! They’re part of dynasties! If they’re leaving you off, you make sure you get back on! Tamina gets up, pushes her chair away and gets in Heyman’s face. She is seething, but not at Heyman. She says, “Okay.” She accepts what Heyman is saying, and heads out with Natty. Will any duo be meana than Natty & Tamina?

Seth Rollins joins Talking Smack!

“The Drip King” still has his purple tie-dye. Kayla says he looks like an Easter egg. Rollins loved it so much on SmackDown, he washed it, got it pressed, and brought it back to wear here. Kayla does love it. Heyman says this is his honor to have Rollins here. Rollins hopes he’ll relay his regards to the Tribal Chief. So how is everyone doing? Great? What questions does Kayla have? Well she sees he’s in great spirits. The Easter egg look is fitting because it’s Easter weekend. Yes, ’tis the season! Kayla says Rollins escaped unscathed, no swings from Cesaro. Rollins interrupts. He knows this is done live, they can’t really redo this, but her choice of words…

Heyman wants to tag in here. Rollins isn’t sure the implications. Heyman says Rollins is a visionary. he saw how to avoid the swing. They’re a week away from Mania, why would Rollins put himself in a situation? Does anyone understand what kind of asset Rollins is to this company and this industry? Heyman does. Cesaro doesn’t, and it seems Kayla doesn’t. Rollins helps pay her salary, by being on SmackDown and in the ThunderDome. He is why she has a job. He won’t get carried away, like the other guests. Heyman says Rollins is right, he’s above that. Rollins’ vision is above that, and it doesn’t include a loss of integrity. Rollins agrees, he is above that.

What else does Kayla have? Well, Cesaro has never had a 1v1 Mania match, but Rollins is no stranger to Mania. Does that give Rollins the win already? Is Cesaro even a formidable opponent? The fact these two shared a ring last night, talking about Mania, means that Cesaro IS formidable. There’s nothing in doubt there. Cesaro is stepping into the ring with Rollins and Rollins must take him seriously. But no point has Rollins ever, or will he ever, underestimate someone in his ring. Especially someone he’s known as well and for as long as Cesaro. But, Kayla has a valid point. Rollins’ track record as Mania is pretty good, speaks for itself.

Heyman can testify to that for a few occasions. He was up close on that. Rollins wants to see Heyman’s reaction to Rollins Slaying the Beast, or even Heist of the Century. Not to step on any toes. Heyman says Rollins can step on whatever toes he wants. He has the vision to do so! Make an omelet, break a few eggs. That’s how you get where you want to be. Cesaro has put himself in a position where he can finally prove his worth. Can he step to Rollins’ level? Remains to be seen. That’s how it is. Well one thing Cesaro has proven himself good at is embarrassing Rollins.

Kayla was there when Cesaro attacked and swung him. If Cesaro can get a hold of Rollins like that, that could be Rollins’ biggest embarrassment. How will he prevent that? Rollins is in a bad mood again. He doesn’t want to do this anymore. Heyman doesn’t want him to do this if Kayla’s being like this. Rollins said he wasn’t going to do this and he won’t, but he says what he said last night. There are LEVELS to this game, and there is a reason Cesaro has never had the spotlight! The reason is because Cesaro is NOT as good as Rollins! There are people on Rollins’ level, like Roman Reigns and Heyman! There are people who get it!

Rollins HAS BEEN and IS this good, since the moment he stepped foot in the WWE! Rollins’ record at WrestleMania and all other events this company has put on shows that to be true! Cesaro has been a wealth of potential! Potential, potential, potential. Potential means CRAP unless you deliver! WrestleMania is the Grandest Stage, and Rollins not just delivers, he OVER delivers! Rollins will never be embarrassed again! Everything Cesaro could be will go out the window because he can’t reach Rollins level, and that’s the end of it! Everyone better get their heads right, because Mania is the BIGGEST event of the year, and Rollins rises to the occasion! Next Saturday will be no different! Cesaro will just be another stepping stone in the Hall of Fame career Rollins has had!

Rollins apologizes to Heyman, he didn’t want to do that, but it’s how it has to be. Rollins storms off, Kayla says this was a good show. We’re just a week away from Mania, a weekend jam packed with action! Catch all of it, and for American viewers, it’s exclusively on Peacock! Until next time! Heyman says Kayla is the female Sami Zayn!!

My Thoughts:

A very good Talking Smack! Heyman again does great for all his parts, such as throwing the technicality of Bryan tapping Roman out not counting so it’s like it never happened. Heyman also taking jabs at the hit female cohosts (Renee, Charly) leaving for other places was good Heel heat for him. Sami is nailing this angle of his character bordering on insanity, and turning Heyman’s words to his advantage. As I said for SmackDown, Kevin VS Sami is going to be a great match because these two are just great, but the story is getting really strong.

Tamina and Natty had a great part, it was on a similar level to Peyton Royce on Raw Talk a few weeks ago. I would hope that, in whatever we get for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, someone takes the titles off Nia & Shayna. Maybe it’ll even be Natalya & Tamina winning, it would be really good for both of them and for SmackDown, it should just happen. Rollins was great, Kayla pointing out the Easter egg thing was great and very true, and this just adds to an already great feeling for Rollins VS Cesaro. The only thing detracting from this year’s WrestleMania might be that it’s on Peacock and that player is still all clunky and gross. But that’s another article for another time.