Reviews

WWE Network Reviews: WWE Talking Smack for 06-12-21 by John Canton

By John Canton • Published 12th June 2021

Hey yo. It’s time for the WWE Talking Smack recap for June 12.

The show was hosted by Kevin Patrick and Paul Heyman. The usual host is Kayla Braxton, but I guess she is off this week after her birthday earlier in the week. Patrick is usually on Raw including Raw Talk. Heyman: “I need subtitles. Help!” Heyman was making fun of the Irish accent of Patrick. Heyman didn’t think it was an incredible show like Patrick said, he thought it was credible. They showed highlights of Cesaro beating up Seth Rollins on Smackdown. Heyman continued to complain about Patrick’s accent. Patrick talked about Kevin Owens and Big E beating Apollo Crews and Sami Zayn on Smackdown. Patrick asked about the ending of Smackdown. Heyman said that Rey Mysterio was so anxious to get into combat with Roman Reigns that Rey didn’t let Roman Reigns answer the Hell in a Cell challenge. Heyman said that he, as the Special Counsel of Reigns, will answer the challenge that Rey issued. Heyman said that he’ll give them an answer at the end of the show. Heyman said he can’t believe he is saying this: “I miss Kayla Braxton.” Patrick said that it’s going to be a long show and they went to break.

Speaking of Kayla, she thanked Kevin for filling for her.

TJR Thoughts: The usual Heyman hijinks to start us off. Paul makes me laugh.

There was a commercial about WWE going back on tour starting in mid-July. A commercial aired for Hell in a Cell featuring Bianca Belair defending the Smackdown Women’s Title against Bayley.

The first guests were Alpha Academy members Chad Gable and Otis, who doesn’t have a beard anymore. Otis didn’t say anything when he was introduced. Gable offered The Street Profits applications to the academy and then they mocked Gable. Chad said that he has unleashed the Alpha within Otis and he doesn’t mind saying Otis is terrifying. Otis spoke in a serious tone asking how Montez Ford is doing. Patrick said “partial rib fracture” for Ford. Heyman spoke about how he was a huge admirer of both guests. Heyman asked if Otis could bring the microphone a bit closer to his mouth. Otis asked: “Where’s Angelo Dawkins? Is he around?” Otis said that Dawkins is next on the list and he should be very worried. Otis said that Dawkins can look at Montez to see what’s going to happen to Dawkins. Gable said he was scared (for those guys). Gable looked at Otis and said he was so proud. Gable said with a guy like Otis on his side, what is there to be scared of? Gable said that the offer is off the table now. Gable suggested that The Street Profits should make their presence on Smackdown pretty scarce going forward. Otis: “All for The Academy. See ya, Dawkins. See ya real soon.” Gable and Otis left. Patrick asked if Heyman had seen this side of Otis before. Heyman said he seems capable, which is disturbing. Heyman said Otis has amateur credentials, huge size, he’s got speed, and look at what he did to Montez Ford. That led to a break.

TJR Thoughts: The heel turn of Otis isn’t something I would have expected several months ago, but clearly WWE is going hard with it now. Otis shaved off the beard, he attacked Montez Ford and they are probably going to book him as a dominant heel with Gable motivating him along the way. This team is going to be future Tag Team Champions at some point. I could even see Otis getting a big singles push at some point although I don’t know when. Just knowing how Vince McMahon likes bigger guys, it’s going to happen. The other thing is that WWE knows Otis can be a funny, happy babyface wrestler too, so they know he can do that role as well. Otis has a very bright future.

A commercial aired for NXT Takeover In Your House on Sunday night. There was a commercial with WWE superstars encouraging people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The next guest was Smackdown Women’s Champion Bianca Belair. Belair talked about how she turned the tables on Bayley by laughing at her this week the way that Bayley laughed at her last week. Belair said that when Bayley’s head was all over the ThunderDome it felt like she was in hell, but this week she got the last laugh. Belair said she feels like she has a target on her back, but ain’t nobody hitting it. Patrick asked Heyman what he thinks of Belair, then Heyman said that this is the future of the Women’s Division – Raw, Smackdown, NXT and all of sports entertainment. Heyman said that Belair will have a target on her back as long as she’s a champion. Heyman said that the whole locker room is against her right now because she’s walking around that title. Heyman said that her greatness will be defined by how many times the target gets hit and she keeps on pressing forward as the champion that is destined for greatness. Belair was asked about Bayley’s strengths. Belair said that Bayley thinks she can get to Belair mentally, she’s trying to play mind games and Belair said she is the “toughest” mentally so there’s another EST. Belair said she’s still laughing about it. Belair said she was having a good night tonight. They thanked Belair.

TJR Thoughts: It was a typical interview from Belair. I feel like she is a guest on the show every other week. It’s not a complaint. It’s an observation. I just think they should give some other people a chance to be on a show like this. Belair talked about how she was in a good mood yet they just interviewed the guy (Otis) that injured Bianca’s husband Montez Ford and didn’t even mention it to her. They should have at least said something about that just for the sake of storyline continuity. Anyway, what Belair said about Bayley was fitting for her character with Belair showing confidence as usual. That’s what is so likable about Belair.

There was a commercial for SummerSlam in Las Vegas on August 21. There was also a commercial about WWE going on the road again starting in mid-July.

Next week on Smackdown: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. King Corbin in the “Battle for the Crown.” Plus, Apollo Crews & Commander Azeez vs. Kevin Owens & Big E.

It was Paul Heyman time to end the show with Patrick asking if Roman Reigns will defend the Universal Championship against Rey Mysterio at Hell in a Cell in a Hell in a Cell match. Patrick asked the question repeatedly. Heyman said that Rey Mysterio is the greatest luchador of all time. Heyman warned Rey last week, he begged Rey last week and he fought back his own tears. Heyman warned Rey not to go after Roman Reigns. Heyman said that Rey was mourning over the beating that his son Dominik took and now Rey wants his revenge…on Father’s Day. Heyman said that you can’t write it any better than this even if you work on Monday Night Raw. Heyman said it’s Rey Mysterio coming for revenge against Roman Reigns on Father’s Day locked inside Hell in a Cell. Heyman said that will entice anybody to understand that they get this story and they want to see it go down. Heyman said that he is authorized to accept Rey Mysterio’s challenge against Roman Reigns inside Hell in a Cell. Heyman said that is bad news for Rey Mysterio. Heyman said that Rey isn’t just stepping into Hell in a Cell with just a defending, he’s stepping in against “The Monarch of the Mat, The Gracious God of the Grappling Game, The Taste Maker for the Island of Relevancy, The Savage Samoan Sadist, The Devil Himself…” inside Hell in a Cell. Heyman said that Rey is stepping into the demonic structure with Roman Reigns. They signed off with this graphic.

This episode had a runtime of 26:03.

TJR Thoughts: A strong ending as usual thanks to the monologue by the great Paul Heyman. I liked all of the nicknames he gave Roman Reigns at the end of that promo as well. I doubt anybody is going to predict that Mysterio will beat Reigns nor should they, but I like how personal the story has become and I think it’s going to be a very good match. Most of Roman’s matches as the heel Universal Champion have been great anyway and we know Rey is still very good in the ring as well, so I expect an excellent match at Hell in a Cell.

On a final note, I missed Kayla. The way she interacts with Heyman is usually pretty funny, so I missed that. Heyman was still entertaining in terms of how rude he was toward Patrick, though. Heyman makes this show so much fun to watch for me.

That’s all from me. Thanks for reading.

John Canton

Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com

Twitter: @johnreport

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