Reviews

WWE Network Reviews: WWE Talking Smack for 5-29-21

By John Canton • Published 30th May 2021

Hey yo. I’m filling in for our regular WWE Talking Smack reviewer Aneil. This week’s episode runs for 25:57 on Peacock/WWE Network. Let’s get to it.

Talking Smack was hosted by Kayla Braxton and Paul Heyman as usual. Kayla mentioned that it was announced that SummerSlam will take place on Saturday, August 21 with tickets available on June 18. The location will be announced next week. Heyman said he doesn’t watch Raw because they don’t have Roman Reigns, which was funny. They also bickered about TikTok with Paul saying he doesn’t have that. They talked about the great tag team match on Smackdown between The Usos and The Street Profits, which was won by The Usos. Next week on Smackdown is Rey & Dominik Mysterio defending the Smackdown Tag Team Titles against The Usos. Kayla asked about Seth Rolins, she misspoke about something, then Heyman made fun of her grammar error and they never talked about Rollins after all.

There was a commercial for WrestleMania next year in Dallas.

The first guest on the show was Bayley, who shook hands with Heyman. Bayley was wearing her new shirt available on WWE Shop. Bayley told Braxton she would sign a shirt for her for $20. Bayley said that Bianca Belair thinks everything she does is a big deal. Bayley said that she knows it’s eating Belair inside that she cheated to beat Bayley at WrestleMania Backlash. Bayley complained about Bianca using her hair as a foreign object. Kayla said it’s not a foreign object. Bayley said you don’t know if Belair has a steel pipe in her hair. Bayley and Heyman mocked Kayla for saying “um” when Kayla stumbled over some words. Bayley noted that she has had multiple WrestleMania moments while talking about her wins at WrestleManias in the past. Bayley said she is mad about Bianca thinking she is better than everybody else because of what she has done. Bayley said she doesn’t parade around bragging about everything she has ever done. Kayla said she thinks one day Bayley will be a champion again. Bayley said she’ll be champion when she gets the rematch. Then Bayley reminded us that Michael Cole called her “Belanca” and said that Cole is not the “EST” of announcing. Bayley laughed and left.

TJR Thoughts: It was a typical Bayley interview driving home the same points she has said for weeks about Belair “cheating” to beat her and Bayley wanting another match. I assume they will do Belair vs. Bayley at Hell in a Cell again with Belair keeping the title in that match. I enjoy heel Bayley. She is definitely one of my favorites. Thank you Bayley for making fun of Michael Cole. That’s always welcome on this show.

There was a commercial about WWE going back on the road in July.

The father-son duo of Rey and Dominik Mysterio were the next guests. They are the Smackdown Tag Team Champions. Heyman shook their hands and congratulated them on their victory. Rey said he was in a moment of prayer before the match, he was attacked from behind and he had injured ribs. Dominik said that Rey stood up for him when they won the titles and then he stood up for his dad because they always keep fighting. Rey said they know they have a big target on their back and they are ready for competition. Rey said that they are not going to back down against The Usos and they can’t wait for it. Heyman said that the Mysterios right and they proved their fans/family right because they deserve to be Tag Team Champions. Heyman mentioned Roode/Ziggler, Street Profits and The Usos coming after them. Heyman said that if The Usos listen to the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns then you have a headache on your hands. Heyman told Rey/Dominik that Rey is a legend and Dominik is proving himself to be what Rey was at the same age with Heyman saying he employed Rey at the age that Dominik is now. That’s true. Heyman said he wishes the Mysterios luck and he looks forward to the match next week. Rey said he appreciated Heyman’s honesty. Rey said it will take a lot to take those titles away. Rey said he won’t let those titles go away that easy. That was it. Heyman mocked Kayla for the “um” thing again.

TJR Thoughts: The Mysterios did a nice job of putting over the idea that they are fighting babyface champions. I liked Heyman’s speech a lot because he’s always great at making intelligent points and I liked the story about how he employed Rey (in ECW) at around the same age that Dominik is now, which is true because Rey was in his early 20s in those days. I doubt The Usos win the titles next week, but I guess it’s a possibility. I just think Rey/Dominik should have a title reign that lasts a few months.

There was a commercial featuring WWE superstars encouraging people to get vaccines. There was a commercial about SummerSlam on August 21.

Next Friday on Smackdown: Apollo Crews defends the Intercontinental Championship vs. Kevin Owens (Commander Azeez is banned from ringside). Also, Rey & Dominik Mysterio defend the Smackdown Tag Team Titles against The Usos. Two title matches in one night. Good stuff.

There was more chatter between Kayla and Paul talking about SummerSlam again. Heyman tried to get her to tell us where SummerSlam is taking place, but she did not say it. Heyman was asked by Braxton to talk about something, so Heyman did one of his monologues to end it.

Heyman said next week we have a main event on Smackdown that’s worthy of the public’s attention. Heyman talked about Rey & Dominik as the Tag Team Champions with praise for Rey as a legend, he said Dominik is tearing it up and going against The Usos, who are second-generation wrestlers. Heyman said the first time he met The Usos was the summer of 1989 when he managed the Samoan Swat Team, which was Samu and Fatu (Rikishi). Heyman said that the Samoan Swat Team beat The Road Warriors, who were the best team of their era. Heyman said he looked in the ring and saw these two men that were four years old grappling in the ring together (Jey & Jimmy Uso). Heyman said one brother slammed the other and then that man splashed his own twin brother. Heyman said that was the first time he met Jimmy & Jey Uso. Heyman said that on WCW television like a bird to air, like a fish to water, a Samoan to the wrestling ring. Heyman said that The Mysterios are going against two twins that have wrestling in their blood. It’s what they do. Heyman said he offers no prediction or spoiler because they need to pledge their allegiance and acknowledge the Tribal Chief (Roman Reigns) before he offers us such spoilers. Heyman said he is intrigued by the match and you should be too. Heyman asked do you know who else is intrigued by this match. That led to Heyman doing the usual intro he always does for the WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, your Tribal Chief. That was the end of the show.

TJR Thoughts: It was the usual great promo from Paul Heyman. I liked the story about how he saw The Usos as kids. The timeline matches up because they were born in 1985 (so was Roman Reigns), so they would have been 4 years old just like Heyman said. Heyman did a nice job of putting over the Smackdown Tag Team Title match next week with The Mysterios defending the gold against The Usos. It should probably be a PPV match, but we’re getting it on Smackdown instead.

I like Talking Smack when they have three segments with guests instead of just two. I don’t mind the Heyman monologue to end it, but I think WWE needs to use this platform to have wrestlers speak and get their characters more TV time. That’s all I’m saying.

Thanks for reading. My contact info is below.

John Canton

Email mrjohncanton@gmail.com

Twitter @johnreport