Talking Smack is #UNTOUCHABLE this week!

With SmackDown heating up, the UNTOUCHABLE Carmella, WWE Intercontinental Champion, Sami Zayn, and even the Riott Squad are here to talk some smack!

Kayla Braxton welcomes us back to the show!

With TLC just a couple weeks ago, and so much that happened on Friday, there’s a lot to talk about! And of course, Kayla is with the Special Counsel to the “Reigns-ing, Defending, Undisputed-” Heyman cuts her off there, and she asks what’s wrong this time. Teach her your ways. She didn’t do anything wrong. He just wants to apologize for what happened on SmackDown with her in the ring with Roman Reigns. It was wrong to put her in a situation she shouldn’t have as a journalist. She is there to do a job, and she was smack dab, no pun intended, in the middle of a very tense and volatile situation. Heyman apologizes on behalf of Roman for the actions of Kevin Owens.

Kevin is the one who put her in that situation, and it was the most unprofessional act Heyman has seen on SmackDown in a long, long time. That is why Kevin should never be our Universal Heavyweight Champion. Obviously Mama Owens did not raise a gentleman. Roman Reigns, the Tribal Chief, Head of the Table, #TheBestoftheBest, our Universal Champion, is a gentleman. They always talk about his father, Sika, but Roman’s mother raised him to be a gentleman. Mama Owens clearly raised Kevin to be a “sexist and a savage.” So Heyman apologizes to Kayla for that humiliating moment. Roman apologizes to her, and Heyman assures her that as long as Roman is Tribal Chief, a moment like that will never happen again.

Well, Kayla isn’t sure what to say to that… How about, “Thank you, Mr. Heyman, that was a lovely apology. Your mother must’ve raised you to be a gentleman, too.” And then they’d shake hands and they’d go on to business. Well then thanks for advocating- Nope. He doesn’t advocate. He counsels. Well okay then. This is already off the rails, so things will just get worse before they get better, so we go with the first-ever, two-time Ms. Money in the Bank!

Carmella joins Talking Smack!

But she’s untouchable, so no handshakes. Heyman apologizes. He’s doing that a lot. She isn’t apologizing. But she wants Kayla to remember there are more things. She was a WWE 24/7 Champion, a WrestleMania Battle Royal winner, and all sorts of champions. Kayla apologizes for that. There was a lot of back and forth going on. Well that sounds like her problem. But Kayla brings up how Carmella being a former SmackDown Women’s Champion, she is getting another shot at the title at TLC against Sasha Banks. Congratulations on that, how does it feel after just returning? Is Kayla surprised? This is Carmella, the untouchable, the fabulous. She took some time off but she’s right where she was meant to be.

Kayla knows Heyman’s been busy with the Roman, Jey, Kevin issue, but what is his opinion of the heated back and forth between Sasha and Carmella? Kayla quotes Mella by saying she joined the WWE on a whim and it all came to her so easily. Mella will finish that off. “Poor Sasha. Imagine what it’s like to have one goal your entire life. Her only goal in life was to get to the WWE.” But Mella was a cheerleader in the NFL and the NBA, traveling the world! Then she just decided to try the WWE, and is better than Sasha. Mella feels sorry for Sasha. It must be sad. And can someone get Heyman a napkin? He’s drooling. Kayla notes this is of course because Carmella calls herself the “eye candy, every man’s desire.”

But Kayla still wants Heyman’s opinion on the statements Carmella made doing this just because as opposed to someone like Roman who joined the family tradition. Heyman looks at things differently. What he is blown away by is Carmella’s passion, how she feels for the champion because of how much better she is than the champion and how easier it will be for her than it is for the champion. And that it IS unfair that there is a line of WWE superstars that don’t equal in talent to her. She has compassion for those people! “Ladies and gentlemen, this show started off with an apology, and should continue with an apology.” Kayla should apologize to Carmella for not realizing how wonderful and compassionate she is.

Mella says she herself is so amazing. Sasha says Asuka is one of the best ever, but Mella beat Asuka twice. Mella beat Charlotte, and Sasha’s never done that! Mella’s one reign is longer than all of Sasha’s put together! And Mella does feel sorry for Sasha. Kayla isn’t sure this is genuine. But Kayla does know Mella is a formidable competitor, talented and beautiful. Headed into TLC, if she comes out the new champion, how will her new reign be better and different than her first? Mella says she was the most entertaining, fabulous and amazing SmackDown Women’s Champion ever! Name someone who was more entertaining. You can’t, because no one is better than her. She is the E in WWE. Got that, toots?

Okay, before she goes, Kayla asks Mella that she does have respect for Sasha, right? Of course! Sasha is a trailblazer. She’s one of the Four Horsewomen, it’s one of the things people keep going on and on about. Mella will not take anything away from Sasha. Sasha put in the effort. But Mella is just better. Kayla says Sasha is a future Hall of Famer, Mella says she herself is one, too. Then how is she going to handle the Boss. She just will. Then thank you for your time and good luck at TLC. Mella says thanks but she doesn’t need it. Heyman lets out a sigh of relief and is happy Mella finally left. But Kayla is happy to have the next guests to bring some energy and excitement to the show!

The Riott Squad joins Talking Smack!

Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott are happy to be here and Heyman feels like he’s at a rave. Kayla wants to point out how great the Squad always looks with their coordinated attire, and wants to start coordinating with them. That’d be great! Heyman should, too! Like power suits. Maybe just color coordinate. Heyman can use a necklace or tie. Same fabrics is the main thing.

Kayla wants to talk with Liv about how proud we all are for #LivForever to be on the WWE Network to great response. Liv almost has this speechless moment. It’s so great to have and experience something like this, with the support that she has. It’s one thing to have people comment on your work, but to comment on your life is so different. It’s overwhelming but great and Liv is grateful.

Kayla knows there was the frenemy moment with Ruby, but this is the real deal. What is it to be with your best friend? It’s amazing! That documentary finally shows the world what Ruby’s seen in Liv all along. The journey she was on and is still on. The documentary didn’t come to a climax, if you will, because there’s still so much more. The Squad still has so much more to give, and that means being WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. It’s about time! You deserve it! Wait, Billie Kay walks in? She says hey, squeezes in between Liv and Ruby, and tells “Mr. Riott Squads. Ms. Riott Squads?” Anyway, head shot, and resume. Ah, yes. Billie could offer guidance as a former Women’s Tag Team Champion.

Yes, that’s true, it’s right there. But is Liv thinking what Ruby is thinking? Pretty sure. How about they see her next week. In the ring. With a partner of her choosing. If she can find one. To give them guidance, she needs to show them what the resume looks like in action. Well, Billie is juggling other opportunities. She is in high demand right now. Well if she could squeeze them into her schedule, that’d be nice. “You gotta be joking me!” Billie is not happy and she leaves. Nice to see you, Billie! Bye! Ruby and Liv are ready for that match. That voice makes Ruby twitch.

Kayla says the Squad is such a joy, and congratulates them on everything they’ve done so far. She is on their team as far as getting those titles. Liv and Ruby thank Kayla for that and head out. Heyman says the favorite part about them is that they’re in synch. But without much fanfare, the WWE Intercontinental Championship is here!

Sami Zayn joins Talking Smack!

Sami says Kayla’s game is slacking because she leans on Heyman now. Is the title in the shot? A little dirty but oh well. Sami and Heyman shake hands but Sami’s hand is not 100%. Blame Big E for this. And no apology! Kayla gives a sarcastic “Aw” and Sami says a decent person would apologize. Heyman is world class decent. If Heyman is saying he would apologize, does that not say something about Big E’s personality that he doesn’t apologize for bruising Sami’s hand? Heyman carefully shakes Sami’s hand and apologizes on behalf of Big E and SmackDown.

Sami is important to the brand as a “champion of the people.” People around the world look to Sami to represent them, lift their heads and their spirits and say “Yes You Can.” This is on Big E! Be ashamed, Big E! Well maybe we’ll hear from Big E later. Normally Sami and Kayla go back and forth, but Kayla wants to focus on the positive. Like his title reign! Yes, but the title as a whole, and the man who represented it, and what that special Six Man Tag tonight- Er, last night. AMATEUR HOUR! They need Sami back! But go ahead, Kayla. Yes, that was special, because it honored Pat Patterson. Pat meant so much to so many, especially Sami. Sami apologizes for being snippy, he appreciates this moment.

Heyman surely knows this, Patterson would sing Sami’s praises in the most humbly way because of how genuinely he believed in Sami, at a time when Sami was still making his name in NXT. Patterson was the first to really, really push for Sami, all the way to Vince himself. That was just professionally. Personally, there is so much more to say about the “love of life” Patterson had. Patterson knew how to live. Patterson was a snow bird, south for the winter. They’d talk about food and cities and so much. Sami and Patterson had so much in common, and Sami admired that love of life. Patterson knew how to live.

And Patterson being the first ever Intercontinental Champion, Sami having the title now is an even greater moment. Seeing the original belt on display was wonderful, too, and Sami is proud to represent this title and Patterson’s memory at this time. Kayla knows Sami will continue to defend, retain and be the UNDISPUTED Intercontinental Champion. No matter how he does it, it will be a lengthy reign for sure. What is that supposed to mean? Heyman says he doesn’t know, he barely pays attention to her. But Heyman apologizes that this is what Sami had to deal with.

My Thoughts:

This was a pretty good episode. Heyman apologizing for the wrong things was a great part of his character in the overall story of Roman Reigns becoming Tribal Chief. Mella is doing very well being very snooty. This is an interesting angle to come at Sasha VS Mella from, but I do think it is working. There’s a chance the women’s title match gets a stipulation but it might not with only so much build and heat going into this. A Ladder match would be best, to reference how Mella is the first Ms. MITB winner. Riott Squad had a good segment to plug Liv Forever, and Billie joining in was an interesting move. I feel like the only woman Billie could team with right now is Tamina, who isn’t doing anything right now. And then Sami had a good segment to honor Pat Patterson, while still getting his little jabs in at Kayla. Good character work while still giving us shoot comments about a truly great man.