DMJ Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 I saw on reddit that Max Landis started a petition to bring back Talking Smack already. Also, Renee Young and others have gone on twitter basically saying how sad that they are that it was cancelled. I still don't fully understand the reason for cancellation. I get that ratings would matter to USA, but this is a Network show - but the cost of producing Talking Smack, I'm guessing, is pretty low. I mean, especially compared to producing 205 Live. I know its even cheaper to just air old WCW and WWE PPVs after SmackDown, but I thought the reason they weren't doing that was because they want the Network to provide new, relevant content and not just be "the vault"? My only theory is that Vince felt like doing RAW Talk and making that the "flagship" talk show is more important to him than having a comparatively more successful SmackDown version be seen as "the original" and the "better version." I say this because, as far as I've heard, there's no plan to cancel RAW Talk and, if there were, I don't think anyone would give two shits because if Talking Smack's ratings were low enough to be cancelled, I'd imagine RAW Talk's are even lower. Having the hard numbers would be really helpful, but I know those won't ever see the light of day. Aside from those, I feel like I'd need strong evidence beyond "RAW has higher ratings than SmackDown, so it does a better post-show number too" to convince me RAW Talk gets more viewers, especially when you look at the popularity of the post-shows' respective hosts, how "buzz-worthy" they are, and the fact that, before 205 Live got shoveled in, one show took place after fans had just watch a 3-hour show and another after a more digestible 2-hour show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Since we live in Bizarro World, Raw Talk probably does get higher viewership numbers, just like Daniel Bryan isn't a draw, Roman Reigns is over and sells tons of merchandise, and everything else that is up is really down. Nothing makes any sense. Edited to add: I remember reading once that NCIS is a show that nobody watches except 14 million people, in the sense that it's one of the highest rated shows on TV but gets almost no water cooler talk or critical buzz. So I'm starting to think that's how wrestling works now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 It seems like both Talking Smack and 205 live were getting low viewer numbers, but getting rid of 205 would be admitting the cruiserweight division is a flop so if one has to go it's going to be the post game show even if it's the one that gets more positive buzz. It seems like they are in another cost cutting mode (see also: no more pyro) so Talking Smack ended up having to take one for the team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Maybe the workers hated having to sit around for another hour top do the show and were bitching about it? I just started watching 205 Live from the start this weekend and Noam Dar is the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Cris Cyborg and Becky Lynch seem to be working their own angle on Twitter, or at least I hope they are since Becky is liable to catch an ass whooping otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strummer Posted July 15, 2017 Report Share Posted July 15, 2017 Swear seeing the MYC Bayley looks like a legit badass with her hair down and in street clothes. I know it's her character but much better than the ponytail and Sesame Street like gear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDuke Posted July 16, 2017 Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 I don't think Raw Talk is weekly, I think it is also only after PPVs. I really like Talking Smack, and I am hoping that instead of replacing it with old ppvs, they replace it with a new weekly talk show, maybe one where Renee talks to guys from both brands plus NXT about ongoing current storylines. Then it wouldn't have to be live, it could be pretaped to save money. Did you guys watch 205 Live this week? I really liked the I Quit Match between Noam Dar and Cedric Alexander. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted July 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 I thought about watching it, but I am so over that angle it's not even funny. It's like the Miz/Ambrose of the Cruiserweight Division. The feud that wouldn't die. I am surprised Mad Dog is loving Noam Dar. Normally I find myself agreeing with many of his opinions, however when it comes to Dar, if I never saw him again, it would be too soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted July 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 As far as Talking Smack, Sports Illustrated is reporting that Vince pulled the plug because he doesn't like the unscripted promos. Which makes a lot more sense, over the idea of the decision being made due to ratings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted July 16, 2017 Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 As far as Talking Smack, Sports Illustrated is reporting that Vince pulled the plug because he doesn't like the unscripted promos. Wonderful. Whatever can bring life into the product, Vince will kill immediately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted July 16, 2017 Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 As far as Talking Smack, Sports Illustrated is reporting that Vince pulled the plug because he doesn't like the unscripted promos. Which makes a lot more sense, over the idea of the decision being made due to ratings. Meltzer wasn't buying this one Twitter yesterday FYI. I think it confirms a little too close to people's biases and it makes me skeptical of it. I think it's just as likely that Vince had never seen Talking Smack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted July 16, 2017 Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 I thought about watching it, but I am so over that angle it's not even funny. It's like the Miz/Ambrose of the Cruiserweight Division. The feud that wouldn't die. I am surprised Mad Dog is loving Noam Dar. Normally I find myself agreeing with many of his opinions, however when it comes to Dar, if I never saw him again, it would be too soon. I like the slimeball deal he's got going on. He's been consistently fun through the first 6 episodes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted July 16, 2017 Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 Would Miz have had a career turnaround without that Talking Smack promo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goc Posted July 16, 2017 Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 I'm pretty sure I read a recap of Baron Corbin on Jericho's podcast that said Vince gave him more freedom in his promos on Smackdown BECAUSE of how he did on Talking Smack which goes against the whole "evil Vince killed it because he hates everything good and fun" thing. But of course people gotta stick to the tried and true narrative that Vince = 100% bad and HHH = 100% good so maybe Vince DID decide all on his own that Talking Smack needed to die but the real reason was because the pact with Satan required a new sacrifice to prolong Vince's lifespan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteF3 Posted July 16, 2017 Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 Dave said that if Vince was that against scripted promos, he would have axed it completely instead of this somewhat half-assed measure they're going with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted July 16, 2017 Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 I'm pretty sure I read a recap of Baron Corbin on Talking Smack that said Vince gave him more freedom in his promos on Smackdown BECAUSE of how he did on Talking Smack which goes against the whole "evil Vince killed it because he hates everything good and fun" thing. But of course people gotta stick to the tried and true narrative that Vince = 100% bad and HHH = 100% good so maybe Vince DID decide all on his own that Talking Smack needed to die but the real reason was because the pact with Satan required a new sacrifice to prolong Vince's lifespan. Yeah, I don't get the HHH love going on. This problem with babyfaces getting chumped constantly has him written all over it. You think he was kicking and screaming and resisting when he beat Sting at Mania when no one wanted to see it. Or he was forced to do that almost two year program with Rollins that no one wanted to see. Also, look at NXT. It's a cold product right now, the magic is gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted July 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 I would have agreed with you about NXT up until recently. They have had a string of really good shows over the past 6 weeks or so, with some standout matches, in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted July 16, 2017 Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 I'm months behind on NXT. I think it started getting boring as Roode started moving up the card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky Jackson Posted July 16, 2017 Report Share Posted July 16, 2017 NXT has been really good post-Mania weekend (overall, as the Takeovers have always been strong, even during the September 2016-March 2017 lull) and Roode has been great in 2017 as the arrogant champ who keeps finding ways to eek out wins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted July 17, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2017 I concur. I was off NXT for a while, I found it had gone into a decline and was getting rather bland and uninteresting, but I agree that since Mania or thereabouts, there has been a noticeable increase in quality. The weekly show has made it back onto my "must watch" list, and I've not been disappointed. The past month alone has featured a couple of outstanding matches, Aleistar Black vs. Chris Hero (or whatever his WWE name is, I forget how to spell the first name. Kassius? Kassus?) and most recently Bobby Roode vs. Roderick Strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 Jason Jordan & Kurt Angle. This is 1999 Russo level stupidity, with godawful GODAWFUL "acting". WWE TV is embarrassing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 It feels more like something they would have done in 2007-2008 than 1999. Less incest and spousal abuse, more "Paul, I can't feel my legs!" and angles involving Mr. Kennedy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Dog Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 I like how they spent all of that time in NXT trying to make you not think he was an Angle clone and then they made him an Angle clone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Thread Killer Posted July 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 What the hell are these writers doing with Kurt Angle? He used to have natural charisma and was incredibly funny. Now he's like a B movie actor in a horrible daytime soap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sek69 Posted July 18, 2017 Report Share Posted July 18, 2017 To be honest, I was expecting the reveal to be something even worse so it didn't seem that bad to me. It does seem silly that they try to do things like this in 2017 that will only lead to Jason becoming Lance Von Angle, but at least they didn't say he was having an affair with Dixie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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