Talking Smack has been in the headlines these past few days after news broke that the show had been cancelled as a weekly program from the WWE Network. The show will now air after SmackDown Live exclusive pay-per-views (PPVs) only moving forward. Following this news, former WWE manger Armando Alejandro Estrada, better known for his time serving as the manager to the late Umaga, took to Twitter to claim that he came up with the concept for the show.
Estrada claims he pitched the idea to Vince McMahon back in December of 2011 under the name ‘Smack Talk’ which he wished to serve as the host for. McMahon reportedly liked the idea and thanked Estrada for it:
“In December 2011, I drove to a Smackdown taping in Indianapolis to have a meeting with Vince. Finally, after blowing me off for most of the day, we sat down in Gorilla before the taping and I pitched him an idea for a show. At the time, WWE was looking for ideas to create content for this vision they wanted to call “The Network”.
“The show I pitched Vince was a non-wrestling show that would allow talents that don’t get much mic time, the opportunity to pseudo-shoot and help get them comfortable speaking in front of a crowd. The show I envisioned was titled “Smack Talk” and I was to be the host. Vince smiled, said he liked the idea, shook my hand and said thank you. I drive home to Chicago that night thinking I was on to something. Little did I know I was about 5 years too early. RIP Talking Smack, you were a breath of fresh air!”
True story I've never told. Enjoy! #TalkingSmack #WWE @WWE pic.twitter.com/gT3wbGW0zZ
— Armando Estrada (@RealArmandoHaHa) July 14, 2017