It’s highly unfortunate to hear of someone learning of job news through Twitter, and that’s apparently what happened with WWE interviewer and personality Renee Young as well as wrestler and Smackdown GM Daniel Bryan.
John Canton (who writes The Comeback’s wrestling reaction columns and is the editor-in-chief of TJRWrestling.net) tweeted about Talking Smack (a weekly post-Smackdown WWE Network interview show hosted by Young and Bryan) being cancelled as a weekly show (news broken by PWInsider; Canton also covered it at TJR Wrestling); it will continue as a show after pay-per-view events. Young then quote-tweeted Canton’s tweet with “That’s one way to get news.”
I'm sad about #TalkingSmack as a weekly show. Still post PPVs.
Thanks @ReneeYoungWWE @WWEDanielBryan for doing great job as regular hosts.
— John Canton (@johnreport) July 14, 2017
Thought #TalkingSmack was very good at progressing angles, getting personalities over. Doubt it cost a lot. Lack of viewers hurt.
— John Canton (@johnreport) July 14, 2017
Hmmmm that's one way to get news. https://t.co/sNIYUZfD7N
— Renee Young (@ReneeYoungWWE) July 14, 2017
This led to lots of criticism from fans:
By the looks of it, Renee Young got the #TalkingSmack news from a tweet. Some serious problems with communication in that company…
— pwstream (@pwstream) July 14, 2017
@WWE strongly disagree with your choice. @ReneeYoungWWE is incredible at her job. Give us more of her. Not less. #SaveTalkingSmack
— Alex Boniello (@AlexBoniello) July 14, 2017
#TalkingSmack – fun, loose, & different w/instant #WWE Superstar reactions, GM's, + the irrepressible @ReneeYoungWWE, naturally cancelled. https://t.co/S50Cp5yrPm
— Michael Elhardt (@EndlssQuest) July 15, 2017
Quick @WWE note – it's a sin they canceled #talkingsmack. Renee Young is a rockstar & needs more forums, not less. Plus format was A+.
— Tony Pontecorvo (@disguyyy) July 15, 2017
So disappointed @wwe cancelled #TalkingSmack. @ReneeYoungWWE was always great. @AlexaBliss_WWE & @mikethemiz benefited greatly from it. #wwe
— David B (@mrdavidjb) July 15, 2017
Young later retweeted a GIF of herself flipping presents someone tweeted at her:
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) July 14, 2017
And added a further thought:
Really disappointed about #TalkingSmack. We tried to make that show great. Guess I'll go back to welcoming my guest at this time.
— Renee Young (@ReneeYoungWWE) July 14, 2017
This also saw a petition from Max Landis (creator of the BBC’s Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency series, as well as a prolific writer, producer and director):
THE @WWE HAS CANCELLED #TALKINGSMACK AS A WEEKLY SHOW.
I am STARTING A "NO" chant ONLINE, who's with me!?https://t.co/9AZbE5dRNF pic.twitter.com/9qKEnvqFZP— Max Landis (@Uptomyknees) July 14, 2017
That petition had over 6,000 signatures Friday night. And Bryan tweeted that he got the news from seeing Landis’ petition:
I come online to support #SamiForSyria and find this out. I'm the GM!!! Nobody tells me anything!!! https://t.co/Dup7nBKvss
— Daniel Bryan (@WWEDanielBryan) July 14, 2017
And another tweet suggested Young’s own WWE Network interview series Unfiltered has also been cancelled:
Unfiltered has now been cancelled. Not a good day for Renee Young. Deserves so much more. One of their best on-air personalities to date.
— pwstream (@pwstream) July 14, 2017
Other wrestlers weighed in with support for Young, Bryan and the show:
RIP #TalkingSmack I enjoyed the freedom this show gave @wwe talent to showcase what they could do @ReneeYoungWWE brought the best out of all
— The Miz (@mikethemiz) July 15, 2017
fantastic show/host. accentuated talent & layers of character.
(don't worry, I'm pitching us as a cop team to @ComedyCentral) https://t.co/Q00FpJKtr0— Dolph Ziggler (@HEELZiggler) July 14, 2017
Young had a great reaction to that last one:
Yesssss I'll dust off my old badge and flashlight ??♀️?? https://t.co/IaWG5vlJ0v
— Renee Young (@ReneeYoungWWE) July 14, 2017
Still, it sounds like there are some communication issues going on at WWE, to say the least. Programming changes happen all the time, but you should probably inform those affected before the news leaks out.
