The Taz Show Recap – Smackdown Analysis, Is Rusev Disgruntled? What Was the Best Part of Smackdown? More!

Block 1:

A listener calls in to open today’s show, saying he’s really looking forward to watching Backlash this weekend. The caller also hopes that the United States Title match between Kevin Owens and A.J. Styles main events the show. Taz says that he can understand that opinion, because those two guys can potentially steal the show, however he thinks Randy Orton and Jinder Mahal are going to have a great match as well.

Taz says that he didn’t like WWE’s utilization of Kevin Owens last night. He doesn’t believe that Owens should be stealing Chris Jericho’s gimmicks, and he thinks that Owens should be standing on his own because he’s better than this. Taz assumes that Jericho will be returning sooner than later and these two guys will revisit their feud, but Taz wonders how long WWE can drag out this program. It has already been ongoing for multiple months, and it doesn’t appear to be ending anytime soon.

A listener calls into the show and says that reforming The Shield is the only way that Roman Reigns is going to get over as a babyface with the WWE Universe. Taz disagrees and says reforming The Shield right now would be admitting defeat and would be a step back for Reigns and the company as a whole. He believes that turning Reigns full heel for a year or more would eventually result in the audience getting on Reigns’ side, then the company can flip him back to babyface.

R-Truth to Host His Own WWE Network Show Soon

According to PWInsider, R-Truth is all set to start his own show on the WWE Network. The series might end up hitting the Network by early fall.

WWE has secretly filmed the pilot for the new show already. The show is supposed to be some kind of a game show which will make it the first of its kind on the WWE Network.

With WWE looking to make the Network more big of a deal, shows like these might end up helping it garner more subscriptions and viewers.

Also, R-Truth is one of the most entertaining superstars on the roster, hence choosing him to be the host of shows like these is a wise move by the company.

Former WWE Superstar Ricardo Rodriguez Retires from Wrestling

Former WWE Superstar Ricardo Rodriguez announced on Facebook that he has retired from in-ring competition.

He wrote, “So I have decided to hang up the boots and just train/teach. I’m better at that, anyways, plus real life is getting in the way.”

For those who don’t remember, Rodriguez was part of Alberto Del Rio’s act as his personal ring announcer during Alberto’s first run with the company. WWE and Rodriguez parted ways on July 30, 2014. Since his departure, he has been working the indie circuit.

WWE Reportedly Holding a Meeting to Discuss Universal Title Plans

Dave Meltzer mentioned on today’s episode of Wrestling Observer Live that plans Braun Strowman and the WWE Universal Championship would be discussed in a meeting today with WWE officials. The meeting was supposed to take place yesterday, but for unknown reasons it didn’t happen.

Meltzer mentioned that the company is hopeful that Strowman can be cleared to return to action by July. The feeling is if he can only be out of action for a month, the scheduled bout against Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Title won’t have to be put off. If Braun is unable to return in time for the July pa-per-view, Finn Balor and Seth Rollins would be the top candidates as possible replacements at the Great Balls of Fire event. Braun vs. Brock would then be pushed back to the SummerSlam event.

WWE Offering Crazy Deal for July 3rd & July 4th Episodes of RAW & SmackDown

WWE is offering an amazing two-for-one ticket deal for the upcoming RAW & SmackDown events that falls on a holiday week.

Apparently the company believes that it will be hard to push ticket sales for the July 3rd and 4th episodes of RAW and SmackDown because it will be a holiday week so they are giving the fans a deal that is too good to pass up. The events will be held at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, AZ.