Renee Paquette has fondly recalled her time working alongside one particular former WWE Superstar, commenting that there was something “so special” about working with them.
Talking Smack debuted in August 2016 and quickly developed a cult following among WWE fans. While the show was headed up by Renee Paquette, it was co-star Bryan Danielson, known as Daniel Bryan at the time who often stole the headlines.
The former WWE Champion had recently had to retire due to concussion related issues, and was attempting to carve out a new wrestling-related career outside of the ring. The result was a show that blurred storyline and real life, offering WWE fans a glimpse into the machine.
Speaking in a new interview with Rick Uchinno for Bleav Pro Wrestling and Cageside Seats, Paquette recalled her time working on Talking Smack and working alongside Danielson. The commentator-turned-podcaster had nothing but good things to say about her co-host.
“I loved working with him. There’s something so special about working with him. I mean obviously you look at Bryan, you look at his accolades, and everybody loves the guy. He’s one of the best wrestlers in the entire world. But he was at a time in his career where he was just kind of like, F-it. Throwing sh*t against wall. We were saying things we shouldn’t be saying. We were pushing the envelope. And that was the thing to me that was so much fun,”
Despite the show’s success it was cancelled in July 2017, before being revived in October 2020 with Kayla Braxton at the helm. Reflecting on the show being brought to an end, Paquette said it was a “bummer,” especially as the it had been getting great feedback.
“Especially when the core group of people that were working on it, we were all just having such a good time. The feedback was great and it felt like we were doing something different and something fresh. And obviously that’s something that the fans were really craving at the time. Was being able to have something like that, where it is a peel behind the curtain, but like not too much. We’re kind of in and out of characters and whatnot.
Yeah, it’s a bummer that the show got canned and, you know, the show still lives on in some capacity. But it’s obviously significantly different than from when we started doing the show. And I’m sure the version that they have of it now is more what they were looking for, but I’m really glad that we got to just like, really f*ck around at the beginning.”
Renee Paquette and Bryan Danielson will reunite at Starrcast V for a special stage show. Meanwhile, it has been announced that Ric Flair will team with real-life son-in-law Andrade El Idolo at the event to take on Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal, in what is being billed as his last ever match.