Why Vince McMahon Cancelled Talking Smack
Chairman reportedly unhappy with show's unscripted nature.
The decision to cancel Talking Smack was taken directly by Vince McMahon, according to Sports Illustrated's Justin Barrasso.
News that the show was to be canned this week prompted angry responses from sections of the WWE audience, many of whom enjoyed its refreshingly candid feel.
And it was originally suggested by the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer that poor viewership figures ultimately forced the company's hand.
But Barrasso believes McMahon simply disliked the show's aesthetic, and made an executive decision to pull the plug.
The 70-year-old - who continues to have eyes on the product, despite seldom attending shows in the flesh - was said to have been unhappy with its unscripted nature, which saw the line between kayfabe and reality regularly being blurred.
The show, whose cancellation was greeted with disappointment from the likes of Renee Young, Daniel Bryan and The Miz on social media, is now reportedly set to be phased out altogether.
This is despite WWE issuing a statement assuring fans that it would continue to be aired after SmackDown pay-per-views, with only the weekly Tuesday evening edition to be culled.