Sasha Banks and Naomi leave Raw after creative dispute

[Mighty Attack Tribble]

May 23, 2022 14:07:22 GMT -5 Kalmia said:

May 23, 2022 12:48:10 GMT -5 Mighty Attack Tribble said:

Colt has been back in the U.S. since the first week of March. They just haven't been using hIm.

Yep. That's why I said "was" and not "is"

But it's not the main reason he's not been on TV. He's been available to work longer than he wasn't.

It's a reason, sure, but Colt's been stuck in a "creative has nothing for you" position since then end of last summer.

[Shy Guy]

May 23, 2022 13:00:37 GMT -5 The Rick Jericho said:

According to Dave Meltzer on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, this is due to the wording of the contracts both wrestlers signed. Because the former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions were suspended for failing to perform when they walked out of the building prior to last week’s “Raw,” WWE has the option to freeze their deals. This would mean that the time frame of their contracts would be paused, and they would be stopped from progressing rather than continuing to roll towards expiration. This is normally done when talent is unable to perform, as WWE doesn’t want to lose out on potential dates.

Right now it is unknown whether or not WWE will actually be freezing Banks’ or Naomi’s contracts, but the company has done this in the past when it comes to talent going out with injuries, including cases like Bryan Danielson and Rey Mysterio. Both women’s deals are reportedly set to expire in the near future, though Naomi, at least, was supposedly working on a contract extension prior to the walk-out.

As for Banks, she was spotted this weekend at a Steve Aoki concert, and she has received support online from her cousin, Snoop Dogg. But on Sunday, the WrestleVotes Twitter account, which has provided reliable information in the past, claimed this situation “is going to get worse before it gets any better.”

On WWE “SmackDown” last week, Michael Cole officially announced that Banks and Naomi had been stripped of their Women’s Tag Team Championship and were suspended and that a tournament will be held to crown new ones. No tag teams have been officially announced for the tournament, and no date has been set for it, nor is there any indication as to how long Banks’ and Naomi’s suspension will go on.

Neither Banks nor Naomi has made a public comment since they chose to walk out during WWE “Raw” last week, for what is currently believed to be creative issues. The company had reportedly been planning on Naomi challenging for the “Raw” Women’s Championship at WWE Hell In A Cell, while Banks would get a shot for the “SmackDown” Women’s Title. Both women were set to lose their respective matches.

WWE has also removed both ladies from the, ‘Then. Now. Forever.’ graphic that the company uses before the shows, with Cody Rhodes taking their place. On top of that, online merchandise for them has been removed from WWE Shop, but they were still available physically at live events over the weekend.

Winc

I don't know why, but I just imagined Sasha and Naomi waking up Tuesday morning, just super late. Slept in. Probs in their own beds somehow. And just laid around all day because they have nothing to do wrestling related in the near future. I wonder if they just lazed around all day

[Dub H]

May 23, 2022 13:00:37 GMT -5 The Rick Jericho said:

According to Dave Meltzer on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, this is due to the wording of the contracts both wrestlers signed. Because the former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions were suspended for failing to perform when they walked out of the building prior to last week’s “Raw,” WWE has the option to freeze their deals. This would mean that the time frame of their contracts would be paused, and they would be stopped from progressing rather than continuing to roll towards expiration. This is normally done when talent is unable to perform, as WWE doesn’t want to lose out on potential dates.

Right now it is unknown whether or not WWE will actually be freezing Banks’ or Naomi’s contracts, but the company has done this in the past when it comes to talent going out with injuries, including cases like Bryan Danielson and Rey Mysterio. Both women’s deals are reportedly set to expire in the near future, though Naomi, at least, was supposedly working on a contract extension prior to the walk-out.

As for Banks, she was spotted this weekend at a Steve Aoki concert, and she has received support online from her cousin, Snoop Dogg. But on Sunday, the WrestleVotes Twitter account, which has provided reliable information in the past, claimed this situation “is going to get worse before it gets any better.”

On WWE “SmackDown” last week, Michael Cole officially announced that Banks and Naomi had been stripped of their Women’s Tag Team Championship and were suspended and that a tournament will be held to crown new ones. No tag teams have been officially announced for the tournament, and no date has been set for it, nor is there any indication as to how long Banks’ and Naomi’s suspension will go on.

Neither Banks nor Naomi has made a public comment since they chose to walk out during WWE “Raw” last week, for what is currently believed to be creative issues. The company had reportedly been planning on Naomi challenging for the “Raw” Women’s Championship at WWE Hell In A Cell, while Banks would get a shot for the “SmackDown” Women’s Title. Both women were set to lose their respective matches.

WWE has also removed both ladies from the, ‘Then. Now. Forever.’ graphic that the company uses before the shows, with Cody Rhodes taking their place. On top of that, online merchandise for them has been removed from WWE Shop, but they were still available physically at live events over the weekend.

Winc

This is one of the big reasons why even if the money is great you should be careful when signing with WWE nowdays.

These contracts are tyranical

[Dub H]

May 23, 2022 14:29:33 GMT -5 Mighty Attack Tribble said:

May 23, 2022 14:07:22 GMT -5 Kalmia said:

Yep. That's why I said "was" and not "is"

But it's not the main reason he's not been on TV. He's been available to work longer than he wasn't.

It's a reason, sure, but Colt's been stuck in a "creative has nothing for you" position since then end of last summer.

This is offtopic but it is very disappointing how the passing of Mr Brodie Lee left a lot of the Dark Order with nothing to do after a while(and I know the fault is on not booking then properly)

its more because during that time frame every single member of the Dark Order seemed to have a path lined up for then.

Anna & 10 were the top prospects. Uno was seemingly plotting something under Mr Brodie Lee's nose, Johnny was going to be his right hand man due to his enthusiasm. Silver was still part of the top tag team and he had a lot of character.Colt was the "public" face of the Dark Order .5 was just getting his licks in the business.The only one with not much to do was Reynolds.

[markymark]

What on Earth....?

[Deleted]

May 23, 2022 16:38:09 GMT -5 markymark said:

What on Earth....?

[Raw is Doodie101]

May 23, 2022 16:38:09 GMT -5 markymark said:

What on Earth....?

I doubt the initial part of this was a work. But we're inching closer & closer to where it could be a work going forward.

One way for this to work would be for WWE to go forward with the Women's Tag Title Tournament & have Naomi & Sasha return to confront the new champions and then have a match at Summerslam.

That would go to help solve a lot of Sasha & Naomi's big issues about their run & give them a big match to return to.

[Hypnosis]

May 23, 2022 16:45:25 GMT -5 @dax said:

May 23, 2022 16:38:09 GMT -5 markymark said:

What on Earth....?

[Lizuka #BLM]

Could just be USA's leaning into it because there's f***-all else to tune into Raw for tonight. Oh yeah, come by to see the 60th skirmish between Lashley and Omos plus Cody beating Miz for the second time since returning.

[Deleted]

When the day comes for MJF, Wardlow, a returning Moxley ect basically anyone Vince really wants to sit down for contract negotiations in Stanford they surely cite Harper, Ali and S&Ns contracts and say “not for me, I go when I want” and if Vince gulps then they can just re-sign with their current employees.

[cjb01: Limited Edition Item!]

May 23, 2022 16:45:43 GMT -5 Raw is Doodie101 said:

May 23, 2022 16:38:09 GMT -5 markymark said:

What on Earth....?

I doubt the initial part of this was a work. But we're inching closer & closer to where it could be a work going forward.

One way for this to work would be for WWE to go forward with the Women's Tag Title Tournament & have Naomi & Sasha return to confront the new champions and then have a match at Summerslam.

That would go to help solve a lot of Sasha & Naomi's big issues about their run & give them a big match to return to.

Every time we circle back to "This is actually a work" I feel like a bit more of my soul dies.

It's not a work, but USA are sure trying to cover asses in trying to make light of it, which only makes them look worse

And I re-emphasize, if this in some grand universe, turned out to be a work? WWE just burned more fans into never watching their product again, I guarantee it. There's no "big help" to this ending in it being a work, at all. It would just make WWE look like trash and Sasha and Naomi look awful, no one wins, and you don't get any more fans tuning in than normal, as I said, you probably lose quite a few of them.

[Deleted]

May 23, 2022 16:55:28 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Could just be USA's leaning into it because there's f***-all else to tune into Raw for tonight. Oh yeah, come by to see the 60th skirmish between Lashley and Omos plus Cody beating Miz for the second time since returning.

Watch Lacey Evans continue to break the cycle of abuse.

[Deleted]

May 23, 2022 16:38:09 GMT -5 markymark said:

What on Earth....?

This just feels like USA trying to captialize on the situation and trying to get more eyes on Raw tonight specificially the eyes of people who aren't on internet wrestling forums and getting them to think this is all one big angle and you gotta tune in tonight to see whats next etc.

[Tiger Millionaire]

How can you both freeze their contracts and then continually promote them in some way to get ratings?

[asuka007]

I have doubts they may USA social media people are getting handed details from WWE.

It could just be then trying to make chicken salad out of chicken s***.

[Deleted]

May 23, 2022 17:42:57 GMT -5 asuka007 said:

I have doubts they may USA social media people are getting handed details from WWE.

It could just be then trying to make chicken salad out of chicken s***.

It would fall in line with what was being discussed lastnight that Vince needs to be in controll of this narrative so he and USA are working together to spin this back into their favor...too bad the entire narrative continually makes his company look worse and worse.

I expect more of the same tonight...they left the WWE universe high and dry to go hang out with Steve Aoki.

Sasha

[The Rick Jericho]

So why can't talent just offer WWE a buyout?

They offer like $500,000 to get out of their contract? As least the company gets money back and then releasing them.

[Deleted]

May 23, 2022 17:53:04 GMT -5 The Rick Jericho said:

So why can't talent just offer WWE a buyout?

They offer like $500,000 to get out of their contract? As least the company gets money back and then releasing them.

Controll.

If Vince gives into Sasha and Naomi assuming they are willing to negotiate some type of deal to come back it could set a precedent , it is the core of any corporate run company to not give any power to the employees or in this case the talent.

[Raw is Doodie101]

May 23, 2022 17:03:23 GMT -5 cjb01: Limited Edition Item! said:

May 23, 2022 16:45:43 GMT -5 Raw is Doodie101 said:

I doubt the initial part of this was a work. But we're inching closer & closer to where it could be a work going forward.

One way for this to work would be for WWE to go forward with the Women's Tag Title Tournament & have Naomi & Sasha return to confront the new champions and then have a match at Summerslam.

That would go to help solve a lot of Sasha & Naomi's big issues about their run & give them a big match to return to.

Every time we circle back to "This is actually a work" I feel like a bit more of my soul dies.

It's not a work, but USA are sure trying to cover asses in trying to make light of it, which only makes them look worse

And I re-emphasize, if this in some grand universe, turned out to be a work? WWE just burned more fans into never watching their product again, I guarantee it. There's no "big help" to this ending in it being a work, at all. It would just make WWE look like trash and Sasha and Naomi look awful, no one wins, and you don't get any more fans tuning in than normal, as I said, you probably lose quite a few of them.

I don't think it's a work. I do think it eventually could become a work as maybe Vince sits down with Sasha/Naomi and gets them to come back. You could then use it as a storyline as they've done with numerous real-life situations.

Also, I doubt they suffer ratings decrease if they work things out and incorporate it into a storyline. That's just wishful thinking imo.

[One of the Cooler, Candid TOKs]

May 23, 2022 17:40:32 GMT -5 Tiger Millionaire said:

How can you both freeze their contracts and then continually promote them in some way to get ratings?

Media outlets' social media teams have zero connection to the booking. TNT botched an AEW debut last week because they jumped the gun.