Charlotte Flair “can’t imagine” that she’s had her last match with Sasha Banks or Naomi.
Flair appeared on an episode of Broken Skull Sessions released on Friday and spoke about her history with both wrestlers. She referred to Banks as “her Ricky Steamboat.”
“I came in and then like a month later Sasha came in and they made Sara Del Rey our head coach,” Flair said on the show. “Sara was a huge part of where I am today.”
“Sasha and I were attached at the hip, and then Becky and I were attached at the hip, it just kind of like switched,” she continued. “We were all close at a given time.”
Later in the conversation, Austin asked Flair what she thought of Banks and Naomi walking out on an edition of WWE Raw.
“I haven’t been there because I left after Backlash and I know what it’s like to jump on social media and read these headlines that are so far from the truth, so I don’t know what happened. What I can say is, I can’t imagine never wrestling Sasha again. That would be hard for me to compartmentalize because we started together, she’s my Ricky Steamboat. My dad always tells her that.”
“And then with [Naomi], we just had a hell of a match on SmackDown and there’s unfinished business there because of circumstances and storylines.”
“So, for me, I just can’t imagine not working with them but in terms of what they are going through, it’s not my place to speak on behalf of the company or them because I’m not there right now.”
Flair also spoke about the title-exchange segment between her and Becky Lynch from the October 22, 2021 edition of SmackDown. She told Austin that it was an accident when she dropped the title belt rather than handing it to Lynch.
“You’ve got two women that want to be the best, that want to be that top spot. I wish I could sit here and tell you that I did it on purpose but if people need me to be that bad guy, I’ll be that bad guy. Things happen on screen. I would never go on a scripted television show and purposely do something on purpose,” she said. “It was accidental.”
After she dropped the title, Flair complied with Sonya Deville telling her to pick it up off the mat. Flair told Austin that she does not believe she should have done so, however.
“My character would have never picked it up,” Flair continued. “Why would I not make Sonya do it? I make someone hold the ropes.”
Austin then asked Flair where her relationship with Lynch currently stands.
“Separate shows. I think for me, personally, her coming back with the baby and seeing her, Seth, and the baby travel the world together. She’s really showing the world it can be done and I hope to have that some day.”
In a series of Instagram Stories posts, Banks showed security footage of a car pulling up next to Banks’ car. A hooded figure can be seen breaking into Banks’ car and taking items from the trunk before escaping.
“Have fun with the hair products,” she wrote in one of the posts.
Banks and tag team partner Naomi were at the premiere of ”She-Hulk, Attorney At Law” in Los Angeles on Monday night. Neither have been on WWE television since May, when they were indefinitely suspended and stripped of the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles after walking out prior to an episode of Raw. It has since been reported that Banks and Naomi have reached a deal to return to the company.
While they have yet to return to WWE, Sasha Banks (Mercedes Varnado) and Naomi (Trinity Fatu) were busy on Monday night.
Banks and Naomi were both in attendance at the premiere for Disney+ and Marvel Studios’ “She-Hulk: Attorney in Law” in Los Angeles on Monday. Banks shared photos of her and Naomi on the red carpet:
Banks has a connection to Disney+, having appeared on episodes of “The Mandalorian.”
Banks and Naomi also made a public appearance earlier this month when they were guests at the C2E2 convention in Chicago.
Though they haven’t been on WWE television since walking out of Raw this May, it was reported on August 1 that Banks & Naomi have reached a deal to return to WWE.
Banks & Naomi were WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions when they walked out of Raw. A tournament is currently ongoing to crown the new champions. IYO SKY & Dakota Kai, Asuka & Alexa Bliss, and Raquel Rodriguez & Aliyah have already advanced to the semifinals. The fourth team to make the semifinals will either be Natalya & Sonya Deville or Nikkita Lyons & Zoey Stark.
After receiving criticism from fans, NXT wrestler Amari Miller has apologized for tweets that she made about Sasha Banks.
Miller posted a tweet on Wednesday crediting Ember Moon with being the “first and only” African-American NXT Women’s Champion. Miller wrote that her goal in NXT is to become the second.
When it was pointed out that Banks was NXT Women’s Champion before Moon, Miller tweeted: “For everyone on Twitter Fully Black NXT champion(Ember Moon). Im aware what I posted. Sasha is great and legendary for sure let’s never forget!”
Miller also posted a reply to someone where she wrote that Banks is “German and black” but not African-American.
Miller temporarily deactivated her account after receiving backlash for the tweets. On Thursday, Miller returned to Twitter and issued an apology, writing that she “meant something super well and it came across horribly.”
I didn’t mean bad intentions with what I had said but I do want to apologize. I meant something super well and it came across horribly. I want to sincerely apologize to everyone.
I also have to understand that posting on a social media platform can sound one way to me, as I’m typing and can come across totally different but that’s lessons learned for sure. People make mistakes and people grow and that is exactly what this experience was for me.
I didn’t mean bad intentions with what I had said but I do want to apologize. I meant something super well and it came across horribly. I want to sincerely apologize to everyone. I also have to understand that posting on a social media platform can sound one way to me,
Miller (real name Camron Clay) signed with WWE as part of the group of recruits that reported to the Performance Center in February 2021. She’s made appearances on NXT and NXT Level Up.
Banks and her tag team partner Naomi have been gone from WWE programming since walking out of Raw this May, but it was reported earlier this month that they’ve reached a deal to return.
Two Tag Team title matches highlight the card for tonight’s episode of NXT.
The men’s and women’s NXT Tag Team titles will both be on the line. In the men’s title match, Diamond Mine’s feud with the D’Angelo family will continue as The Creed Brothers defend against Tony D’Angelo & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo.
New NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions will be crowned when Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne), Yulisa Leon & Valentina Feroz, Katana Chance & Kayden Carter, and Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley meet in a fatal four-way match tonight. The titles were declared vacant after Cora Jade turned against Roxanne Perez while they were champions.
Plus, NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes will issue an open challenge; NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose will take on Sarray in a non-title match; Solo Sikoa takes on Von Wagner in a falls count anywhere match; Alba Fyre and Lash Legend clash; and NXT Champion Bron Breakker and his next challenger JD McDonagh will sit down for a summit ahead of their title match at NXT Heatwave later this month.
Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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The show opens with a four-way match to determine the new women’s tag champs.
Katana Chance & Kayden Carter defeat Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne), Yulisa Leon & Valentina Feroz, Ivy Nile & Tatum Paxley in a fatal four way elimination match to win the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship
Chance & Carter win to capture their first titles in WWE. This is fun to watch.
Early on, Leon & Feroz get to shine after a parade of dives. They execute a double team combo where they combine a vertical suplex and a high cross. That gets them a near fall. However, they are soon eliminated by Nile & Paxley.
Nile makes a blind tag and lands a gut punch in mid-air, and Nile scores a pinfall to eliminate Leon & Feroz. Nile looks like a killer in there, especially when she threw a trust kick. Looked like something from a martial arts action film.
Paxley is battling against Carter & Chance when Jacy Jayne makes a blind tag. Carter is unaware that Jayne is legal, as Carter gives Paxley a wicked combo. Carter drops her like a Death Valley Driver, but transitions it into a legdrop. Nevertheless, Jayne is legal. She nails Carter with a kick, and Jayne steals a pinfall on Paxley. Nile & Paxley are eliminated, and now two teams remain.
The match really heats up with two team remaining. Callback to a previous match between the two teams where Carter & Chance lost, but they persevere tonight.
Chance & Carter execute their double team finisher on Jayne, where Carter gives her a neckbreaker just before Chance leaps off the top rope with a 450 splash. Chance then covers Jayne for the deciding pinfall. And new…
Schism confront Josh Briggs, Brooks Jensen, and Fallon Henley. They bicker before Joe Gacy invites them to watch him deliver a special message to Cameron Grimes.
Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams are in the ring to celebrate Hayes’ birthday. They brag on themselves before Hayes issues an open challenge.
Out comes Giovanni Vinci, but that is a swerve. Just beforehand, Hayes said the first person in the ring is his opponent. Nathan Frazier rushes down the entrance ramp past Vinci as Vinci is posing, and Frazier gets into the ring first. Frazier pulls a fast one, and he gets the title match.
NXT North American Champion Carmelo Hayes (with Trick Williams) defeats Nathan Frazier to retain his title
Hayes pins Frazier after interference by Vinci. Instead of wrestling in the match, Vinci provides guest commentary from the announce desk. That leads to him interfering in the match.
This is arguably Frazier’s best match since his debut on NXT. Unlike past episodes, he also didn’t look like a geek. That is a welcome change. To his credit, Hayes also looks great in the ring as usual.
In the ring, Hayes and Frazier kept a frantic pace early on in the match. The pacing settles a little bit, only for the pace to quicken soon thereafter.
Lots of flying and springboards, and plenty of fast-paced action. This was the best showcase of Frazier’s talent since his NXT debut.
Frazier sails through the ropes to connect with a tope suicida. He torpedoes into Hayes, causing Hayes to hit the announce desk. The chain reaction causes a drink to spill on Vinci as he sat at the annonce desk. Vinci is livid.
Vinci shoves Frazier off the top rope in retaliation for the spilled beverage. Frazier takes a bump into the ring, and Frazier then takes a guillotine legdrop from Hayes. The champ then pins Frazier to retain his title.
An advertising tie-in with Sonic featured a hype video for Solo Sikoa.
The summit with Bron Breakker & JD McDonagh
Wade Barrett hosts a “summit” where he sits at a table between NXT Champion Bron Breakker and his next challenger, JD McDonagh. The two meet in a title match at NXT Heatwave.
Turns out, “summit” is just a fancy word for a contract signing.
Quite boring compared to what was on the show so far. Hot matches give way to this unimaginative talking segment. Mostly the same old hat seen in most of these contract signing segments, aside from McDonagh signing in blood.
They cut promos on each other, and then they sign the contract for their match at Heatwave. The highlight is McDonagh saying the match will end in blood. McDonagh pricks his fingers with a pen, and he signs the contracts in his own blood. For some reason, Breakker is enraged by the bloodletting.
They both spring to their feet out of their chairs. McDonagh offers a handshake with his finger still dripping blood. Breakker holds up the title belt, thus declining the handshake. The glare at each other to end the segment.
Apollo Crews offers words of encouragement to The Creed Brother ahead of their title defense later tonight. Damon Kemp enters to tell them Roderick Strong is running late, but he assures them Strong will be there for the title match.
Toxic Attraction are upset and ranting backstage. McKenzie Mitchell tries to interview them, but they want no part of it.
NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose defeats Sarray in a non-title match
Rose pins Sarray clean to win the match. Rose attacks Sarray after the match, and Zoey Stark runs in for a save.
The match begins during a split-screen commercial break. It is joined in progress when the show returns from the break.
Sarray got to shine, but she eventually lost clean as a sheet. Rose lands a jumping knee strike, and Rose covers her for a pinfall.
Rose grabs a metal folding chair, and she attacks Sarray with the chair for a post-match beatdown. Rose is hitting Sarray with the chair when Rose’s next challenger, Stark, runs down to save Sarray. Rose powders.
Tiffany Stratton is featured in a vignette. She is back to being a gymnast, while also still being a spoiled rich girl.
Plugs and bumpers indicate the men’s tag team title match is next, but there are other plans.
Duke Hudson bullies Axiom, and Hudson slaps him. They brawl around the backstage area, and they fight their way onto the soundstage. They brawl into the ring, where Hudson is manhandles Axiom. Hudson beats down Axiom, and Hudson leaves him laying. Hudson on the house mic says this proves your heroes will let you down.
Axiom rises to his feet, and he challenges to a match right here and now.
Axiom defeats Duke Hudson
Axiom pins Hudson in an unadvertised impromptu match amid David vs. Goliath psychology.
Much like the brawl beforehand, Hudson manhandles Axiom. He sets up for a Razor’s Edge, when Axiom counters into a hurricanrana. Axiom then turns a tilt-a-whirl into a victory roll, and Axiom scores a three count.
Wes Lee in a backstage interview challenges Trick Williams to a “rounds match,” where Lee invites Williams to bring his boxing gloves.
NXT Tag Team Champions The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed with Damon Kemp) defeat Tony D’Angelo & Stacks (with the D’Angelo Family) to retain the titles
Julius pins D’Angelo after interference by returning Santos Escobar. Roderick Strong never shows up to second the Creeds.
The match goes through a commercial break, and Brutus comes in off a hot tag after the show returns from commercials. Stacks takes a beating, but he eventually cuts off Brutus.
Stacks slam Brutus’ hand on the ring steps. Brutus sells the hand as the heels work him over. They work the hand, and the heels target the injury. Brutus finally tags out, leading to Julius cleaning house.
Julius is a house of fire, and he runs wild on the heels. D’Angelo fights back, causing a double down. Julius tries to tag out, but Stacks keeps Brutus from tagging by yanking Brutus off the apron.
Brutus chases Stacks into the ring, and Brutus takes him down. Meanwhile, Elektra Lopez at ringside passes D’Angelo a crowbar. The camera pans over as D’Angelo grabs the crowbar. When the camera pans back over, Santos Escobar has ahold of the crowbar, keeping D’Angelo from using it.
D’Angelo looks like he sees a ghost. Escobar pulls D’Angelo close, and Escobar hits him with a brass knux. D’Aneglo staggers around and walks into the grasp of Julius. D’Angelo takes a DVD, followed by a sliding larait, and Julius covers D’Angelo for a pinfall.
Legado del Fantasma left with Escobar. Looks like the band is back together.
Roxanne Perez in a vignette tells her side of the story related to Cora Jade’s betrayal. This was a really great video package. Concludes with Perez challenging Jade to a match at NXT Heatwave.
Jade in a backstage interview scoffs at Perez’s challenge. Mandy Rose interrupts Jade to offer a deal. Rose insists that Jade wrestle Zoey Stark, so that Rose will be rid of her. Jade scoffs at this too. She passes on the offer.
Rose convinces Jade to take the match by pointing at what happens if Stark is unable to compete at Heatwave. Jade would get the title match against Rose in that case, because Jade was runner-up in the number one contender’s battle royal. Jade says she will think it over, and she gives Rose a veiled insult. Jade then turns and leaves.
The new NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions, Carter & Chance, in an emotional interview celebrate their win.
Joe Gacy (with The Dyad) vs. Brooks Jensen (with Josh Briggs & Fallon Henley)
Gacy steals a pin after interference by Pretty Deadly.
The Dyad stalk Henley at ringside during the match, causing Briggs to come to her aid. As that happens, Pretty Deadly run in. Jensen is able to thwart their interference, but is distracted in the process.
Pretty Deadly is sent out of the ring as Gacy does a handspring into a lariat. Gacy then covers Jensen for a tainted and hallow pinfall victory.
Gacy breaks the fourth wall after the match as he looks into a handheld camera. Gacy again invited Cameron Grimes to join his cult (or whatever the Schism is supposed to be). Grimes is seen watching on a backstage monitor.
Tony D’Angelo is in the locker room, and he is upset and angry. Escobar again prank calls D’Angelo on a cellphone. This skit leads to them setting up a match at an unnamed location. Clever skit as the screen cuts back-and-forth to them talking to each other over the phone. Next week they face off in what is being billed as “The Final Accord.”
Alba Fyre defeats Lash Legend
Fyre pins Legend after a Gory Bomb and a Swanton.
For the second time on this show, a women’s match starts during a split-screen commercial break. Legend is working over Fyre as the show returns from the break.
Fyre blocks a superplex in the closing moments, and Legend takes a bump off the ropes. Legend grabs Fyre’s baseball bat to use as a weapon.
Legend swings and misses with the bat, and she eats superkicks from Fyre. Gory Bomb by Fyre, and she follows with a Swanton. Fyre then scores a pinfall.
Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams are leaving the building when they run into three attractive women. Their car won’t start, and they ask Williams & Hayes to jump it off. To be continued…
Nikkita Lyons responds to comments about her made by Kiana James. Lyons challenges James to match next week.
Solo Sikoa defeats Von Wagner (with Mr. Stone) in falls count anywhere match
Sikoa pins Wagner after a Superfly splash through the announce desk.
While the match begins in the ring, the fight soon spills outside to the floor. Sikoa is solidly in control until Wagner shoves him into the ring steps. Wagner then puts a section of the steps into the ring. Remember that for later.
Besides the steps, Wagner dumps folding chairs into the ring. Sikoa feeds Wagner his back, and Wagner hits Sikoa with chairshots. Wagner builds a bridge with two chairs, and Wagner proceeds to slam Sikoa on the chairs.
The fighting again spills outside the ring. Sikoa gives Wagner a Samoan Drop on the announce desk, but the table doesn’t break. Stay tuned for the table breaking.
They brawl away from ringside area, and they fight their way out of the soundstage. Going outside the building, the fight continues. Sikoa runs into Hayes & Williams, who are in convertible car with the three women from earlier. Sikoa shoves Hayes into the back of the car.
Sikoa resumes fighting with Wagner. They fight near a trash dumpster, and Wagner throws Sikoa into the dumpster. Sikoa gets out, and they fight on.
Cameron Grimes is exiting the building when Wagner pushed Sikoa into Grimes. All three tumble back inside the building.
Wagner gives Sikoa a sidewalk slam through a table for a near fall. Wagner is soon briefly blinded by a fire extinguisher.
They get back into the ring, and Sikoa is fired up. Sikoa with receipts for the earlier chairshots, as he smacks Wagner with a chair.
Wagner earlier in the match put the ring steps into the ring. That goes on to backfire. Uranage by Sikoa plants Wagner on the steps for a close near fall.
Sikoa climbs the turnbuckles, and Mr. Stone grabs Sikoa’s foot to block him from doing the Superfly splash. Sikoa headbutts Stone, and Stone falls out of sight. Nonetheless, the interference distracted Sikoa enough for Wagner to strike.
Sikoa counters Wagner, and he posts him. Wagner eats a few superkicks, and he falls back onto the announce desk. Sikoa climbs the turnbuckles, and he leaps off the top for a Superfly splash that puts Wagner through the table. Sikoa then scores a three count.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including updates from the Ric Flair show, Becky injury update, Ronda Rousey’s storyline suspension, Sasha and Naomi potentially returning, ratings, Women of Wrestling getting TV, AEW and NXT previews, RAW report and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: Ric Flair’s Last Match notes
7:04: Becky Lynch seperates shoulder
8:50: Ronda Rousey ‘suspended’, update on Sasha Banks & Naomi possibly returning to WWE
10:10: NXT, AEW previews
12:40: Ratings
16:34: Women of Wrestling entering syndication in the fall
It appears that Sasha Banks and Naomi could soon be returning to WWE.
WrestlingNews.co reported on Monday that they’ve been told “an agreement has been reached for Sasha Banks and Naomi to return to [WWE].” The report stated that there “is a belief backstage that we may see them return on tonight’s [Raw] or in the near future under Triple H’s regime.”
Banks and Naomi haven’t appeared on WWE television since walking out of an episode of Raw this May. Banks and Naomi walked out after taking issue with their creative direction.
After Banks and Naomi walked out, WWE suspended both indefinitely and announced that the Women’s Tag Team titles were now vacant. It was said that a tournament would be held to crown new champions, but that tournament hasn’t taken place.
On Wrestling Observer Live this afternoon, Bryan Alvarez addressed WrestlingNews.co’s report.
“I am not 100 percent confirming this, but since everybody is asking about it, I do have one source who is saying that, ‘Yes, Sasha and Naomi have made a deal to return,'” Alvarez said. “So we’ll know more I’m sure within two hours. But I’ll just say I think it’s true. I’m pretty sure. But I can’t say 100 percent.”
Raj Giri of Wrestling Inc reported in June that Banks had received her release from WWE. WWE hasn’t confirmed that report or commented on it.
Banks and Naomi are both set to appear at the C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) convention in Chicago this weekend.
With Paul “Triple H” Levesque now in charge of creative, the WWE women’s division was also bolstered with Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Io Shirai (now going by the name IYO SKY) returning at SummerSlam.
Naomi is joining Sasha Banks at this year’s C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) convention.
C2E2 announced on Friday that Naomi (billed under her real name as Trinity Fatu “Naomi”) will be a guest at their convention on Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7. It was also announced earlier this month that Banks will be appearing at the convention.
“Another guest has entered the C2E2 ring,” C2E2 wrote. “Trinity Fatu ‘Naomi’ joins Mercedes Varnado ‘Sasha Banks’ in Chicago Aug 6 & 7. Get your tickets now to meet this girl power duo.”
In addition to individual photo-ops and autographs, there will be a photo-op with Naomi and Banks together at C2E2. It’s $30 for a Naomi autograph, $50 for a Naomi photo-op, and $130 for the combined Banks and Naomi photo-op.
This will be the first public appearance Naomi and Banks have made since walking out of WWE.
Naomi and Banks walked out of an episode of Raw this May after taking issue with their creative direction. WWE then announced that Naomi and Banks had been suspended indefinitely and the Women’s Tag Team titles were now vacant. It was said that a tournament would be held to decide the new Women’s Tag Team Champions, but that tournament has yet to get underway.
Raj Giri of Wrestling Inc reported last month that Banks had received her release from WWE. That report has yet to be confirmed.
“It’s kind of up in the air. I mean, they’re gone. The last I heard was that there would be attempts to be made to reconcile, especially with Vince [McMahon] gone,” Meltzer said. “So, it’s up in the air. I don’t think there’s anything definite just yet.”
CM Punk, Danhausen, Lita, Mick Foley, The Undertaker, and Trish Stratus will also be guests at C2E2.
WWE is expected to make attempts to reconcile with Sasha Banks and Naomi.
Our own Dave Meltzer appeared on an episode of the Sports Illustrated Media podcast released on Thursday and was asked if Vince McMahon leaving WWE could lead to Sasha Banks and Naomi returning.
“It’s kind of up in the air. I mean, they’re gone. The last I heard was that there would be attempts to be made to reconcile, especially with Vince gone,” Meltzer said. “So, it’s up in the air. I don’t think there’s anything definite just yet.”
Sasha Banks & Naomi have been indefinitely suspended since walking out of the May 16 edition of WWE Raw. A report earlier this month noted that they were removed from the company’s internal active roster listing but neither has been officially released. It was reported last month that Sasha Banks’ lawyers were involved and seeking to obtain her release from the company.
Wrestling Observer Live with Mike Sempervive is back to talk all about night one of AEW Fyter Fest tonight on Dynamite, plus the NXT 2.0 review, Raw ratings from Monday, Sasha Banks appearing at C2E2 Chicago, Big E’s recovery, and so much more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Sasha Banks’ first public appearance since walking out of the May 16 edition of WWE Raw has been announced.
The Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo revealed on Wednesday that Banks is scheduled to appear at its event next month. Banks will be available for photo ops and autographs at the show on Saturday, August 6, and Sunday, August 7.
“Please join us in welcoming our next #C2E2 guest, Mercedes Varnado (Sasha Banks)! Whether you’ve seen her in the ring or as Koska Reeves in The Mandalorian, you are not going to want to miss out on this Photo and Autograph opportunity!” C2E2 wrote on Twitter.
Other personalities from wrestling booked for this year’s C2E2 include Trish Stratus, Mick Foley, and Lita.
It was reported last week that both Banks and Naomi have been removed from WWE’s internal active roster listings. Neither has been officially released from the company, however. It was also reported last month that Banks’ lawyers were involved and actively seeking to obtain her release from the company.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including Sasha and Naomi and WWE, AN ATTEMPTED HONEST LOOK AT THIS, RAW ratings for Monday night which were bad but actually very good at the same time, AEW Dynamite recap, an astronomy lesson and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Sasha Banks and Naomi are no longer considered active members of the WWE roster.
According to a report from PW Insider, both have been removed from the company’s internal roster listing over the last 24 hours. There has been no confirmation that either has been officially released, however.
The report continued to say that there have been “rumblings Banks may be doing some signings outside of WWE this Fall as well.”
Banks and Naomi walked out on the May 16 edition of WWE Raw after a disagreement with the company over creative plans. On the May 20 edition of SmackDown, WWE announced that the two had been suspended indefinitely and that the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships had been vacated. Their merchandise was pulled from WWEShop.com as well.
Last month, it was reported that Banks’ lawyers were working on obtaining a release from WWE for their client.
“I cannot confirm she’s been released. But, I did hear late last week that her attorneys were working on getting this done,” said Andrew Zarian on the Mat Men podcast.
Jim Valley is back on today’s Wrestling Observer Live to run down the few highlights on SmackDown, but mainly talks about the excessive appetites of Vince McMahon. How much money, sex, power and monuments to himself does one person need before his incredible drive changes from an asset to a sickness?
Plus, the passing of Dave Hebner, Forbidden Door, Sasha Banks, Triplemania and more.
While a Wednesday news story that Sasha Banks received her WWE release has yet to be confirmed, there is a report that her lawyers are working on it.
Wrestling Inc.’s Raj Giri reported yesterday that he heard Banks had got her release which was unconfirmed by our Dave Meltzer.
After speaking directly with Giri, Fightful noted, “The claim, again, unverified by us as of yet, were that Banks’ lawyers were involved and there had been eyes on a physical WWE release.”
During his Thursday Mat Men podcast, our Andrew Zarian said, “I cannot confirm she’s been released. But, I did hear late last week that her attorneys were working on getting this done.”
WWE has yet to comment on any of this, which includes not issuing any denial.
Information is very light and still speculative as of now and if an actual release contract has been written up, what the terms would be.
Banks and Naomi walked out just prior to the May 16th WWE Raw due to a creative dispute with Vince McMahon regarding booking leading into Hell in a Cell. On that Friday’s SmackDown, it was announced the two were indefinitely suspended and stripped of the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles. Their merchandise was also removed from WWE Shop and their contracts were put on hold.
Neither woman has released any kind of statement publicly. It was reported that Naomi was negotiating for a new contract at the time of the walkout while Banks’ deal reportedly has a lengthy amount of time remaining.
