The latest WWE and AEW News and Results
It’s a brand new episode of We’re Live, Pal.
Andrew Zarian and I talk what everyone’s talking about: Sasha Banks and Naomi walking out of Monday’s WWE Raw.
We wonder what WWE will do with no men’s World titles being defended on the upcoming Hell in a Cell show.
We look at the current Hardy Boyz vs. Young Bucks situation before giving our thoughts about Ric Flair returning to the ring one more time.
Enjoy the latest We’re Live, Pal in podcast form below or on YouTube above.
On Twitter today, Carmella defended her husband Corey Graves over criticism he’s received for his commentary on Monday’s episode of Raw.
Graves addressed Sasha Banks and Naomi walking out of Raw last night by saying on commentary that they “summarily and unprofessionally left the arena.” The line sounded like something that may have been fed to Graves, and Carmella indicated that was the case while responding to someone on Twitter.
“Imagine still living in a world where you think he just says whatever he wants,” Carmella wrote. “He does his job. Period.”
Imagine still living in a world where you think he just says whatever he wants. He does his job. Period.
— Mella Is Money đ€ (@CarmellaWWE) May 17, 2022
Banks and Naomi were scheduled to take part in a number one contender’s six-pack challenge in the main event of Monday’s Raw, but they left the arena during the show due to issues with the creative direction. The six-pack challenge was scrapped and a singles match where Asuka defeated Becky Lynch instead took place.
Naomi was scheduled to win the six-pack challenge before she and Banks walked out.
WWE issued the following statement on the situation:
When Sasha Banks and Naomi arrived at the arena this afternoon, they were informed of their participation in the main event of tonight’s Monday Night Raw.
During the broadcast, they walked into WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis office with their suitcases in hand, placed their tag team championship belts on his desk and walked out.
They claimed they weren’t respected enough as tag team champions. And even though they had eight hours to rehearse and construct their match, they claimed they were uncomfortable in the ring with two of their opponents even though they’d had matches with those individuals in the past with no consequence. Monday Night Raw is a scripted live TV show, whose characters are expected to perform the requirements of their contract.
We regret we were unable to deliver, as advertised, tonight’s main event.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez is back with tons to talk about including tons of notes on the Sasha Banks/Naomi situation on RAW, why they walked out, WWE’s side of the story and what the wrestlers are saying about it, the full RAW report, news and more. A packed show as always so check it out~!
Details are still light regarding exactly what happened that caused Sasha Banks and Naomi to walk out of WWE Raw Monday, but one Tuesday report has a version of what led to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions leaving the venue.
According to PWInsider, the plan for Raw was that Banks and Naomi would go head-to-head in the planned Six Pack Challenge with Naomi getting to challenge Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair at Hell in a Cell.
The report then went to say there is a belief this Friday’s SmackDown would kick off an angle to set up Banks vs. SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey at Hell in a Cell with both Banks and Naomi losing at the event.
A pitched alternative idea including Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H. that would have set up a different program was not gone with, leading to the two eventually informing John Laurinaitis they were leaving and handing over the titles.
On the post-Raw Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said the two went to Vince McMahon about the creative plan and Vince didn’t back down and didn’t agree to what they were asking.
The report said Mahon learned of their departure reportedly right as Raw was going live with the eventual Becky Lynch/Adam Pearce segment pitched and approved on the spot that led to Lynch vs. Asuka instead.
From the report:
“The belief among some is that the creative issue was not with Banks losing to Naomi but how the duo would have been portrayed over the next several weeks, especially after they had put so much time into building their team once Vince McMahon issued an edict that they would be teaming and winning the Womenâs Tag Team titles at Wrestlemania 38 – and that after diving into building that team, they were going to wrestle each other and go off to put over other talents, leaving them, exactly where, which apparently was the crux of the issue. The WWE plan looks to have been that the WWE Womenâs Tag Team Championship would have been downplayed until their next program after Hell In A Cell concluded.”
On the post-Raw edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer said the situation may also be related to a contract situation with Banks and Naomi.
During the show, WWE released a statement to the media that said the two “claimed they were respected enough as tag team champions” and that “they claimed they were uncomfortable in the ring with two of their opponents â even though theyâd had matches with those individuals in the past with no consequence.
PW Torch’s Wade Keller refuted that statement, saying, “I can just say that I asked around and there wasnât a pre-existing issue with Naomi and Sasha and anyone in that match.” He also said there wasn’t much sympathy backstage toward either woman nor a sense of them taking a stand for something people agreed with.
As of now, both women are still on the active roster.
Wretling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer returns with tons to talk about including details on Sasha and Naomi walking out of Monday Night Raw, the full RAW report, Cain Velasquez legal update, Ric Flair’s last match and the proposed opponent, Young Rock, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: Sasha Banks and Naomi walk out of Raw
12:25: Cain Velasquez denied bail
20:15: Ric Flair’s ‘final match’ set for July
27:52: Monday Upfront notes
35:25: Young Rock moved to Fridays, head-to-head with SmackDown
38:45: Ratings
42:01: Raw recap
In the main event of last night’s Raw, Asuka defeated Becky Lynch in a match that wasn’t originally supposed to happen.
Asuka and Lynch were scheduled to be part of a number one contender’s six-pack challenge with Sasha Banks, Naomi, Doudrop, and Nikki A.S.H. last night, but Banks and Naomi walking out of the show led to WWE having to change things on the fly. Asuka and Lynch instead faced off in a singles match to determine Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair’s challenger for Hell in a Cell.
Belair was at ringside for the Asuka vs. Lynch match. After Lynch threw Asuka into her, Belair jumped up onto the apron. Lynch tried to use Asuka’s umbrella as a weapon while the referee was distracted, but Asuka spit green mist into Lynch’s face, gave her a buzzsaw kick, and pinned her to get the win.
Naomi was reportedly booked to win the six-pack challenge before she and Banks walked out over issues with the creative plans for the match.
WWE issued the following statement on Banks and Naomi walking out:
When Sasha Banks and Naomi arrived at the arena this afternoon, they were informed of their participation in the main event of tonight’s Monday Night Raw.
During the broadcast, they walked into WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis office with their suitcases in hand, placed their tag team championship belts on his desk and walked out.
They claimed they weren’t respected enough as tag team champions. And even though they had eight hours to rehearse and construct their match, they claimed they were uncomfortable in the ring with two of their opponents even though they’d had matches with those individuals in the past with no consequence. Monday Night Raw is a scripted live TV show, whose characters are expected to perform the requirements of their contract.
We regret we were unable to deliver, as advertised, tonight’s main event.
Banks and Naomi walking out was also acknowledged on television. On commentary, Corey Graves said that they “summarily and unprofessionally left the arena.”
More coverage from last night —
WWE Raw video highlights —
Steel cage match: Bobby Lashley vs. Omos
Mustafa Ali vs. Veer Mahaan (special guest referee The Miz)
Rey & Dominik Mysterio confront Veer Mahaan
Becky Lynch reveals Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out, pleads for a title shot
Riddle vs. Jimmy Uso
The Judgment Day want new recruits to join their movement
AJ Styles & Finn Balor vs. Los Lotharios
Ezekiel’s DNA test gets contaminated
Alexa Bliss vs. Sonya Deville
A video package recaps Seth Rollins’ attack on Cody Rhodes from last week
Cody Rhodes challenges Seth Rollins to a Hell in a Cell match
Ezekiel vs. Chad Gable
R-Truth wants Carmella to help him get the 24/7 title back
Lacey Evans returns to Raw
Riddle promo, The Usos respond
Number one contender’s match: Asuka vs. Becky Lynch
Raw fallout: Becky Lynch says she was robbed
Raw fallout: Sonya Deville reacts to her loss
Raw Talk: Bianca Belair, Theory, Rey & Dominik Mysterio interviews
UPDATE: WWE has released the following statement regarding Sasha Banks and Naomi leaving during tonight’s Raw:
When Sasha Banks and Naomi arrived at the arena this afternoon, they were informed of their participation in the main event of tonightâs Monday Night Raw.
During the broadcast, they walked into WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitisâ office with their suitcases in hand, placed their tag team championship belts on his desk and walked out.
They claimed they werenât respected enough as tag team champions. And even though they had eight hours to rehearse and construct their match, they claimed they were uncomfortable in the ring with two of their opponents â even though theyâd had matches with those individuals in the past with no consequence.
Monday Night Raw is a scripted live TV show, whose characters are expected to perform the requirements of their contract.
We regret we were unable to deliver, as advertised, tonightâs main event.
The original story can be seen below:
The main event to tonightâs Raw was reportedly changed after Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out of tonightâs show.
PWInsider reported this evening that Banks “took issue with some of the planned creative” for tonightâs main event, which was set to be a six pack challenge to determine the next challenger for the Raw Womenâs Championship that both Naomi and Banks were a part of. They reported that Banks had a meeting with Vince McMahon and when McMahon did not change the plans, Banks âwouldnât back down on her issuesâ and left the taping. Naomi, Banksâs tag team partner, left with her.
Fightful Select reported that Naomi was originally scheduled to win the match.
The six-pack challenge was set to feature Banks, Naomi, Doudrop, Nikki A.S.H., Asuka, and Becky Lynch, which was advertised at the start of tonightâs Raw. In a later segment backstage, Lynch told Adam Pearce that she saw Banks and Naomi leaving with their gear and tried to get herself named the number one contender. Pearce refused and instead turned the six pack challenge into a singles match between Lynch and Asuka, where the winner would face RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair.
Later during the show, announcer Corey Graves mentioned that Banks and Naomi had “unprofessionally left the arena.”
Banks and Naomi are the current WWE Womenâs Tag Team Champions. They successfully defended the titles against Natalya and Shayna Baszler on this Fridayâs SmackDown.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Sasha Banks surprised students at a Brooklyn middle school by appearing in their classroom on Friday.
Students at Brooklyn, New York’s KIPP AMP Middle School formed a wrestling club where they watch matches. In March, a teacher at the school tweeted Banks a video of students watching her Hell in a Cell 2020 bout against Bayley.
Todayâs wrestling club features the best to ever do it. The kids loved this match. They were invested in the storyline of @SashaBanksWWE and @itsBayleyWWE. đâïž
One of them told me âI donât want to watch thisâŠthey donât want to hurt each other theyâre friends.â đ pic.twitter.com/7HH90sycaf
— Victor Taylor Perry (@wallflowerperry) March 9, 2022
Banks responded:
What period is this? I gotta come to this school! đ„ https://t.co/qaH4thTrQN
— Ăltimo MonĂ© (@MercedesVarnado) March 10, 2022
Banks visited the school today before Friday night’s SmackDown event in Long Island. The same teacher posted a video of Banks surprising the students as they watched her 2015 NXT TakeOver: Respect Iron Man match against Bayley.
Thank you @SashaBanksWWE and @WWE for coming to see The Wrestling Club. These kids will remember this day for the rest of their lives. đ đ pic.twitter.com/3dt5CUZg3X
— Victor Taylor Perry (@wallflowerperry) May 6, 2022
“I can feel their passion, feel their love for me, and I just wanted to give that right back,” Banks said in a WWE video about the visit.
Ahead of #SmackDown, @SashaBanksWWE visited the students of KIPP AMP Middle School! pic.twitter.com/DDxdF7q5dR
— WWE (@WWE) May 6, 2022
“They asked the best questions. And for such young, inspiring people to come with these questions? Man. They’re so prepared for the future, they’re so prepared for the now,” Banks said.
School was in session with The Boss at KIPP AMP Middle School in Brooklyn ahead of #SmackDown!
@SashaBanksWWE pic.twitter.com/Qj0ZjGGJXI
— WWE (@WWE) May 6, 2022
Naomi and Sasha Banks will be defending the WWE Womenâs Tag Team titles in two weeks on SmackDown.
Tonightâs show announced that they will defend the titles against Shayna Baszler and Natalya on the May 13th edition of SmackDown. Naomi defeated Baszler on tonightâs show, but Natalya attacked Naomi right after the match. Banks came in for the save, but Natalya got the advantage while Baszler recovered and attacked Naomi, stomping on Naomiâs arm.
Baszler & Natalya interrupted an interview with Naomi & Banks on last week’s SmackDown, saying they have never been beaten for the titles, mentioning the four-way from WrestleMania 38. Natalya ended up pushing Banks down, with Naomi holding Banks back as Baszler & Natalya made their exit.
Banks and Naomi won the titles on the second night of WrestleMania 38 in a four-way match that involved then-champions Carmella & Queen Zelina, Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan, and Natalya & Baszler.
New Women’s Tag Team Champions were crowned on night two of WrestleMania 38.
Sasha Banks & Naomi emerged from a fatal four-way match at WrestleMania Sunday as the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. They defeated Zelina Vega & Carmella, Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan, and Natalya & Shayna Baszler.
Vega & Carmella were champions going into the four-way match. After Banks took out Vega with a meteora on the outside, Banks and Naomi got the win with a combination Glam Slam/Codebreaker on Carmella.
Banks had never won a match at WrestleMania before tonight. She lost the first six WrestleMania matches of her career.
For Banks, this is her third Women’s Tag Team title reign. She and Bayley previously held the titles twice, including becoming the inaugural Women’s Tag Team Champions in 2019.
This is Naomi’s first Women’s Tag Team title reign.
Vega & Carmella had been Women’s Tag Team Champions since November 2021.
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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter: William Regal discusses health, WrestleMania 38 update
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WWE has announced a change to the card for tonight’s SmackDown.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Zelina Vega & Carmella will now face Sasha Banks & Naomi in a non-title match on SmackDown tonight. It was originally announced that Banks would be taking on Vega in a singles match on the show.
Vega & Carmella defending their titles against Banks & Naomi and Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan in a triple threat match has been announced for WrestleMania 38 night two on Sunday, April 3. In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that a fourth team is expected to be added to that match.
“While not yet announced, the womenâs tag title match as of this week was scheduled as a four-team match,” Meltzer wrote. “The fourth team would involve Natalya but they had not decided on her partner as of the last word, although itâs very possible that decision will be made this week.”
On last week’s SmackDown, Naomi defeated Carmella in a singles match.
Ripley & Morgan were added to the Women’s Tag Team title match at WrestleMania after they defeated Vega & Carmella in a non-title bout on Raw this Monday.
Tonight’s SmackDown is being held at Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. Big E & Kofi Kingston vs. Sheamus & Ridge Holland is also set for the episode.
A pair of WWE stars are among the nominees for this year’s Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.
Sasha Banks and Xavier Woods have both received Kids’ Choice Awards nominations. Banks is nominated for Favorite Female Sports Star, while Woods is nominated for Favorite Male [Social Media] Creator.
Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, Candace Parker, and Chloe Kim are also nominated in Banks’ category.
Woods is listed under the name Austin Creed, which is the name that he goes by on UpUpDownDown and other social media platforms. MrBeast, Ninja, Ryan’s World, Spencer X, and Unspeakable are the other nominees in his category.
The awards show will air live on Nickelodeon at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, April 9 and is being hosted by Miranda Cosgrove and former WWE 24/7 Champion Rob Gronkowski.
Voting for the awards is now open. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena are also nominated for Favorite Movie Actor.
“We canât be denied!!,” Banks tweeted about her nomination. “The Boss is nominated for Fav Female Sports Star at the 2022 #KCAs! Vote now at kidschoiceawards.com and see who wins April 9 on @Nickelodeon”
Banks & Naomi and Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan will challenge Zelina Vega & Carmella for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles in a triple threat match at WrestleMania 38 night two on Sunday, April 3.
Woods has been out of action since January after suffering a torn plantaris. He said on January 13 that he expected the injury to sideline him for 4-6 weeks.
Two matches have been announced for SmackDown next Friday.
Queen Zelina will face Sasha Banks, while Big E and Kofi Kingston will face Sheamus and Ridge Holland following an angle that took place on tonight’s show.
Zelina will face Banks after Naomi defeated Carmella on tonightâs SmackDown. On last weekâs SmackDown, Banks and Naomi declared their intention to win the WWE Womenâs Tag Team titles at WrestleMania 38. The following Monday on Raw, champions Zelina and Carmella accepted their challenge.
Big E and Sheamus were scheduled to face off in a match on tonightâs show. Kingston went to The New Dayâs ATV and honked the horn. The scheduled match turned into an angle, where Holland grabbed a chair and struck Kingston. Sheamus then attacked Big E. Both Sheamus and Holland got into the ATV and drove away. Later backstage, footage was shown of Sheamus and Holland destroying the ATV.
Next weekâs SmackDown will be held at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama.
Carmella and Queen Zelina have accepted the challenge from Naomi and Sasha Banks for a Womenâs Tag Team title match at WrestleMania 38.
On tonightâs Raw, Carmella and Zelina said they accepted the challenge Naomi and Banks made on SmackDown this past Friday. The two were talking about Carmella and Corey Gravesâ reality show on YouTube. Zelina remarked that all they talked about was sex. Carmella said if you thought that was something, when they retain the titles at WrestleMania, she planned to âcelebrateâ with her fiance in the ring.
After Banks defeated Shotzi on SmackDown Friday, Naomi entered the ring and announced they were going after the Womenâs Tag Team titles.
Here are the current cards for both nights of WrestleMania, which will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas:
Night 1 (April 2)
Night 2 (April 3)
Also announced:
