Sasha Banks and Naomi indefinitely suspended by WWE

[slik]

PWInsider and Fightful both reporting Sasha Banks has walked out of RAW following a fight backstage with Vince McMahon over creative. Naomi left with her.

Sasha/Naomi were scheduled to be in the main-event of RAW at the start of the show but that has now been changed.


https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=158986

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We've confirmed with our sources at Raw that Sasha Banks and Naomi did actually leave tonight. We've got a lot more details coming to <a href="https://t.co/jy8u4a7WDa">https://t.co/jy8u4a7WDa</a> soon <a href="https://t.co/136KLfscio">pic.twitter.com/136KLfscio</a></p>&mdash; Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1526376858308300800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The most gangster walkout story I've ever heard is when someone got yelled at by Vince, and they walked over, shook his hand and said &quot;I hope you learn something today,&quot; and hit the bricks.</p>&mdash; Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1526385208550891520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The report of Sasha Banks &amp; Naomi leaving <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWERAW?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWERAW</a> seems to be legit - and now Fightful is reporting NAOMI was scheduled to win ��</p>&mdash; Female Locker Room (@femalelroom) <a href="https://twitter.com/femalelroom/status/1526378656884457475?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[GD]

Oh my! This is very juicy gossip.

[xrodmuc316]

But her husband was still there? Call me skeptical

[slik]

I turned on RAW and they had Corey Graves bury them on TV saying they unprofessionally walked out and the main-event was changed as a result.

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WWE's statement on Sasha Banks and Naomi <a href="https://t.co/DrNS84QfxX">pic.twitter.com/DrNS84QfxX</a></p>&mdash; Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1526389791784321028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[GD]

But her husband was still there? Call me skeptical

Didn't AJ Lee keep working with WWE even after Punk left / got terminated?

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Facts be dammed.

Sasha, I’m not surprised at all. She was on the brink of quitting before and this isn’t the first time she’s been unhappy with creative. Especially as a tag champ. She hits the open market and she’s going to be the top free agent woman’s wrestler. Easily, IMO.

Naomi surprises me more. But good for her for backing her partner. She’s very talented and seeing outside the WWE style of wrestling is interesting, if this does lead to their release.

Of course Graves was gonna bury them. He’s got a job to do.

[xrodmuc316]

Didn't AJ Lee keep working with WWE even after Punk left / got terminated?

Yeah she came back a few months later, but it wasn't a heat of the moment thing. This seems sudden and a more fair comparison would be when Austin walked out and Debra went with him, or when Miss Kitty was suddenly fired and Lawler left with her.

That's why I am skeptical, but you are right, there are certainly examples going the other way.

[xrodmuc316]

Facts be dammed.

Sasha, I’m not surprised at all. She was on the brink of quitting before and this isn’t the first time she’s been unhappy with creative. Especially as a tag champ. She hits the open market and she’s going to be the top free agent woman’s wrestler. Easily, IMO.

Naomi surprises me more. But good for her for backing her partner. She’s very talented and seeing outside the WWE style of wrestling is interesting, if this does lead to their release.

Of course Graves was gonna bury them. He’s got a job to do.

That is 2 more factors, they can play up the Mania 35 aftermath to make this more believable, and I think if it was just a disagreement they wouldn't bury them on commentary instantly, not before seeing if they can move on from it.

[slik]

Triple A probably asleep from eating too much GUAC and unable to update the homepage of tpww dot net with all this

[xrodmuc316]

Sasha Banks unfollowed a bunch of key WWE accounts on Twitter over the past few days. While this may or may not be related to her walking out of Monday’s RAW, it’s worth pointing out that The Boss has unfollowed the handles of WWE, WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, Bayley, Becky Lynch, The Usos, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns.

Banks is currently following only 6 accounts – Naomi, John Cena, Tamina Snuka, her cousin Snoop Dogg, and two fan accounts.


Unfollowed over the past few days, not after finding out creative was bad. She unfollowed her partners husband, and her supposed best friend?? LOL come on

[screech]

Seems odd that WWE put out that statement when usually "card subject to change" is their go-to reason. Who knows if we'll find out the details here but this is way more interesting than pretty much anything the women's tag team division has done on TV.

[slik]

Supposedly this guy is friends with Naomi...but who knows so emphasis on 'supposedly'...


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You are approached in February as being put in a tag team, after both being promised big feuds at WM.<br><br>You bite the bullet and put everything you got into being a tag team. It works, you get over, win the titles at WM and become merch pushers.</p>&mdash; Security at Joseline's Cabaret (@Adidas_Head88) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adidas_Head88/status/1526398107105230850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">You request a meeting with your boss to discuss it. Your boss takes the meeting and everything is actually going well. He understands your concerns.<br><br>The meeting ends well and the match is told to be reconstructed. For some reason producers get mad about it.</p>&mdash; Security at Joseline's Cabaret (@Adidas_Head88) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adidas_Head88/status/1526398109177286659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Neither one of you will win the solo titles, and you won't defend your tag titles until MITB.<br><br>You ask for another meeting with your boss, but this time you are being called spoiled. A producer walks away screaming.<br><br>He comes back and tell both of you to fix your attitudes.</p>&mdash; Security at Joseline's Cabaret (@Adidas_Head88) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adidas_Head88/status/1526398111354081282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Again you are met with fix your attitudes.<br><br>So after one final meeting with yourselves and asking others, you make the ultimate decision as a team.<br><br>It's sad how oneside is trying to create a fucked up narrative.</p>&mdash; Security at Joseline's Cabaret (@Adidas_Head88) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adidas_Head88/status/1526398113153425413?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Destor]

i dunno *IF* that account is to be believed (and it shouldnt be unless substantiated elsewhere) i agree with the office based soley on that side of the story alone *IF* thats true theyre spoiled and need to fix their attitudes

[#1-norm-fan]

Should have gone out there and walked out mid-match Jeff Hardy style. Make a statement. Missed opportunity.

[xrodmuc316]

That account is making it sound like Shane McMahon from the Royal Rumble is back :rofl:

[GD]

Should have gone out there and walked out mid-match Jeff Hardy style. Make a statement. Missed opportunity.

Gail Kim did it first by eliminating herself from the battle royale. Don't forget the OG.

[slik]

WWE put the statement on dot com as well


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Official WWE statement on Sasha Banks &amp; Naomi <a href="https://t.co/TbehKPdAfD">https://t.co/TbehKPdAfD</a></p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1526420278489776129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Fignuts]

i dunno *IF* that account is to be believed (and it shouldnt be unless substantiated elsewhere) i agree with the office based soley on that side of the story alone *IF* thats true theyre spoiled and need to fix their attitudes

I dunno man, I see where you're coming from, but maybe the undercard titles would be worth a damn if more people stood up like this.

*IF* This account of the events is true.

[GD]

WWE put the statement on dot com as well


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Official WWE statement on Sasha Banks &amp; Naomi <a href="https://t.co/TbehKPdAfD">https://t.co/TbehKPdAfD</a></p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1526420278489776129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Does this have anything to do with Alexa Bliss?

[slik]

No but they changed Alexa's entrance to really generic music for some reason

[slik]

I mean...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">alexa bliss new theme <a href="https://t.co/LoiNgWHzyy">pic.twitter.com/LoiNgWHzyy</a></p>&mdash; BlissBlissVids (@BlissBlissVids) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlissBlissVids/status/1526383752515145729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[GD]

Whom did they not want to work with? It's so confusing

[weather vane]

WWE is such a bonehead company.

[slik]

Whom did they not want to work with? It's so confusing


The other 4 people in the match were Becky, Doudrop, Nikki A.S.H. and Asuka so I think that sounds suspect they wouldn't want to work with people they've both wrestled many times before.

[slik]

It is not great optics that if this were say Randy Orton or Charlotte Flair they would likely be given a 'vacation' for arguing with Vince or it'd be forgiven a week later but two black women are called 'unprofessional' on air and then a Press Release immediately goes out saying they have a 'bad attitude'

I mean, someone didn't think that one through...

[GD]

It is not great optics that if this were say Randy Orton or Charlotte Flair the would likely be given a 'vacation' for arguing with Vince or it'd be forgiven a week later but two black women are called 'unprofessional' on air and then a Press Release immediately goes out saying they have a 'bad attitude'

I mean, someone didn't think that one through...

I understand where you're coming from.

[Lock Jaw]

Team B.A.D.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

It is not great optics that if this were say Randy Orton or Charlotte Flair they would likely be given a 'vacation' for arguing with Vince or it'd be forgiven a week later but two black women are called 'unprofessional' on air and then a Press Release immediately goes out saying they have a 'bad attitude'

I mean, someone didn't think that one through...

Charlotte purposely tanked a segment with Becky Lynch. Did anything happen to her after that? Serious question.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I’m so sick of Sasha by this point.

[Sepholio]

The statement WWE put out has me convinced this is a work. Extremely off brand for them. Also I'd believe it 100x more if it was just Sasha walking out.

[Sepholio]

It is not great optics that if this were say Randy Orton or Charlotte Flair they would likely be given a 'vacation' for arguing with Vince or it'd be forgiven a week later but two black women are called 'unprofessional' on air and then a Press Release immediately goes out saying they have a 'bad attitude'

I mean, someone didn't think that one through...

Lol what? Naomis husband has gotten more chances than Jeff Hardy. Come on now.

[erickman]

anyway it gets rid of the womans tag titles work or shoot. vince hates tag teams he is also not much into womans wrestling.

[Sepholio]

I mean if that one account is true, they didn't really want the tag titles in the first place even though I guess they made it work. But how many teams are there for them to feud with that arent just utter ass? -2, maybe. So for them to get upset that they are being put into 2 main event tier title programs while they wait for something to develop in the tag scene seems....really weird to me. Feuding with Bianca/Ronda is a way bigger spotlight on both of them than languishing in the tag scene with nothing to do.

[Destor]

I dunno man, I see where you're coming from, but maybe the undercard titles would be worth a damn if more people stood up like this.

*IF* This account of the events is true.no ammount of unprofessionalism is going to solve the issue that there simply arent enough tv ready women's wrestlers to have 2 divisions on 2 brands.

[Destor]

I mean if that one account is true, they didn't really want the tag titles in the first place even though I guess they made it work. But how many teams are there for them to feud with that arent just utter ass? -2, maybe. So for them to get upset that they are being put into 2 main event tier title programs while they wait for something to develop in the tag scene seems....really weird to me. Feuding with Bianca/Ronda is a way bigger spotlight on both of them than languishing in the tag scene with nothing to do.
this is what raised my eyebrow. creative came back with something for you. high profile angles. and you walk? so in this tweets scenrio you're throwing a fit because youre working the top talent? *if* thats true your on an hbk level ego trip with an 1/8th of the barganing power.

[Blonde Moment]

Sasha will be back by the end of the year and Naomi will be jobbing on main event before you know it

[erickman]

i don't know why naomi was not part of the bloodline story line anyway. the last year she should have been heeling it up with them.

[Evil Vito]

It sounds like a really, really shitty place to work, and I'm glad they stood up for themselves.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

The statement put out by WWE is the weirdest part of this. One, they never put out a statement like this ever. And two, this company does public relations as well as anyone. They are so protective of their image and brand. And yet that’s the statement they put out? It looks like it was written in about 3 minutes and publicly calls out their own employees while breaking kayfabe. It’s so sloppy and really out of character for a company that tries to keep such a polished image.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

@Supreme—Well it’s similar to what happened when Austin walked out and how they had themselves a little tantrum about it. Different company now of course but they still made sure to bring in the Rock to bury Steve on live tv. That’s after he was basically the sole reason they “won the war.”

I’m surprised the statement didn’t have something about Sasha and Naomi taking their ball and going home.

Eh, anyways, not a huge fan of Sasha based on what I know about her as a person but I’m all for talents giving the office a headache.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Also, my interpretation of that message is, "we asked them to do the same horrible, rote bullshit we ask them to do every week, and suddenly there's a problem?"

[Jordan]

It's a cool story. But it's not like they are gonna be able to just "hope over to Dynamite" in a few weeks if they want.

Even if they could AEW is so packed as is.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Nah. But Sasha DOES have other options because she's been doing the acting and John Favreau is a huge fan. She's not limited to wrestling like the rest of the schmucks. Naomi is also with one of the Usos, so she has leverage just the same. It's not about turning up on Dynamite, it's about saying, "fuck you, we don't need this bullshit. Up your game."

Don't get me wrong, wouldn't fault the WWE for firing them, but they don't have the cajones. They'd prefer to just bury them as much as they can get away with until welcoming them back with open arms.

[erickman]

It's a cool story. But it's not like they are gonna be able to just "hope over to Dynamite" in a few weeks if they want.

Even if they could AEW is so packed as is.

yeah women and tag team they would have to pop out at impact

[Loose Cannon]

I don't know, I love a good walk out story, but it's Sasha Banks and Naomi. I'm sure the company could really give a shit lol

[erickman]

yeah they should have let banks go a few years ago

[Fignuts]

no ammount of unprofessionalism is going to solve the issue that there simply arent enough tv ready women's wrestlers to have 2 divisions on 2 brands.

this is what raised my eyebrow. creative came back with something for you. high profile angles. and you walk? so in this tweets scenrio you're throwing a fit because youre working the top talent? *if* thats true your on an hbk level ego trip with an 1/8th of the barganing power.

The women's tag titles are not high profile. They are an afterthought. For reasons you just listed. And sure, you can say well now is your chance to be part of elevating these titles...but by that account, they were planning on making them even more irrelevant, despite Sasha and Naomi bringing up their concerns in a professional manner several times.

So the question is, how much shit are you going to eat, before you say go fuck yourself? And keep in mind this is not a young wrestler who has yet to make it big, where said shit eating is expected. Its two people who have been at the top as champions for years now, and then they're told they're going to essentialy be enhancement talent for the singles champions and then theyre going to disappear for no reason.

[Fignuts]

ftr, it was still unprofessional, I'm just saying I get why they felt they needed to walk out.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Pretty much. Giving them the belts, only to have them plugged into separate feuds, doesn’t elevate the tag belts. They’re being put into a position to join in the main event scene for 2 months only to come back later and try to pretend their tag belts are still worth something, allegedly. That’s chicken shit and it’s a complaint other talents have had.

I don’t blame them. They’re standing up for themselves, they’re demanding what they’re being booked in stories that make the titles matter. And it’s Sasha going thru more booking issues around the tag titles as she was unhappy when her abs Bailey dropped them to a comedy team after working hard to get the titles over.

Unprofessional or not, I don’t see why anyone would back wwe here. More wrestlers should say something instead of taking shitty gimmicks and angles. It would help the product.

[Mr. Nerfect]

i don't know why naomi was not part of the bloodline story line anyway. the last year she should have been heeling it up with them.

I’m pretty sure they want Naomi to be a babyface role-model. I’m a shitty world where kayfabe is dead, she can be inspirational as a heel, but eh. I don’t know how captivating her performances as a heel would be either. Then you’ve got to dedicate a certain amount of time to that specific part of the Bloodline angle, which could drag it down.

The statement WWE put out has me convinced this is a work. Extremely off brand for them. Also I'd believe it 100x more if it was just Sasha walking out.

Their statement completely shatters kayfabe and really has tones of “ungrateful little marks for themselves.” It did give me pause that apparently Russo was sniffing around for a job and then this happens, because this is exactly the sort of shit he would try to pull in fiction — but I think the most likely explanation is simply that it’s a hot-headed response to bury the women’s disposition of “this is about respect” before the company decides to bury them.

anyway it gets rid of the womans tag titles work or shoot. vince hates tag teams he is also not much into womans wrestling.

The thought occurred to me that WWE could just come out and deny those belts ever existed, lol. How’s that for putting respect onto them? But I don’t know where this idea that Vince isn’t keen on women’s wrestling comes from. I mean, sure — modern society ties his hands a little bit, but he’s pushed the women hard even when he hasn’t “had to.”

I also think the tag team thing is a myth that is perpetuated by internet lore. There’s probably validity to the claim that he sees more star value in individuals when they are truly over, and that makes sense. But it’s blown way out of proportion when you consider the function tag team wrestling plays and how some of the biggest acts he’s had over the past 6 years have been tag teams.

I don't know, I love a good walk out story, but it's Sasha Banks and Naomi. I'm sure the company could really give a shit lol

I think this is what rubs me the wrong way about it if it is a shoot. I can totally imagine Sasha overrating her star power and Naomi thinking she can pull whatever because she married in. There’s still undercurrent of “we’re so important” when they’re realistically not, lol.

The women's tag titles are not high profile. They are an afterthought. For reasons you just listed. And sure, you can say well now is your chance to be part of elevating these titles...but by that account, they were planning on making them even more irrelevant, despite Sasha and Naomi bringing up their concerns in a professional manner several times.

So the question is, how much shit are you going to eat, before you say go fuck yourself? And keep in mind this is not a young wrestler who has yet to make it big, where said shit eating is expected. Its two people who have been at the top as champions for years now, and then they're told they're going to essentialy be enhancement talent for the singles champions and then theyre going to disappear for no reason.

You’re making valid points, but it all carries a tone of being a bit of mark for yourself and the belts. It’s such an internet smark thing to do to count up the number of tag teams and try to work out the average amount of ring time and Dave Meltzer stars associated with a division to determine its worth.

I was a critic of the tag belts in the first place, but the reason they are there is for the optics of equality and as a functional tool to throw a bouy to four or more women that aren’t involved in the big singles matches on that side of things. They’re busy pushing Bianca, Becky, Charlotte and Ronda? Throw the tag belts on Sasha & Naomi for a few months. Then they can split and go for the singles belts when there’s an opening. That’s literally what they’re there for, and the whole “well, we don’t have feuds and a plethora of future challengers” reeks of “bitches, it’s fucking fake and know the spot you’re in it.”

The belts have been around for a number of years now. They do what they want them to do just fine. Sometimes they are on an act they want to keep together, sometimes they go to women that are using it as a pit stop. If they want to push a team for an extended period, that opportunity will be there for them. If they never find that team? Who fucking cares? Throwing your second hissy fit (in Sasha’s case) kind of just makes you look like a mark who thinks you need to have 8 teams in a tag division that all dress like their partners to have a successful one.

[Loose Cannon]

Pretty much. Giving them the belts, only to have them plugged into separate feuds, doesn’t elevate the tag belts. They’re being put into a position to join in the main event scene for 2 months only to come back later and try to pretend their tag belts are still worth something, allegedly. That’s chicken shit and it’s a complaint other talents have had.

I don’t blame them. They’re standing up for themselves, they’re demanding what they’re being booked in stories that make the titles matter. And it’s Sasha going thru more booking issues around the tag titles as she was unhappy when her abs Bailey dropped them to a comedy team after working hard to get the titles over.

Unprofessional or not, I don’t see why anyone would back wwe here. More wrestlers should say something instead of taking shitty gimmicks and angles. It would help the product.

As a fan of wrestling, I agree with you. I wish every wrestling company would make every single championship title and the feuds and wrestlers highlighting them seem important.

As a realist though in 2022, I don't think the WWE (i.e. Vince) really cares about secondary things like belts and storylines anymore. He knows the same people will watch no matter what's on tv these days. Maybe with the exception of Brock, I'd argue there's not one "entertainer" that's over anymore. And I don't even think Brock is as valuable as he was. WWE could just plug anyone in and get the same or even an increase in revenue in their product. They seem to be breaking records every year. And that's exactly what they want. They don't want guys like Rock or Austin (i.e. a few people carrying the load).

So that's my point on them caring less if Sasha or Naomi walked out. they'll just plug in two other people to fill that role and it'll be business as usual

It's terrible for wrestlers, but great for the company

[ClockShot]

After all these years, Sasha Banks finally had the balls to do it.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gj2iGAifSNI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[DAMN iNATOR]

Seems odd that WWE put out that statement when usually "card subject to change" is their go-to reason. Who knows if we'll find out the details here but this is way more interesting than pretty much anything the women's tag team division has done on TV.

I mean, it started off hot, with her and Bayley as The Boss and Hug Connection becoming the inaugural champions of the current version. But because Vince says we're not allowed to have nice things anymore, instead of having them retain at WrestleMania 35, as they should have, nope they had them drop the belts to The Iiconics. That was when I stopped caring about the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.

[DAMN iNATOR]

The statement put out by WWE is the weirdest part of this. One, they never put out a statement like this ever. And two, this company does public relations as well as anyone. They are so protective of their image and brand. And yet that’s the statement they put out? It looks like it was written in about 3 minutes and publicly calls out their own employees while breaking kayfabe. It’s so sloppy and really out of character for a company that tries to keep such a polished image.

(’Taker voice) YOU THINK THIS IS FAKE?!

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sasha Banks tried to warn us all. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWERaw?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWERaw</a> <a href="https://t.co/es3vgeyayz">pic.twitter.com/es3vgeyayz</a></p>&mdash; ChanMan (@ChandranTheMan) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChandranTheMan/status/1526423256927940608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[slik]

Lol what? Naomis husband has gotten more chances than Jeff Hardy. Come on now.

Naomi's husband is a black woman?

Also, WWE didn't release that kind of statement when Jeff walked out or her husband got another DUI
It's a really strange press release

[slik]

Rumor going around is Molly Holly was one of the producers Sasha got in an argument with

[Stu Hart]

they look like trannies

[xrodmuc316]

Even when Austin walked out, they didn't instantly put out a statement. They didn't call him out on the same episode. It just seems if it were real WWE wouldnt have reported it so quickly.

[Sepholio]

Naomi's husband is a black woman?

Also, WWE didn't release that kind of statement when Jeff walked out or her husband got another DUI
It's a really strange press release

Nah, they just fired Jeff on the spot and told everyones its because he wouldn't go to rehab, knowing the implication is that this means he's on drugs again. Let me know when someone else has to do the whole piss test angle. They shat all over Jeff. For YEARS.

And Jeff walked out of a house show, not the main event of RAW.

I agree it's a strange release, but basically claiming this is racism/sexism is a hell of a reach at this point with what is actually known, which is basically next to nothing.

[Sepholio]

This is gonna end with something stupid where they "walked out on RAW" and show up on SD instead.

[slik]

claiming this is racism/sexism is a hell of a reach

...But I didn't claim that

I said it was bad optics because it will be perceived as that, and I can tell you plenty of people on twitter have already viewed the situation that way

[xrodmuc316]

Nah, they just fired Jeff on the spot and told everyones its because he wouldn't go to rehab, knowing the implication is that this means he's on drugs again. Let me know when someone else has to do the whole piss test angle. They shat all over Jeff. For YEARS.

And Jeff walked out of a house show, not the main event of RAW.

I agree it's a strange release, but basically claiming this is racism/sexism is a hell of a reach at this point with what is actually known, which is basically next to nothing.

They did the same segment with Shawn Michaels, almost word for word :rofl:

9fdhci_ZGUI

[xrodmuc316]

Meltzer weighs in:

<iframe id="reddit-embed" src="https://www.redditmedia.com/r/SCJerk/comments/urq094/meltzer_on_wor_is_walking_out_on_your_job_truly/?ref_source=embed&amp;ref=share&amp;embed=true" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups" style="border: none;" height="231" width="640" scrolling="no"></iframe>

[Mr. Nerfect]

Meltzer weighs in:

<iframe id="reddit-embed" src="https://www.redditmedia.com/r/SCJerk/comments/urq094/meltzer_on_wor_is_walking_out_on_your_job_truly/?ref_source=embed&amp;ref=share&amp;embed=true" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups" style="border: none;" height="231" width="640" scrolling="no"></iframe>

:lol:

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This would never happen in aew? The Vp basically walked out lol ��</p>&mdash; Jennifer P (@JP121469) <a href="https://twitter.com/JP121469/status/1526638435871731713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Mr. Nerfect]

Their hottest story is about whether or not their rising star is going to leave when his deal is up to go to greener pastures…

[xrodmuc316]

Of course DBag Phil would try to virtue stan about this on Twitter and act tough to Matt Cardona since Phil doesn't have to worry about running into the Broski at AEW and taking another L in a real fight.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If you’d go back in time to stand up for yourself, you should stand up the workers now. <a href="https://t.co/Hh0zA7nsid">https://t.co/Hh0zA7nsid</a></p>&mdash; player/coach (@CMPunk) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMPunk/status/1526605270616625154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[#1-norm-fan]

Didn’t Cody stay and make a couple appearances AFTER his contract was up? How was that “walking out”? Lol

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Is that cumdorx’s handle?

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Didn’t Cody stay and make a couple appearances AFTER his contract was up? How was that “walking out”? Lol

You see, the problem here is logic is being applied and there’s no place for that

[xrodmuc316]

Is that cumdorx’s handle?

Yeah, im on Twitter like the Padres are World Series Champions :rofl:

[Destor]

The women's tag titles are not high profile. They are an afterthought. For reasons you just listed. And sure, you can say well now is your chance to be part of elevating these titles...but by that account, they were planning on making them even more irrelevant, despite Sasha and Naomi bringing up their concerns in a professional manner several times.

So the question is, how much shit are you going to eat, before you say go fuck yourself? And keep in mind this is not a young wrestler who has yet to make it big, where said shit eating is expected. Its two people who have been at the top as champions for years now, and then they're told they're going to essentialy be enhancement talent for the singles champions and then theyre going to disappear for no reason.you missunderstand. i didnt claim the tag belts were high profile i claimed a singles fued with rousey was. fuck the tag belts. theyre arent half enough women to have that token title. they came back offered sasha the highest profile program they have. and she walked.

[Destor]

@Supreme—Well it’s similar to what happened when Austin walked out and how they had themselves a little tantrum about it. Different company now of course but they still made sure to bring in the Rock to bury Steve on live tv. That’s after he was basically the sole reason they “won the war.”

I’m surprised the statement didn’t have something about Sasha and Naomi taking their ball and going home.

Eh, anyways, not a huge fan of Sasha based on what I know about her as a person but I’m all for talents giving the office a headache.should be noted that austin views this as a mistake in hindsight

[xrodmuc316]

should be noted that austin views this as a mistake in hindsight

Walking out was a mistake, but he was 100% correct, you dont waste Austin vs Lesnar unannounced on free tv. I still have no idea what they were thinking with that one.

[Destor]

that sounds like a really exciting episode to me. its good every few years to do something major on free tv.

[RP]

I mean...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">alexa bliss new theme <a href="https://t.co/LoiNgWHzyy">pic.twitter.com/LoiNgWHzyy</a></p>&mdash; BlissBlissVids (@BlissBlissVids) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlissBlissVids/status/1526383752515145729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Imagine rebranding Alexa Bliss but still wanting to make money from the merchant of her last gimmick, so you send her out with new music, old Alexa look, but MAKE HER CARRY HER MERCH DOLL!!

This is today's WWE.

[Destor]

good for bliss. she stands to make more off that doll than her salary if she's over enough

[RP]

So its subjective

[fundiddle]

they look like trannies
stretch... your mouth out and gum their cocks, then, stu

[xrodmuc316]

They update things fast these days!

<iframe id="reddit-embed" src="https://www.redditmedia.com/r/SCJerk/comments/urwqe4/tag_division_is_about_to_get_shaken_up/?ref_source=embed&amp;ref=share&amp;embed=true" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups" style="border: none;" height="528" width="640" scrolling="no"></iframe>

[fundiddle]

no time for losers, cause he is the campion's

[Tom Guycott]

Also, my interpretation of that message is, "we asked them to do the same horrible, rote bullshit we ask them to do every week, and suddenly there's a problem?"

In the case of Sasha, it seems like a "Fool me once..." kind of situation.

Remember, she was unhappy before (as was Bailey) and they threw them together as a tag team, presented them with the championships, and supposedly promised this huge rollout for the ladies tag team division that they were going to be the crowns for. However, aside from pushing the collective breasts of the IIconics and eventually kinda just saddling Asuka and Karie Sane with the belts when there was no real division to battle, they just became afterthought props.

Now, here we are again, and she just kinda has a championship that the company themselves don't give a shit about, and the (again) promised divisional build never happens. In fact, they set up the champs to take individual losses to one another for pretty much no reason.

Sounds less to me like spoiled attitude and more like not going through with eating the same lie twice.

[xrodmuc316]

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[Ol Dirty Dastard]

In the case of Sasha, it seems like a "Fool me once..." kind of situation.

Remember, she was unhappy before (as was Bailey) and they threw them together as a tag team, presented them with the championships, and supposedly promised this huge rollout for the ladies tag team division that they were going to be the crowns for. However, aside from pushing the collective breasts of the IIconics and eventually kinda just saddling Asuka and Karie Sane with the belts when there was no real division to battle, they just became afterthought props.

Now, here we are again, and she just kinda has a championship that the company themselves don't give a shit about, and the (again) promised divisional build never happens. In fact, they set up the champs to take individual losses to one another for pretty much no reason.

Sounds less to me like spoiled attitude and more like not going through with eating the same lie twice.

Yep. I was referring to the WWE's statement. Obviously, Sasha is just trying to maintain her onscreen credibility and is sick of being booked like a nothing act.

WWE is well within their rights to fire her, but she is using her leverage, simple as that. I think it's more of a business decision than it is anything spoiled. But try to tell that to some of the bootlickers here.

[Sepholio]

Bootlickers he says as he shares his Tony Khan erotic fan fictions with me on facebook. Stop being so transparent with your bias sir!

[Sepholio]

I will say the one where TK and Bret Hart go to Venice for a romantic escape is some really exceptional writing, though. The impromptu oil match in a gondola was sheer brilliance.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

I believe my tony khan erotic fanfic involved the physical act of licking boots, so I at least kept it true to life.

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sasha Banks and Naomi have been suspended indefinitely. There will be a future tournament to crown the new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions. <a href="https://t.co/8xhJe0l5bV">pic.twitter.com/8xhJe0l5bV</a></p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1527827899113414656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Damian Rey 2.0]

What’s their contract status?

[slik]

Some sites are reporting Sasha's is up in a few months, IDK about Naomi

[slik]

WWE has removed all Sasha/Naomi items from WWEShop

[xrodmuc316]

Dubbalos already going hard hyping up how Mercedes is the greatest and will be a massive game changer in the Dub :rofl:

[Mr. Nerfect]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sasha Banks and Naomi have been suspended indefinitely. There will be a future tournament to crown the new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions. <a href="https://t.co/8xhJe0l5bV">pic.twitter.com/8xhJe0l5bV</a></p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1527827899113414656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This is so weird. I don’t think this is a work, but with rumors of Russo digging for a job, this does have weird tones of what someone imitating his booking style would do. I only say this because they’re trying SO HARD to fill people in on details that don’t make WWE look too good.

I actually get management’s perspective. You’ve got token mid-card belts that are there to keep some women visible when not in main programs. They insert you into a main program and it can bring more emphasis to your act. Naomi pinning Sasha, for example, is tension that can be used to build drama to their inevitable break-up. It’s not sterling booking, but it’s not “disrespecting” them in the sense that they’re in the main events, which is what talent is supposed to value.

I think they’re being marks for themselves, and maybe get out of having to put over a fresher black women’s athlete getting more PR than they are right now. I do like the idea of talent looking after themselves. But this is just…a weird hill to die on.

Naomi has a husband that is family to their biggest star. Dragging her under publicly, heat or not, just seems…weird. I totally get stripping them of the belts and the public reason being as contracted athletes they backed out of a match. It’s like forfeiting. You say that, they (in kayfabe) look a bit cowardly. But drilling in “they let millions of fans down.” Just don’t go that extra mile in speaking for people.

It reeks of Montreal in the sense that it’s making the company look worse than the performers, which if it is a shoot, shouldn’t be their intent. I get not cowtowing to them, but strip them and make it look like their fault and don’t represent their disposition so much.

WWE just WWEing, I guess. But you could be more cerebral in driving a wedge between them and audiences by just moving past it. If Sasha’s contract is actually up and Naomi’s isn’t, use that to remind her that Sasha isn’t thinking about her because she’s got to stick around. Turn them against each other instead of trying to make it them vs. the world.

I dunno. If this were a shoot, I would handle the tone differently. That being said, I don’t disagree that they’re possibly letting their egos fly way too close to the sun on this one.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yeah, I’ve definitely settled on this being a work. If not, it’s VERY stupid on WWE’s part. Here is my reasoning:

Creative differences are subjective. Naomi & Sasha being annoyed with their roles is someone’s vindicated disposition and another person’s bratty. You can deal with that. Dragging someone on the air publicly is just too close to being objectively damaging to their credibility as people. If I were Jimmy Uso or even an outside connection like Snoop Dogg, I would pissed this wasn’t handled internally. This is like a Bash at the Beach 2000 promo.

Michael Cole delivered the lines. McAfee is pretty stoic. He’s not nodding along or shaking his head in disappointment. They’re keeping him clean. Asking talent to do this is just such an imposition on their professional and personal relationships. If it were a shoot.

They’re going to have a tournament? It could be a “haha, fuck you,” but they’re going to need to put focus into the actual division itself (which I would argue it didn’t need), which sets up an actual fucking division for them to play in. As I said — might just be petty (which isn’t how to handle it) — but they’re basically setting up at least four teams (if it’s small) or eight teams for them to wrestle as “rightful” champs.

If you’re going to do a Russo angle, the women who can float make sense. You’re not going to do it with a main event male guy. In the men’s mid-card it falls flat when they actually return. This is in its own bubble, which heats that up.

There may have been elements of truth to this. This isn’t what they usually do. But it would not surprise me to see Sasha & Naomi jump the barricade and attack the news champs at all.

[Mr. Nerfect]

They queued up the graphic from Raw. They didn’t need to do that. “Indefinitely suspended?” I’m not a lawyer, but can you suspend someone “indefinitely?” As a shoot, that would need to be worked out. Why not just posture to the talent that they aren’t going to tolerate it? They are positioning the fans to subliminally be in their corner by keeping them as a unit. And why not just fire them?

They walked into John Laurinaitis’ office? Why bring up Johnny Ace at all, since he’s mainly remembered as being a heel suit. They’ve given too much detail away and aren’t going “whole company in” enough for it to really strike me as an actual thing. It’s like Montreal, but there’s no specific on-air heel authority figure they’re manufacturing from it and the talent are remaining in the company.

They’re winking. It’s hard to see because they’ve dressed it up in ideas that the internet believe. But if this were a shoot they would be quieter with sending them off. They’re being too loud and giving too many reverse psychology indicators to support these women.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Now I’m back on it being a shoot, lol.

[Mr. Nerfect]

As soon as they come back, what’s the game? “Oh, we got worked.” They could have just had Sasha & Naomi announce a tournament to get new contenders. The Johnny Ace thing and their fixation on it makes me think it’s a story, but it’s got no endgame. Dunno.

I think it’s about as likely Sasha & Naomi blitz the new champs as it is Naomi retires and Sasha goes to AEW and nobody cares.

[Sepholio]

I was leaning towards this being a work until last night.

Now I'm convinced of it.

[Jordan]

It does seem like a work due to the way they are handling the "issue" publicly. Over explanation on social media the other day and then making a tournament and big announcement on TV.

I can see it going either way because I could see Sasha "doing something like this" at some point, but I can also see her creating this walk out angle to stir shit and make some waves, and perhaps pitching it at the right time to the right person to get it done.

[XL]

I they’re working a shoot.

You can cut it both ways; by announcing a tournament they’ve now got to throw some teams together and put some spotlight on the belts, which is a bit of a “fuck you” to Sasha in particular. They didn’t have to that, they could have just quietly forgotten about them entirely given the lack of depth across the division(s). Or, they ran this angle to put some spotlight on the division, but they couldn’t have done that without trashing their talent.

I can see Naomi coming back and that being tied into the Bloodline stuff. I can see Sasha being done for now.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

If it is a work, then why in the world did WWE include the part in their statement that it’s alleged that two of their workers are unsafe? Or all the breaking kayfabe parts?

If it is a work then it very much reeks of WCW Russo’s “Is it a work or a shoot?” booking.

[slik]

wrestling fans thinking everything is a work is probably the worst thing Vince Russo contributed to wrestling

it always make my head want to explode

[Crippla]

I they’re working a shoot.


.

Yeah I agree it wouldn't be the first time and I'm also really surprised Sasha has not been let go by now since this is not the first time she's"walked out" or whatever. I wouldn't have thought they valued her that much to put up with that

[slik]

One day when Vince McMahon dies half of the wrestling fans will ask if it's a work or a shoot

[Crippla]

Well it depends on how he does I guess. If he gets shot it's obviously a shoot

[Crippla]

Lol that was a terrible joke

[slik]

WWE has not been creative in storytelling for nearly 20 years at this point but people will always be convinced somehow 'it might be a work' all the time when news breaks


meanwhile...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Then…Now…<br>Sasha Banks replaced by Cody Rhodes on signature intro from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SmackDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SmackDown</a> <a href="https://t.co/GehzRWkXHV">pic.twitter.com/GehzRWkXHV</a></p>&mdash; Promo Joe (@PromoJoeYT) <a href="https://twitter.com/PromoJoeYT/status/1527912045655498758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Crippla]

Yeah idk I don't think Sasha makes it through the rest of the year with the company

[Lock Jaw]

One day when Vince McMahon dies half of the wrestling fans will ask if it's a work or a shoot

I still cling to hope that Eddie Guerrero will show up one day and be all "Guess what, holmes? ..... I lllllllliiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeedddd!!" and then the fans go banana as he does the shoulder shimmy

[Crippla]

I still cling to hope that Eddie Guerrero will show up one day and be all "Guess what, holmes? ..... I lllllllliiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeedddd!!" and then the fans go banana as he does the shoulder shimmy

Yeah and I cling to hope Chris Benoit shows up at my house one day so we can 'hang out' in the gym

[Crippla]

Wow another awful joke...sorry I'm striking out today I got nothing

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Wow another awful joke...sorry I'm striking out today I got nothing

The joke just wasn’t set up properly. Your premise is as about as flimsy as a cheap carabiner with a faulty safety latch that everyone tells you isn’t sufficient to hold a 220 lb man as he descends from the top of an arena in Kansas City, Missouri.

[XL]

One day when Vince McMahon dies half of the wrestling fans will ask if it's a work or a shoot

To be fair, the last time he died it was a work.

[Sepholio]

jfc:lol::lol::lol:

[IC Champion]

Just came here to say Fuck Vince McMahon and his terrible company.

[Mr. Nerfect]

It does seem like a work due to the way they are handling the "issue" publicly. Over explanation on social media the other day and then making a tournament and big announcement on TV.

I can see it going either way because I could see Sasha "doing something like this" at some point, but I can also see her creating this walk out angle to stir shit and make some waves, and perhaps pitching it at the right time to the right person to get it done.

I they’re working a shoot.

You can cut it both ways; by announcing a tournament they’ve now got to throw some teams together and put some spotlight on the belts, which is a bit of a “fuck you” to Sasha in particular. They didn’t have to that, they could have just quietly forgotten about them entirely given the lack of depth across the division(s). Or, they ran this angle to put some spotlight on the division, but they couldn’t have done that without trashing their talent.

I can see Naomi coming back and that being tied into the Bloodline stuff. I can see Sasha being done for now.

This. They could have just done Shayna & Natalya vs. Asuka & Io Shirai and been done with it. Or just forgotten about the belts and let the girls involved bury the belts.

I don’t think they want Naomi to be a heel. She’s a “positive role model” for a demographic they’re after. I don’t really know how well she would do as a heel either.

If it is a work, then why in the world did WWE include the part in their statement that it’s alleged that two of their workers are unsafe? Or all the breaking kayfabe parts?

If it is a work then it very much reeks of WCW Russo’s “Is it a work or a shoot?” booking.

Oh, no doubt the breaking kayfabe stuff is shit.

wrestling fans thinking everything is a work is probably the worst thing Vince Russo contributed to wrestling

it always make my head want to explode

Lol, shut the fuck up. Each case is different, and you’re being worked all the time.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Just came here to say Fuck Vince McMahon and his terrible company.

It’s all you’ll have soon. Goodbye.

[Sepholio]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hearing rumors from sources <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wwe</a> that Sasha and Naomi actually walked in on <a href="https://twitter.com/VinceMcMahon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VinceMcMahon</a> naked with wrist/ankle Velcro straps to the wall and a penis pump maxed out being held by Nick Khan with Abyss reading out the show aloud. Let’s just wait for more details for fucks sake.</p>&mdash; The Big Guy Ryback (@Ryback) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ryback/status/1527835125190234113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Mr. Nerfect]

Here’s something that separates this from all the other “it’s a work” hoopla you hear: This is making people care more about Sasha, Naomi and the Women’s Tag Team Titles. If people were suspicious of this and it was making them more irrelevant (no mention of them on TV, the belts disappear or are put immediately onto another team), then I’d be right there discrediting it too.

MJF floating his interest in WWE doesn’t help AEW. That doesn’t make sense as a work. Cody falling out with them didn’t make them look good. Not a work. Sasha & Naomi? This could very easily be a main event program for them when they crown new champs. Could very easily be a work.

How did they come up with it? Russo’s been in the news and trying to get a job back with them. It could have been the women’s ideas themselves to give them more of an edge. It could be inspired by CM Punk and the pipe-bomb, but neither girl is an excellent promo so they’re using backstage actions. It’s got elements of The Awesome Truth (lol remember that?). And there’s elements of Montreal here. Except instead of Vince doing it himself, it’s Michael Cole speaking for the company. Hell, there were rumors of Ronda walking out as recently as Mania. That could have been the germ of the idea right there.

We’ll see. But this has working potential, which you can’t say for everything else that makes a company look bad that people claim is a work. “It’s a work that WBD didn’t give AEW much attention at the upfronts” is a ridiculous idea. Sasha & Naomi as pariahs in the WWE is not.

[Crippla]

I don't understand what elements of Montreal you see in this

[xrodmuc316]

So WWESHOP pulled all Sasha and Naomi merch, yet you can still buy Cesaro stuff and he has been gone for months. Such a work lol

[erickman]

So WWESHOP pulled all Sasha and Naomi merch, yet you can still buy Cesaro stuff and he has been gone for months. Such a work lol

yeah when they dropped there merch i knew it was no work.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I don't understand what elements of Montreal you see in this

The company is playing the role of Vince McMahon.

[Mr. Nerfect]

What’s the precedent on WWE taking down people’s merch? Don’t they usually discount it?

[xrodmuc316]

What’s the precedent on WWE taking down people’s merch? Don’t they usually discount it?

They have never pulled anybody's merchandise quicker other than Benoit. I dont even think they pulled Hogan's merch after his racist tirade this quickly.

[Sepholio]

and I have the opposite reaction to that than erickman does, I think them pulling merch further leans into this being a work. They don't pull anyones merch for anything ever, no matter how bad it is, and they've had worse fallings out than this before. They want people thinking this is a huge deal. Why? To what end?

[xrodmuc316]

and I have the opposite reaction to that than erickman does, I think them pulling merch further leans into this being a work. They don't pull anyones merch for anything ever, no matter how bad it is, and they've had worse fallings out than this before. They want people thinking this is a huge deal. Why? To what end?

Same, WWE is just not going to eat the costs of their merch.

There was a story going around that when they fired Enzo, they had a boatload of new G shirts made, and they gave Chad Gable the Shorty G gimmick solely so they could repurpose those shirts and still sell them.

If they are willing to do that, it shows how much they do not want to have sunk costs.

[XL]

Equally the talent make money off the sales too. Removing that revenue stream on top of whatever they get above their guarantee is a bit of a “power play”.

Again, you can probably look at every aspect of this and flip a coin on whether you call if a work, a shoot, or a shoot that became a work.

[erickman]

Same, WWE is just not going to eat the costs of their merch.

There was a story going around that when they fired Enzo, they had a boatload of new G shirts made, and they gave Chad Gable the Shorty G gimmick solely so they could repurpose those shirts and still sell them.

If they are willing to do that, it shows how much they do not want to have sunk costs.

so it was enzos fault for shorty g. i wonder who will get the name glow to get rid of those shirts. boss will be a good one for a heel.

[XL]

They took Riddick Moss off tv for repackaging. Expect him to come back as Riddick Boss.

Credit: SPWW Forums.

[Crippla]

SPWW?

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

lol this isn't a work

[xrodmuc316]

so it was enzos fault for shorty g. i wonder who will get the name glow to get rid of those shirts. boss will be a good one for a heel.

If that story is true, I am not certain I buy that, but it was floated.

They do still have Alexa carry that stupid Lilly doll to the ring even though she isn't doing that gimmick anymore because WWE still wants to sell them.

[Crippla]

I'm going with the "working a shoot" theory for now it seems the most plausible

[Crippla]

The joke just wasn’t set up properly. Your premise is as about as flimsy as a cheap carabiner with a faulty safety latch that everyone tells you isn’t sufficient to hold a 220 lb man as he descends from the top of an arena in Kansas City, Missouri.

I'm very disappointed in you supreme! To make a joke like that is very low unlike Owen Hart's fall unfortunately

[Big Vic]

The statement put out by WWE is the weirdest part of this. One, they never put out a statement like this ever.

I dunno. Remember when Alberto Del Rio was released after hitting an employee who made a racial joke at his expense and WWE twitter started burying him and sticking up for a guy who made a racial joke?

[Crippla]

Yeah they have been putting out statements over the last light almost 10 years now even for suspensions. Remember when Chris Jericho "desecrated" the Brazilian flag?

[Big Vic]

Unrelated: Remember when the Undertaker was going to eviscerate CM Punk live on Raw?

[Lock Jaw]

(verbally)

[Sepholio]

lol this isn't a work

Yeah and Bret screwed Bret.

[xrodmuc316]

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[#1-norm-fan]

Unrelated: Remember when the Undertaker was going to eviscerate CM Punk live on Raw?

(verbally)

Didn’t they add “verbal” to it halfway through the show? As if someone actually looked up the definition of “eviscerate” an hour in and they called an audible. Lol

[Triple A]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I spoke with Raj this afternoon and asked WWE about this. As of this evening, they said they hadn't heard that, and talent relations didn't seem to know.<br><br>Not saying that it didn't or isn't happening, but this is what I've heard so far when I asked. Raj has good sources <a href="https://t.co/cnBADkuFyg">https://t.co/cnBADkuFyg</a></p>&mdash; Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1537271608401924100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[Crippla]

Bound to happen, wouldn't be surprised if this is true but I also wouldn't be surprised if it's not either

[Mr. Nerfect]

You gotta believe that even if it wasn’t her call, this is probably what Sasha “wants.” I doubt she ever irons out all the issues she’s drummed up for herself. Would she go to AEW? It seems clear-cut, but she might have her own ideas.

I’ve never been her biggest fan. She’s been part of some great stuff, but I think a lot of the women she’s achieved that with have actually been the better workers. A lot of what she has going for her has been largely produced by WWE. I wonder if Mercedes KV coming out and acting like she owns the place is going to have the same effect as Sasha Banks doing it. Time will tell, I guess.

She’s got a following and she’s been featured. If someone else were to start up a new company, she would be a really good pick to talk to and put focus on the women’s side of things. Whether that’s Freddie Prinze, Jr. or a TV network or whatever. She’s got value in that sense. Her and Tessa Blanchard, if you can pay Tessa the money and give her to the platform to be a good girl, would be the two biggest female stars available. Ivelisse is good and has a striking look as well, but again you’ve got to circumnavigate these personal issues. But if you have the money and the political skills, you might be able to pull it off.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Dare I say it, and I’m not a fan of her work or really her as a personality from what she puts out — Nia Jax might be a smart signing as well. Even if you make her someone’s bodyguard. She is much closer family to The Rock than a lot of the other Samoans are (apparently), and if WWE undergoes a major political shift and The Rock is looking to springboard the XFL off some wrestling involvement, brownie points with the family doesn’t hurt.

Get Scarlett Bourdeaux because she’s hot, maybe Taya Valkyrie with John Hennigan. You can start to piece together even a male roster by mapping out the female side of things.

[Jordan]

She's great and yeah an obvious hire for AEW... but man she's just gonna make AEW feel more like a WWE brand.

[Crippla]

Realistically, AEW wants to be like a WWE brand in the sense of competition, they will literally sign anybody coming from WWE but I don't think Sasha Banks alone is going to have that effect on AEW's unique "identity" and from what I hear Tony was a big WCW fan and more so aspires to have a similar product that they did in their hay day than WWE.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I just feel she’ll be underwhelming in AEW. They don’t have the women’s roster to scaffold her. She’ll be all “I’m the best” and the crowd will go nuts, then there will be a bunch of sloppy matches and everyone will get over it really fast.

She may just retire and try and go into acting or something.

[Crippla]

Well it's more her character and personality that does it for most people than her actual wrestling which is sub par imo. I like Sasha but you are correct that AEW does not have the women's division that WWE has and there won't be a whole lot to do with her in the long run

[Mr. Nerfect]

Well it's more her character and personality that does it for most people than her actual wrestling which is sub par imo. I like Sasha but you are correct that AEW does not have the women's division that WWE has and there won't be a whole lot to do with her in the long run

I agree with you, but I think a lot of her fans (and her herself) are convinced she’s ace in the ring.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Sasha was putting on good to great matches in nxt. I don’t buy that she’s sub par in the ring. I think WWE’s cookie cutter match structure is what makes everybody look so bland in the ring. Becky and Bianca had the match of the night at mania and it’s because it wasn’t the usual plodding structure WWE matches usually have.

Sasha would be a great for AEW. She’d come in red hot, she can talk, she can work a character and she’s going to be allowed to work matches similar to her nxt stuff. Plus she’s the biggest female mande they could sign. They’d be idiots not to try and pick her up.

You add her with Jade and Britt and suddenly the top of that division looks stronger.

[Crippla]

She is capable of putting on good matches sometimes no doubt depending on who she's working with but I personally don't think she's anything to write home about in the ring...she can be very sloppy a lot of times and it looks really bad imo

[Crippla]

I'm not saying she's the worst or absolutely terrible or anything... I just think her wrestling skills are overrated

[Mr. Nerfect]

She is capable of putting on good matches sometimes no doubt depending on who she's working with but I personally don't think she's anything to write home about in the ring...she can be very sloppy a lot of times and it looks really bad imo

Her best work comes from her being paired with superior workers. Charlotte, Becky, Bayley, etc. When she “leads,” it’s often pretty messy.

[Crippla]

I would rank her last out of the four horsewomen tbh

[Crippla]

Her best work comes from her being paired with superior workers. Charlotte, Becky, Bayley, etc. When she “leads,” it’s often pretty messy.

:y: 100% agree with you

[Damian Rey 2.0]

She is capable of putting on good matches sometimes no doubt depending on who she's working with but I personally don't think she's anything to write home about in the ring...she can be very sloppy a lot of times and it looks really bad imo

It’s been so long since I’ve seen any of her matches that I can’t speak on her being sloppy. I just know that when I watched her work in nxt I was impressed enough to think she’sa good worker and great heel, and when I watched her in WWE it came off very boring, deliberately paced and a big left turn from what made her work in NXT.

I thought her match with Bianca last year at Mania was great. Sasha has 6 years and multiple stops over Bianca, who’s a WWE only graduate from what I know, and I think it’d be a pretty asinine take to say that having Bianca work a veteran like Sasha didn’t help elevate her game.

I don’t think she’s some match of the night factory. I don’t think that about any current woman in wrestling, Charlotte included. But I do think she’s a good worker, I think she gets how to be a heel based on her nxt stuff, and that it’d bea boon to AEW to pick her up.

She fits at the top of a division that lacks star power, she’s only 30, she can talk, and she’d come in with hype and buzz because of everything that’s happened. I get the stigma of signing EVERY WWE reject, but she’s no reject. They’d be idiots to pass her up if they have the chance.

[Crippla]

She's a decent heel and I'm not saying she's awful in the ring just vastly overrated

[Crippla]

I actually like Sasha tbh

[XL]

Add her to Jade’s “Baddies”. Job done.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I don’t have a dislike for Sasha either. I just think her presentation lends itself to her talents being overblown.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I do like that WWE fans have dismissed Sasha’s popularity and said she’s nothing special. Anybody can do what she does if given the opportunity.

Which means WWE can make anybody a star and they’re just… choosing not to do so

[Mr. Nerfect]

Roman, Drew, Riddle, Lashley, Becky, Charlotte, Bianca. They’re all stars.

[Ruien]

What? Roman and Lashley are stars. Maybe Becky too. That is it.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Roman, Drew, Riddle, Lashley, Becky, Charlotte, Bianca. They’re all stars.

They’re all incredibly talented and would be stars wherever they went. Just like Sasha.

Drew and Bobby already did this.

[Mr. Nerfect]

They’re all incredibly talented and would be stars wherever they went. Just like Sasha.

Drew and Bobby already did this.

This is going to turn into an argument over the semantics of what a star is, lol.

Drew and Bobby stood out in TNA, but I don’t know if you’d call them stars because of it. But have at it.

Sasha is a no-brainer signing, by the way. I’m not saying she sucks. She’s very much a product of WWE’s system though. Her best work comes paired with better dance partners than her, and she’s not necessarily going to have that anywhere else. She’s also not going to have access to the Sasha Banks name or the same presentation. I can see her feeling like a knockoff of herself in pretty short time.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

They’re all incredibly talented and would be stars wherever they went. Just like Sasha.

Drew and Bobby already did this.

Sasha was thrown together into a makeshift tag team with Naomi and they ended up being one of the top merch movers in the company. Clearly anybody can make WWE a star seeing as they have so many that they have to call back Lesnar to lose to Reigns again at Summer Slam.

[Crippla]

This is going to turn into an argument over the semantics of what a star is, lol.

Drew and Bobby stood out in TNA, but I don’t know if you’d call them stars because of it. But have at it.

Sasha is a no-brainer signing, by the way. I’m not saying she sucks. She’s very much a product of WWE’s system though. Her best work comes paired with better dance partners than her, and she’s not necessarily going to have that anywhere else. She’s also not going to have access to the Sasha Banks name or the same presentation. I can see her feeling like a knockoff of herself in pretty short time.
I would say Sascha is def popular enough to be called a "star"

[XL]

Do not get into a discussion with Noid about what a star is. He struggles to keep track of his own definition :lol:

[Crippla]

Aren't all WWE wrestlers considered SUPERSTARS?

[Mr. Nerfect]

I would say Sascha is def popular enough to be called a "star"

Agreed. She could easily be listed with the talents I named. But I think she’s hurt by leaving WWE and playing against that. It suits some people, but she’s going to be without tools.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Do not get into a discussion with Noid about what a star is. He struggles to keep track of his own definition :lol:

Big disagree.

[Gerard]

Will aew take a chance on her given shes a huffy little cunt and goes home if she doesn't get her own way?

[Lock Jaw]

I mean they hired Jeff Hardy after he literally went home DURING a match. At least Sasha went home before being in the ring that night.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Will aew take a chance on her given shes a huffy little cunt and goes home if she doesn't get her own way?

Is she really a huffy little cunt it was she just tired of the same old shit after 7 years? And yes they should take a chance. They’d be stupid not to.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I wonder who is going to last longer there — Jeff Hardy, Sasha Banks or Toni Storm?

[Crippla]

Her release has still yet to be officially confirm which kind of surprises me. I thought WWE would post something the next day

[Mr. Nerfect]

I wonder if they will give her a full release or a conditional one? I dunno why, but something about the delay in the news made me think of it. I mean, that could explain why they just don’t want to make a full-throated announcement of it.