The controversy surrounding Sasha Banks and Naomi continues to swirl.
On May 16, the reigning WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions walked out of WWE RAW, reportedly due to creative frustrations. WWE later released a statement and made it clear that Banks and Naomi left their titles on John Laurinaitis’ desk. Due to their departure, WWE had to change the planned Six-Pack Challenge match, which was set to include both women, to a singles clash between Asuka and Becky Lynch.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select has reported an extensive update on the situation. He wrote that Naomi had been planned to win the match on RAW and lost the title shot she would have earned at WWE Hell in a Cell. He clarified that plans called for Naomi to pin Nikki A.S.H., not her own partner, Banks.
Ross Sapp also clarified that while WWE’s statement noted that Banks and Naomi felt uncomfortable working with two of the participants in the match, their frustration stemmed from the general creative surrounding the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, as there reportedly wasn’t an extensive plan for the titles following WWE Hell in a Cell.
Fightful’s report also notes that, as many fans have speculated, the lines on the broadcast which referenced Banks and Naomi’s exit came from him, at least in a general sense. Ross Sapp also emphasizes that there’s no confirmation on the names of the producers who reportedly had a conflict with Banks and Naomi on Monday night; because the situation kept changing, no producer was internally listed on the revised run-sheets.
Ross Sapp also states that this situation “isn’t a work”, and it’s not part of a storyline. He cited sources who don’t expect the two women to be released, but nothing is certain at this point.
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