According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, Sasha Banks walked out of this week’s episode of RAW. The rumor is that she had some issues with the creative direction for the show and left instead of taking part in the six pack challenge that was supposed to take place. Naomi is also rumored to have left with Sasha.
Here is what Johnson wrote:
The main event for tonight’s Monday Night Raw broadcast changed at the last minute to Becky Lynch vs. Asuka after two talents walked out late in the day before Raw went on the air in Norfolk, Virginia.
The word making the rounds backstage at the taping is that Sasha Banks took issue with some of the planned creative for the original main event, a Raw Six Pack Challenge to determine Bianca Belair’s next challenger at Hell in A Cell. Banks had a meeting with Vince McMahon and the belief among those we’ve heard from is that when McMahon didn’t choose to change direction on the plans, Banks wouldn’t back down on her issues and made the decision to leave the taping.
Naomi, her WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship partner, left with Banks, even though she was also booked in the main event match.
WWE quickly shot several new segments with Adam Pearce and Becky Lynch to instead set up Asuka vs. Lynch as the new main event.
UPDATE: WWE has issued a statement. Here is what they have issued:
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.
In other news, check out my predictions for Wrestlemania 39.
