Big Backstage Update On Sasha Banks And Naomi Status With WWE – It was reported earlier today, via PWInsider, that Sasha Banks and Naomi were removed from the internal WWE roster over the past 24 hours.
In an update, Fightful Select adds that Banks and Naomi were removed from “other internal rosters” as far back as “weeks” ago. However, no one from the digital side of the company has been prompted to remove Banks and Naomi from the public website roster, and they are still listed as SmackDown Superstars as of this writing.
We’ve noted how Raj Giri of WrestlingInc reported in mid-June that Banks had been released from her contract, but no other details were provided. WrestleVotes later backed that report up, but no other sources were able to. It was also reported at that point that Banks’ lawyers were working on her release, and had been working on it. Giri then reported in late June that Banks’ release was secured on Friday, June 10, and that nothing had been publicly announced yet because WWE “leadership was trying to smooth things over,” to likely try and keep Banks with the company. It was also noted that Banks’ June 10 release “came from” WWE’s Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs for Talent Relations, Erika Schreiber, who reportedly signed off on the release.
Regarding the report on Bank’ release being secured on June 10, this new report adds that several high-level talent in WWE were of the same belief, but WWE still has not confirmed the departure. Furthermore, Talent Relations has not issued the internal e-mail to notify others of the release, and pertinent names in Talent Relations have not been updated on any information regarding a release. A WWE source noted today that things were “pretty quiet on that front” and they weren’t sure “what was or wasn’t cooking.”
The WWE creative team is currently operating on the assumption that Banks and Naomi are not returning whatsoever. One creative source added that they have not heard of any contingency plans or creative prepared in the event that things change to where Banks and Naomi return. There’s also been no update on the tournament to crown new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
It was also reported earlier today that there has been some talk of Banks making signing appearances outside of WWE later this fall, but nothing has been announced or made official as of now.
Banks and Naomi reportedly walked out of RAW at the May 16 show, due to frustration over creative. WWE then stripped them of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, and announced that the two were suspended indefinitely. It was later revealed that they were suspended without pay. Their merchandise was also pulled for the duration of the suspension.
