WWE

Despite her rumored move to New Japan Pro-Wrestling, WWE officials reportedly believe Sasha Banks will return to WWE at some point.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), WWE officials do expect Banks back in the future, although it is unclear when since the two sides are far apart on money in negotiations.

Meltzer (h/t James Holder of Inside The Ropes) previously reported this week that Banks had talks with WWE about a return, but they could not come to an agreement because Banks wanted pay comparable to Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, while WWE didn't offer anything close to those numbers.

Per PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson, Banks is expected to appear at NJPW's Wrestle Kingdom 17 event on Jan. 4, which would be her first appearance outside WWE.

Meltzer (h/t Ian Carey of F4WOnline) confirmed Johnson's report and noted that Banks' deal is with NJPW and not something that was negotiated through WWE.

He added that Banks negotiated her release from WWE over the summer, but it was agreed upon that she wouldn't do anything in wrestling until the start of 2023.

Banks and Naomi walked out of WWE prior to an episode of Raw in May because of dissatisfaction over how they were being booked as WWE women's tag team champions.

WWE stripped Banks and Naomi of their titles and suspended them, and they haven't been seen on WWE programming since then.

The issue with Banks and Naomi occurred under the leadership of Vince McMahon, but he retired in July, and a new power structure came into existence. Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan share the CEO role, while Stephanie is also chairwoman, and Triple H is head of creative.

There was some thought that Banks would be able to work things out with Triple H since he signed her and helped build her into a star in NXT, although the two sides apparently have yet to come to an agreement.

For now, it looks like Banks is destined for NJPW and a potential feud with IWGP women's champion Kairi, but the door is seemingly open for her to return to WWE.

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The Roman Reigns era ending at WWE WrestleMania 39 isn't just fitting—it's set up perfectly to be a grand finale.

First, the format: WrestleMania is a two-night event now. Reigns is the unified champion. His defending on both nights feels like a no-brainer at this point. This is the culmination of an 830-plus-day reign and counting coming to a close. It's only fitting he should close both shows.

Logic says the opponents will be The Rock and Cody Rhodes. The former because it's the organic end to the "head of the table" familiar angle. It's in Hollywood of all places, too. And the latter because he's positioned as the next top babyface of the company after that triumphant return.

The creativity of this grand finale is where things get interesting. Reigns is the heel and could easily be goaded into defending titles on both nights, especially if he wants to defy Paul Heyman's counsel that suggests otherwise.

He's also got the family dynamic to sort out. If he's finally turning on Sami Zayn and likely Jey Uso, too, it's going to get a ton of backlash from fans and be a rather brutal, unforgettable scene. That sets up perfectly for The Rock, a guy with a serious claim as the head of the table, to return and set up a must-see feud.

As for Rhodes, he doesn't need much explanation, either. He had the big return after establishing and working in All Elite Wrestling, put on some massive matches while hugely over with fans, then suffered the serious injury. He's a no-brainer as a Royal Rumble winner to get that momentum back with interest.

WWE can't really do it any bigger than that for the Reigns era. This is the 'Mania that will be remembered for Reigns exclusively. Everyone anticipates an ending. If one doesn't arrive, that's going to be a letdown. The storyline was already flirting with losing fans out of sheer boredom before Sami Zayn hopped in and provided a spark.

There simply isn't any bigger stage or set of opponents for Reigns at this point. We're talking about The Rock in L.A. and Rhodes' first major title feud since his big return. WWE trying to drag this out until another landmark like the next SummerSlam or 'Mania would ruin pretty much everything.

But alas, a few things to remember.

We'd be remiss not to mention attractive alternatives. Maybe WWE uses this as a way to only get one title off Reigns, finally restoring the balance to both weekly programs. Or maybe he retains both over two nights—the most unexpected outcome that would garner the biggest reaction. Then, if he's really going part-time, he could relinquish the titles and set himself up for a Brock Lesnar-ish role down the road.

WWE could also just go with other opponents. There's no guarantee they can pull The Rock. And when it comes to injuries, it's impossible to say with 100 percent certainty that Rhodes will be able to go.

But it's not like there aren't good substitutes. Jey is a natural fit in the family storyline and more than deserves a spotlight for his great showings as a singles act. And Zayn, handled well once betrayed, could have Daniel Bryan-esque "Yes Movement" momentum behind him. Don't forget the deep sleeper, either—Seth Rollins, formerly the Architect, has quite a history with Reigns.

Yes, none of these guys boast the drawing power of The Rock to the non-wrestling fans that WWE craves so much. But the company has changed dramatically with Triple H as head of creative, and striving for that crossover appeal is pretty silly when massive international names like Logan Paul and even Bad Bunny have near-equal drawing power, if not more—there's no need to ham-fist a main event in pursuit of transcendent star power when the midcard can do it so well.

There is a little versatility here in the way of opponents, should WWE need to use it. Either way, this is the natural endpoint to the Reigns saga. This is what it has all been built for.

WrestleMania 39 is about the end of an era, and it just needs some savvy booking to take this thing home in a way that will take it from just another storyline to an outright epic of pro wrestling.

One of the greatest wrestlers of all time is set to return to a WWE ring soon.

Sixteen-time world champion John Cena announced that he will be teaming with Kevin Owens to take on Sami Zayn and WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns in a tag match on this year's final episode of Friday Night SmackDown on Dec. 30.

John Cena announces he's tagging with Kevin Owens against Roman Reigns and Sami Zayn on Dec. 30's SmackDown 🍿🔥

(via @WWE)pic.twitter.com/ss8dHLYzZt

— B/R Wrestling (@BRWrestling) December 17, 2022

Cena's return to the ring will mark the 20th consecutive year he's competed in a WWE match since his debut in 2002. The 45-year-old has not yet wrestled in 2022 after successfully transitioning into a career as a full-time actor.

After his acclaimed appearance as the Peacemaker in the 2021 film The Suicide Squad, Cena starred in a spin-off series based on the character that debuted in January on HBO Max. The series received positive reviews and was renewed for a second season a month after it premiered on the streaming platform.

Cena is also set to reprise his role in the Fast & Furious franchise for the 2023 film Fast X, which is in post-production and has a release date of May 19. He had debuted in the franchise in F9 last year as Jakob Toretto, the younger brother of the main character Dominic Toretto, who is portrayed by Vin Diesel.

The last time Cena wrestled was at SummerSlam 2021 in a championship match against Reigns, which he lost. This past June, he returned to Monday Night Raw to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his main roster debut.

Cena's partnership with Owens is a fun pairing, considering Owens made his WWE debut by sparking a rivalry with the legendary performer in 2015. Owens has been engaged in a feud with Reigns, Zayn and the rest of The Bloodline for months now, so adding Cena to the mix is an exciting way to close out the year.

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Everyone may be focused on the winter holiday season right now, but the WWE Universe has already turned its attention to January and the 2023 Royal Rumble.

With wrestling fans anticipating shocking returns and memorable moments created in the always-hectic 30-person Battle Royals, speculation is running rampant about how the Road to WrestleMania 39 will kick off.

Here are three bold early predictions for the 2023 Royal Rumble.

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Roman Reigns Fighting a War on Multiple Fronts

WrestleMania 39 is setting up to be a major showcase for Roman Reigns. If Dave Meltzer's report that WWE has discussed having Reigns wrestle both nights of the show against Cody Rhodes and Dwayne Johnson are true, then the Royal Rumble is shaping up to be a wild night.

One way to ensure the two matches occur would be to have both Rhodes and The Rock enter the 30-man Battle Royal. With Reigns perched at ringside scoping his competition to start the match, this will be the perfect start to the Road to WrestleMania.

The crowd will be in a frenzy to start the bout seeing Reigns sitting ringside, and they will explode when the first theme that hits the Titantron is for The Rock. After a triumphant return entrance and a short back-and-forth with a veteran like Dolph Ziggler, he should quickly stand alone in the ring before the next entrant is announced and stare down the world champion.

Reigns should immediately jump on the apron and shake his cousin's hand, pulling him over the top rope and eliminating him from the match. The two men would brawl to the back as the third entrant in the Battle Royal is announced; Cody Rhodes.

In poetic fashion, Rhodes would return from his torn pectoral muscle and run the table against every challenger put in front of him. After an absolute war, Rhodes should last eliminate Seth Rollins and earn his chance to challenge for Reigns' world title.

The WWE Universe would be far more interested in the Road to WrestleMania if Reigns were fighting two major battles on opposing fronts.

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Sasha Banks Wins the Weekend

With Sasha Banks scheduled to attend New Japan Pro Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom 17 in January, speculation has run rampant that she could be done with WWE. What better way to make wrestling fans think she won't be in the Royal Rumble than allowing Banks to fulfill her dreams in Japan before returning?

Banks is one of the most talented female performers in the wrestling business, and she continues to generate interest from the WWE Universe and beyond about where she will show up next. The excitement level for her Wrestle Kingdom appearance is already through the roof, but her January could be truly historic.

Triple H and Company have struck a deal with Karl Anderson to work with New Japan in the coming months, so Banks could still be working with WWE behind the scenes and taking advantage of new freedoms afforded her by the new regime.

By pitting the Internet Wrestling Community against itself with a NJPW appearance and a lack of clarity about her wrestling status, a surprise return in the women's Battle Royal would have the WWE Universe in a frenzy.

And if Banks enters the 30-woman Royal Rumble after making so many waves since her departure without ever stepping into a ring, she would undoubtedly win the whole thing and challenge for a top title at WrestleMania.

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Sami Zayn Eliminates The Bloodline

One of the best storylines in all of wrestling over the last year has been Sami Zayn earning the trust of The Bloodline. With even Roman Reigns believing in the former NXT champion, WWE must capitalize on Zayn's status right now with a huge moment at Royal Rumble.

The subtle face turn has already started for Zayn, and a full-blown turn should come after he enters the 30-man Battle Royal and one-by-one eliminates every member of the Bloodline involved in the match.

The problem will come after he is eliminated and has to explain to Reigns and the boys why he went into business for himself. With everything predicted above with The Rock and Rhodes creating extra work for Reigns, the Bloodline will turn on Zayn and leave him decimated in the ring for his actions.

Once Zayn hits his lowest point and bares his soul about losing his friends, Kevin Owens should come to his side and the duo should dismantle The Bloodline. At WrestleMania, it can start with Owens and Zayn stealing the tag team titles from The Usos.

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For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player above (some language NSFW).

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

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Some in WWE Reportedly Claim Rose Asked for Release

In the wake of Mandy Rose's reported release from WWE this week, new details are emerging regarding what led up to it.

According to Fightful Select (h/t Manik Aftab of Ringside News), some within WWE have said Rose requested her release from the company two weeks ago, although there has been no legitimate confirmation of those claims.

Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp broke the news of Rose's release Wednesday, reporting that WWE made the decision that some of the content she posted on her FanTime page was believed to be "outside of the parameters" of her contract.

Rose posted explicit photos and videos on FanTime behind a paywall, although some of her content was leaked onto social media.

The reported decision to release Rose came one day after she dropped the NXT Women's Championship to Roxanne Perez on Tuesday night's episode of NXT.

Rose had held the title for 413 days, which is the third-longest NXT Women's Championship reign of all time, and her loss seemed sudden.

Despite her apparent release, Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News) reported this week that WWE remains open to bringing her back at some point if the two sides can get back on the same page.

While the terms of her potentially returning were not reported, it seems likely that WWE would want her to either get rid of her FanTime page or tone down the content because of its status as a PG product geared toward children.

For now, Rose is a free agent, meaning she could potentially test the waters with other companies such as All Elite Wrestling or Impact Wrestling.

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WWE Reportedly Weighing Multiple WrestleMania Ideas

WrestleMania 39 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, is less than four months away, and WWE is reportedly still considering many different potential matches and moments for the show.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Mukherjee), WWE is batting around "multiple ideas," and every top talent in the company is being considered for "multiple different things" at the event.

While many possible matches have been speculated about, WWE has yet to announce anything for WrestleMania or give any true indication regarding what direction they are leaning in.

The most popular match that has been discussed by fans is undisputed WWE universal champion Roman Reigns going up against his real-life cousin, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

WWE hasn't so much as teased Reigns vs. The Rock, and it is completely unclear if The Rock is willing or able to clear his busy acting schedule enough to have the time needed to participate in a WrestleMania feud and match.

Fans have also speculated on Reigns putting his titles on the line against Cody Rhodes, provided he returns from his torn pectoral muscle and wins the men's Royal Rumble match.

There has even been talk of Reigns wrestling on both nights of WrestleMania with The Rock and Rhodes as his opponents, and Meltzer (h/t Andrew Ravens of WrestlingNews.co) reported that it is something WWE is at least considering.

Several other big names need to be figured into the plans as well, including Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, Ronda Rousey, Brock Lesnar, Bianca Belair, Bobby Lashley and possibly even a returning John Cena.

Whatever WWE's plans are, they figure to become far more apparent over the next couple of months, especially at the Royal Rumble in late January.

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Shotzi Reportedly Out with Legit Injury

WWE seemingly writing Shotzi off television a couple of weeks ago was reportedly done to account for a legitimate injury.

According to PWInsider.com (h/t Sunil Joseph of Ringside News), the storyline injury is meant to cover for a real injury Shotzi suffered.

The exact nature of Shotzi's injury is unclear, but in the storyline, Shotzi injured her hand after Rousey and Shayna Baszler apparently slammed it in a car door in the parking lot.

Shotzi has picked up a lot of steam on SmackDown in recent months, especially since turning face. She was even rewarded with the first one-on-one title match at a premium live event of her career.

After beating Lacey Evans, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Sonya Deville and Xia Li to become No. 1 contender, Shotzi fell to Rousey at Survivor Series WarGames last month.

Shotzi has not competed in a televised match since the loss to Rousey, although she faced Rousey at a live event on Nov. 27.

Until Shotzi is able to return, it appears as though Rodriguez, Morgan and the returning Tegan Nox are getting pushed as the top babyface women on the SmackDown roster.

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Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Sasha Banks' rumored departure from WWE reportedly came after the company refused to make her one of the highest-paid female Superstars on the roster.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t James Holder of Inside The Ropes), Banks wanted pay similar to Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, but people with knowledge of the situation said WWE never made her close to that type of offer.

Sources also told Meltzer that Banks is not viewed internally as "somebody who would be on top for the next five years," but rather as a wrestler who has already "peaked as a star."

Banks and Naomi walked out prior to an episode of Raw in May because of apparent unhappiness over how they were being booked. WWE subsequently stripped them of the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships and suspended them.

Neither of them has done anything in a wrestling capacity since then, but PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson reported this month that Banks is expected to make an appearance at New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom 17 event on Jan. 4.

Meltzer (h/t Ian Carey of F4WOnline) followed up by reporting that Banks negotiated the Wrestle Kingdom appearance and other appearances with NJPW rather than through WWE.

It was noted that Banks negotiated her release from her WWE contract over the summer, but she agreed to not have any involvement in wrestling until the start of 2023.

Meltzer added that while Banks and WWE had contract talks after Vince McMahon retired in July and was replaced by Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan, they were far apart on money.

If Banks did indeed request to be paid the same as Lynch and Flair, it is understandable why, as she played a huge role along with them and Bayley in the advancement of women's wrestling in WWE.

Known as the Four Horsewomen, Banks, Lynch, Flair and Bayley changed the perception of WWE women's wrestling in NXT and enjoyed massive success on the main roster as well.

Lynch and Charlotte were part of the first-ever WrestleMania women's main event at WrestleMania 35 when they faced Ronda Rousey in a Triple Threat, but Banks also repeated the feat two years later, headlining Night 1 of WrestleMania 37 with Bianca Belair.

The 30-year-old Banks also racked up a ton of other accolades in WWE, including being a five-time Raw women's champion, three-time WWE women's tag team champion, one-time Raw women's champion and one-time NXT women's champion.

On top of that, Banks has a huge social media presence and rabid fanbase, plus she has crossover appeal based on her appearance in the Star Wars series The Mandalorian as the character Koska Reeves.

Given her importance to the growth of women's wrestling and how popular she is, WWE could come to regret its reported decision to not pay her a top rate, especially if she moves the needle for New Japan.

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After her swan song as NXT women's champion, WWE abruptly released Mandy Rose, leaving her pro-wrestling future in question.

On the latest episode of NXT, Roxanne Perez ended the head of Toxic Attraction's 413-day reign. It was a monumental achievement for The Prodigy that marked a changing of the guard for the developmental brand. Unfortunately, Rose's controversial exit dominated the news cycle on Thursday.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter: "She's had the subscription service, and it got popular and lucrative. She went further and further, and the feeling was that she way, way, way crossed the line. They believe that they had absolutely no choice but to get rid of her in that situation. Again, everyone's situation is different. They promised sponsors a cleaner product as far as who the people are."

A major title loss would usually signal an end to someone's time with NXT. Apparently, Perez was a last-minute decision because WWE had already planned to release the former champion.

It's an abnormal situation, but Rose is seemingly still in good spirits. PWInsider reported that she posted the following message on her FanTime account: "Hey guys, thank you for all the messages. I am overwhelmed with all the love and support from you guys. And don't worry the page is still up! ;)"

We should also note that the woman Corey Graves deemed "God's Greatest Creation" could potentially return to WWE someday. Bryan Alvarez stated that he was under the impression that the company hadn't closed on the idea.

There is even a precedent for this because Zelina Vega went through a similar situation in 2020. Although her third-party content wasn't explicit, she was welcomed back eight months later.

Stranger things have happened. If she doesn't end up back with WWE after the dust settles, let's look at two more options for Rose.

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An Unlikely Call-up to Another Brand

The former NXT women's champion is in a better position than some fans might initially think. Her character change may have been divisive, but it's impossible to deny that going back to the developmental stage was a successful move.

The 32-year-old auspiciously reinvented herself and essentially became the face of the brand. Many on-air segments centered around Toxic Attraction, and the stable held all of its women's titles.

As such, the trio seemed destined to finish up and make a big splash on the main roster next year. Instead, Rose is in a unique situation as a wrestler who just experienced the best run of her career.

Her stint with NXT proved that she could thrive given the right opportunity and environment to continue to grow. Even more, the controversy ironically allowed her to leave before WWE booked her in a smaller role, and she's probably more popular than ever.

This would make her an intriguing addition to All Elite Wrestling's women's division. She could immediately offer the company someone with name recognition and significant buzz. Even more, Rose would add variety to a roster that primarily focuses on work rate and grounded characters.

Some of AEW's core fanbase may reject her. However, it would give Tony Khan the chance to introduce a heel character that immediately clashes with his established babyfaces and subdued presentation.

It wouldn't even be a bad idea to lean into her superficial traits and play up the fact that she would be coming in with more success than other women he signed. Rose would probably stand out like a sore thumb, but that could be an advantage because she brings something drastically different to the table.

There is also a bevy of fresh matchups for her and names from WWE she has experience working with. Given their time together as Absolution, Saraya quickly comes to mind as a potential opponent.

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Could Mandy Rose Enter the Impact Zone

Impact Wrestling would also be a terrific option for the Yorktown Heights, New York, native. The Knockouts division is consistently a highlight of its programming.

The company also utilizes most of its women better than its competitors, so Scott D'Amore and Gail Kim would likely find an ideal spot for her. Her persona would also be a more natural fit because Impact has done other acts in that wheelhouse.

This may not be the most glamorous move for Rose, but it would allow her to continue to build up a substantial body of work. Working with names like Jordynne Grace, Masha Slamovich, Killer Kelly, Su Yung and Giselle Shaw could be a nice change of pace as well.

Signing with Impact helped Deonna Purrazzo turn her release into a remarkable success story in 2020. It could be just as beneficial for Rose. In fact, she has a bit of a head start because she doesn't have to recreate her mystique as The Virtuoso did.

Wherever she goes, Rose can say she went out on top as the third-longest reigning women's champion in NXT history. More to the point, she can legitimately claim she redefined the brand in her image.

Her status may seem dire now, but the NXT star will land on her feet. It's a safe bet that she will eventually head back to WWE. Regardless, she will find a way to get back on TV in 2023 even if it's with a new home. She has proved she is willing to take setbacks in stride and exceed expectations, which makes her valuable.