Roman Reigns

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

Latest Details on Sasha Banks and Naomi Leaving Raw

Sasha Banks and Naomi were scheduled to take part in Raw's main event on Monday night alongside Becky Lynch, Asuka, Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H. The six-pack challenge was slated to determine the No. 1 contender for Bianca Belair's Raw Women's Championship.

Instead, the bout was changed to a singles match between Lynch and Asuka, with Asuka picking up the victory to earn the match against Belair at Hell in a Cell on June 5.

WWE then took the extraordinary step of providing behind-the-scenes details about why it couldn't deliver the promoted main event. In the statement, the company said Banks and Naomi "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.

Fightful Select reported the women's tag team champions expressed concern about the direction of the division after multiple ideas they pitched were turned down, and the duo also denied they raised concern about "unsafe" opponents.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio added Banks is now facing "a lot" of backstage heat following the walkout. Naomi's status wasn't mentioned.

Given the nature of WWE's statement and the subsequent reporting, it's unlikely the situation is a work. There's still a lot of uncertainty about what actually sparked the walkout, though.

It creates a lot of intrigue moving toward SmackDown on Friday night, though the company could provide more details about the state of the women's tag division before that point.

Money in the Bank Cash-In Option Expected To Stay; Vince McMahon's Role

Questions were raised about the future of the Money in the Bank contract after Cody Rhodes mentioned in a promo video the winners "will win the chance to main event WrestleMania."

The MITB contract has long featured a cash-in option, giving the holders a chance to receive their title shot anytime, anywhere at a moment's notice. While that included WrestleMania, it hadn't previously guaranteed a place in the Mania main event.

H. Jenkins of Ringside News reported the MITB stipulations are expected to remain the same as past years and Rhodes' comment in the commercial was a "major source of confusion with writers and producers."

Meltzer noted that Rhodes' remark was added to the script by Vince McMahon, but the reasoning is unclear since the creative team was told no changes are being made to the MITB contract.

The cash-in element is a major part of what's made the MITB idea such a long-term success, so it would be a surprise if that's removed for a single WrestleMania title shot, especially since there's nine months between the two PPV shows.

For now, it appears McMahon was merely working with semantics since technically anyone has the "chance to main event WrestleMania" and it seems there's no significant changes on the horizon for either the men's or women's contract.

Rhodes Considers Himself the Best in the World

Rhodes returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38 in April after a six-year hiatus that included stops with various promotions, including working as both a wrestler and executive for AEW.

He's received a significant push since his return, picking up back-to-back PPV victories over Seth Rollins and getting plenty of air time on Raw to push the "American Nightmare" gimmick.

While Roman Reigns' dominant run as the Universal champion combined with his WrestleMania win over WWE champion Brock Lesnar to unify the company's top belts has made him a popular choice as the best wrestler in the world, Rhodes believes he's the one who deserves that distinction.

He also told Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated it's not necessarily a close competition.

"I think I'm the best wrestler in the world. And I think it's by a large margin," Rhodes said. "That upsets a lot of people, but I don't mean it to draw ire. This is all I do. I'm not in charge. I'm here to hone my craft, build my body and win matches. Every week, I have to be better. That's the ultimate clarity for me."

Rhodes has definitely upped his game since he departed WWE in 2016. The fan support since his return suggests he's due for a major title run in the near future.

As for Reigns, the former two-time intercontinental champion said questions about who's actually better can't be answered until they face off.

"The difference between the two best wrestlers in the world is that one has both titles to prove it," Rhodes told Barrasso. "The WWE championship is the biggest title in the game. That's never been in dispute, and that's not a knock on any title anywhere else. The way to define the best in the world is the one holding the belt, and that's Roman Reigns."

So far, WWE has resisted the urge to use Rhodes' momentum since his return to throw him into a feud with Reigns, but it seems like only a matter of that before that storyline arrives.

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

WWE's micromanagement compared to other pro wrestling companies is a much-discussed topic among fans, and they were provided with another talking point this week.

According to Fightful Select (h/t Bhupen Dange of Ringside News), WWE has a list of Superstars who are permitted to get haircuts from an in-house barber backstage at WWE events.

The list published by Fightful indicates that the following Superstars are allowed to get backstage haircuts: AJ Styles, Bobby Lashley, Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest, Dolph Ziggler, Edge, Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, The Miz, Randy Orton, Riddle, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Happy Corbin, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Kofi Kingston, Madcap Moss, Paul Heyman, Ricochet, Roman Reigns, Sami Zayn, Sheamus and Xavier Woods.

That list covers almost all of the major male talent on the main roster with notable exceptions being The Street Profits, Alpha Academy, Ezekiel, Theory, Veer Mahaan, Shinsuke Nakamura, Butch, Ridge Holland and Gunther.

There are also no female Superstars on the list, although it is unclear if they have a separate list not made available to Fightful.

On this past week's episode of Raw, Edge was sporting a new haircut, as his trademark locks were significantly shorter and slicked back. The WWE Hall of Famer is on the company's reported in-house haircut list.

While the list may seem strange, WWE has good reason to keep close tabs on the way its Superstars' looks at any given time.

Since WWE is constantly releasing action figures, video games, shirts and other merchandise bearing the likenesses of its Superstars, there has to be some level of communication between all parties.

As a result, performers generally have to keep WWE informed of any changes they intend to make, including their hairstyle.

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Undisputed WWE universal champion Roman Reigns reportedly won't be part of next month's Hell in a Cell pay-per-view card.

According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Wrestling Inc's Matthew Wilkinson), Reigns is not being advertised for any WWE events in July or August, but the expectation is that his next title match will occur at Money in the Bank on July 2.

Hell in a Cell is scheduled for June 5 and it will take place at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, near Chicago.

At WrestleMania 38 in April, Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar to retain the Universal Championship and win the WWE Championship, making him a double world champion.

The Tribal Chief has now held the universal title for over 600 days, giving him the longest world title reign in WWE in over three decades.

Reigns has not defended either of his titles in a televised match since WrestleMania, though, and he has competed in only one televised match since then as well.

That match occurred last weekend at WrestleMania Backlash and it saw him team with his Bloodline brethren, The Usos, in a winning effort against Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro.

Reigns recently entered into a rivalry with McIntyre, and the expectation was that it would lead to a championship match between them at a pay-per-view. That may still be the case, but WWE seems to be saving it for one of its bigger shows.

Money in the Bank would be a realistic and logical target for Reigns vs. McIntyre since it will be a large-scale event held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Reigns not participating in Hell in a Cell could also be a sign that he is indeed taking on a lighter workload moving forward.

Following a house show in Trenton, New Jersey, on Sunday, Reigns cut a promo during which he said he didn't know if he would ever be back in Trenton for another show:

Reigns said he was entering a "new phase" in his life, which led fans to speculate on his future in WWE and whether he was considering making the move to Hollywood.

Per Meltzer, Reigns recently signed a new contract with WWE that will provide him with a less-taxing schedule, meaning he may work fewer house shows and get more time off.

The 36-year-old Reigns has been the unquestioned face and leader of WWE since returning from a hiatus about two years ago and turning heel.

Reigns has done the best work of his career and gained a lot of respect from the WWE fanbase during that time, perhaps earning him the right to be a bit more selective with where and when he wants to work moving forward. 

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

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

Reigns Reportedly Cutting Down on House Show Appearances

WWE undisputed world champion Roman Reigns is reportedly slated to have a somewhat lighter schedule moving forward.

Speculation regarding Reigns' future in WWE ran rampant on Sunday when he cut a promo following his match at a live event in Trenton, New Jersey.

During the promo, Reigns said he was entering a "new phase" in his life and didn't know if he would ever be back in front of the fans in Trenton:

Per Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast (h/t Manik Aftab of Ringside News), the only notable change for Reigns moving forward is that he won't be booked for house shows in smaller markets such as Trenton.

Other than that, Reigns will reportedly maintain a significant presence on television and on pay-per-views. There is also no expectation that The Tribal Chief will take "extended time off."

It was previously reported by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t F4WOnline's Josh Nason) that Reigns signed a new WWE contract that will require him to work fewer dates, specifically in relation to house shows.

It was also reported that for a 10-week stretch this summer from late June through late August, Reigns is not being advertised for any WWE events besides the Money in the Bank and SummerSlam pay-per-views.

That led to speculation that Reigns will be taking time off, but it is difficult to envision him making no televised appearances besides pay-per-views for two months.

Reigns holds both the WWE and Universal Championships, and his presence will be paramount in terms of building to matches at some of the biggest events of the year.

Both Money in the Bank and SummerSlam are stadium shows, so one can only assume that Reigns will be around for the build toward both of them.

Judgment Day Possibly Adding Fourth Member

Edge's Judgment Day stable reportedly may not be done with its expansion on the heels of adding Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania Backlash.

According to PWInsider (h/t WrestlingInc's Marc Middleton), there has been talk within WWE of adding a fourth member to Judgment Day alongside Edge, Ripley and Damian Priest.

Edge teased additional members during a promo on Monday night's episode of Raw when he said Judgment Day was "looking for more."

The formation of Judgment Day occurred at WrestleMania 38 last month when Priest interfered in Edge's match with AJ Styles, allowing the WWE Hall of Famer to score the victory.

During a rematch between Edge and Styles at WrestleMania Backlash, a hooded figure pushed Styles off the ropes, leading to another win for Edge.

Ripley revealed herself as the mystery assailant and explained her rationale behind joining Judgment Day on Raw.

Rhea defeated Liv Morgan on Raw as part of her ongoing feud with her former tag team partner, while Finn Balor beat Priest by disqualification after Edge interfered.

Balor recently joined forces with Styles to combat Judgment Day, and the groundwork has perhaps been set for a six-person tag team match with Morgan entering the fray alongside Styles and Balor.

If WWE does add another member to Judgment Day, it is unclear who it would be, although Ciampa has been speculated as a potential member from the start.

Edge has made it known in interviews that he is a fan of Ciampa, and with the former two-time NXT champion recently turning heel on Raw, it wouldn't be a big stretch to put him in the stable.

Evans Reportedly Moving to Raw, Turning Heel

WWE is reportedly taking an unexpected route with the return of Lacey Evans to WWE programming.

According to PWInsider (h/t Middleton), WWE's current plan calls for Evans to be a heel on the Raw brand moving forward.

Evans has been out of action for well over a year after giving birth to her second child, but in recent weeks, WWE began airing vignettes for Evans on SmackDown.

In the series of vignettes, Evans seemingly spoke from the heart about her difficult upbringing, including stories about her father's issues with addiction and the volatility she encountered during her childhood.

Ultimately, Evans was able to pull herself out of that situation by joining the Marines and later becoming a WWE Superstar.

All signs pointed toward Evans being presented as a big-time babyface, which would have been a huge departure from the heel persona she has had for most of her WWE career.

Instead, a strange announcement was made on last week's SmackDown with ring announcer Samantha Irvin asking fans to show Evans "proper respect" when she made her entrance.

That type of language is normally reserved for heels, which may have been the first sign WWE was going in a different direction.

In terms of the switch from SmackDown to Raw, WWE essentially aired highlights of Evans' vignettes on Monday's Raw, which suggested she was perhaps getting shifted to the red brand.

It is unclear why WWE decided to make that change and why it chose misdirection in terms of keeping her a heel, but all signs seem to point toward WWE taking that route with Evans.

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

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

Roman Reigns Set For Limited Summer Schedule

Reigns caused a stir Saturday night with his comments about a potential WWE departure following a live event in Trenton, New Jersey. The longtime universal champion, who recently unified the WWE's top titles with a victory over Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 38, explained he wasn't sure whether he'd make another wrestling stop in the city.

"I've been here many times, you know what I'm saying? I've been here a couple of times in the past 10 years. And I'm starting to work into a new phase in my career, and I honestly don't know if I'll be back here again," Reigns said. "If that's the case, I just wanna say thank you for all these years of support."

Now, more details are starting to emerge about Reigns' immediate future.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported (via H Jenkins of Ringside News) that Reigns has been removed from all house shows from mid-June through Labor Day in early September. He's still scheduled to take part in the pay-per-views, but there will also be a stretch where he won't appear on the weekly Raw or SmackDown broadcasts:

I'm trying to get more information on this, but he was removed from all shows, his last show is June 19th until after Labor Day. I don't know what the situation is, but he is scheduled for the two pay-per-view shows. I don't know what that is, whether he's doing a movie, but it is, obviously we already know his schedule going forward after June is going to be cut back anyway, but there will be a period where he won't even be on television, because he's been removed from all the advertisement.

Although details remain scarce, the immediate thought is Reigns could be following in the footsteps of his cousin Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and other WWE legends like Dave Bautista and John Cena by using his success inside the squared circle to make the jump to Hollywood.

It's worth noting the 36-year-old Florida native was away from WWE from October 2018 through February 2019 after he was diagnosed with cancer for a second time. There's been no word of any type of health setback at this time.

Reigns is in the midst of a dominant run as the company's top star. He's held the universal title since August 2020, a span of more than 600 days, and he's main-evented WrestleMania each of the last two years.

While it sounds like he's not stepping away from WWE completely, at least for now, seeing him transition to a part-time role would still create a major void atop the card.

Cody Rhodes has received a significant push since his recent return from All Elite Wrestling and could be a contender to take over the headline role, while the strong women's division would figure to take on an even bigger part in the main-event scene.

WWE Tag Team Title Unification Plans Axed

RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Riddle) were scheduled to face off with The Usos, Jimmy and Jey, the unify the tag team championships at WrestleMania Backlash on Sunday night. Instead, it was changed to a six-man tag match with the inclusion of Drew McIntyre and Reigns, who's part of The Bloodline faction with The Usos.

Meltzer reported (via Matthew Wilkinson of Wrestling Inc.) there are still plans for the two tag teams to face off in a "major match," but the unification angle is no longer in the works.

WWE was seemingly headed toward an end to the Raw-SmackDown brand split coming out of WrestleMania after Reigns unified the top belts, but that momentum has been halted.

Along with keeping the tag titles separate, it was also reported last week the WWE draft remains on the schedule for August or September, suggesting the brands will maintain unique rosters.

Meanwhile, it makes sense to keep both RK-Bro and The Usos in championship positions.

Orton has found his most stable storyline in a while as part of the highly entertaining team with Riddle, showcasing a softer, more humorous side of the “Legend Killer.” They've become fan favorites and help carry the load on Raw.

The Usos will likely be asked to handle an even bigger role maintaining the dominance of The Bloodline while Reigns is away, so it wouldn't be a surprise if their title run extends through the summer.

MVP Teases Diss Track on Bobby Lashley

After two years working alongside Lashley as part of the Hurt Business, MVP switched allegiances last month to become the manager of Omos. He helped his new client win at WrestleMania Backlash on Sunday by hitting Lashley with a cane in the finishing sequence.

MVP posted a message on Instagram following Raw on Monday saying a diss track about Lashley is coming soon. He hinted the name will be "Fall Mighty."

The former WWE United States champion has been releasing music since 2011, most recently working with Smoke DZA and 80 Empire on "Legalize It," a song about cannabis released on April 20 (4/20).

While WWE has struggled to help Omos gain any steam as a singles wrestler since his break with AJ Styles, connecting him with MVP should provide a boost. The Miami native will handle much of the mic work and try to garner some heat for the 7'3" competitor.

A diss track against Lashley will be a unique addition as the feud between the former WWE champion and Omos appear poised to continue heading toward Hell in a Cell in June.

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