Sasha Banks

Former WWE Superstar Paige gave a positive update on her injured neck this week and reiterated plans to wrestle again one day.

Appearing Wednesday on the Bellas Podcast with WWE Hall of Famers Nikki and Brie Bella (h/t WrestlingInc's Dakota Cohen), Paige expressed optimism regarding her health:

"My neck is fantastic. I'm having no issues with it, and it's looking good. I still want more time, though. I mean, I've had nearly five years completely out of the ring, which is, it goes by so quickly. I'm like, 'How?' But yeah, I can see myself in the ring one day, but it would have to be something really special and like for like a big moment, even like, for WrestleMania."

A neck ailment caused Paige to miss about a year-and-a-half of action between 2016 and 2017 before returning in December 2017, but her return was short-lived, as she reinjured her neck in a house show match.

The injury forced Paige to retire from in-ring competition in 2018, although she remained with WWE and served in multiple roles, including general manager of SmackDown and manager of The Kabuki Warriors.

Paige's decade-long run with WWE came to an end last month when her contract expired and the decision was made by the company to not retain her.

Given the fact that Edge was able to return from what was thought to be a career-ending neck injury, Paige has made it clear that she wants to get back in the ring at some point as well.

According to Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News, Paige discussed her future at Starrcast and named WWE's Sasha Banks and AEW's Britt Baker as women she would like to wrestle at some point if and when she gets cleared:

"I would love it. I would love to face her [Baker]. There are a few people I'd love to be in the ring with. If I were to ever come back, I'd love to face Sasha because we have a built-in storyline, and she's a fantastic wrestler. I'd love to face Britt Baker; she's incredible. I still have to be careful. I have that mind block right now, but eventually, for the right time and right person, I'll definitely have a match again."

Paige's career-ending injury occurred during a tag team match at a live event, and she happened to be in the ring with Banks at the time.

While Paige has insisted that she doesn't blame Sasha for the injury, that is something that could easily be woven into a storyline.

One thing that is uncertain is where a match with Banks would occur. In May, WWE suspended both Banks and Naomi indefinitely for walking out prior to an episode of Raw.

Neither Banks nor WWE has given an update on her status, and it is unclear if she is still with the company. However, recent reports suggest she and Naomi may have agreed to return in the wake of Vince McMahon stepping down as CEO, chairman and head of creative, and getting replaced by Stephanie McMahon and Triple H.

As for Baker, she has essentially been AEW's top female star since the company's inception, and she has gone on record as calling Paige a dream opponent.

Additionally, Paige commented on her desire to eventually get inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, telling the Bella Twins (h/t WrestlingInc's Ross Berman): "I set goals for myself when I got to WWE. I've done pretty much everything I wanted to do, but like, I wanted to be in the Hall of Fame so bad."

Paige called the WWE Hall of Fame an "end goal" and said it would be "huge" to get inducted since not many women have had that honor.

Given that Triple H had a huge hand in signing Paige and making her the first NXT women's champion, one can only assume he would have interest in bringing her back at some point, especially if she is cleared to wrestle.

AEW would undoubtedly have interest in the two-time Divas champion as well under those circumstances, meaning there could potentially be a bidding war for her services in the future.

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

It seems cliche to say it’s a great time to be a wrestling fan, but recent changes in the industry have made the sport more volatile and entertaining than it has been in a long time. More to the point, there is good reason to be optimistic about WWE right now.

The recent changes following Vince McMahon’s retirement on July 22 have paved the way for a new era of sports entertainment. This is uncharted territory for the largest wrestling company in the world as the former chairman and CEO has been at the helm for 40 years.

Nevertheless, Triple H has stepped in as the new head of creative and executive vice president of talent relations.

Viewers familiar with his work in NXT immediately became hopeful about what this could mean for the company’s stagnant product. In just one week, the promotion has seemingly already paid off for WWE.

SummerSlam earned praise from fans and critics alike, and Monday's Raw generated its highest ratings boost in two years. In addition, Fightful Select reported that this “renewed optimism” extended to the locker room as Dakota Kai made her surprise return alongside Bayley and Iyo Sky at The Biggest Party of the Summer on Saturday night.

The Role Model’s new stable became the biggest talking point following the event and they were a focal point in the following episode of WWE’s flagship series.

Yes, Bayley’s long-awaited return was bound to make a splash, but Kai’s emergence after her contract expired in April is a good sign. If the recent change in direction and newfound plans for her and Sky were enough to convince them to stay put, it could mean we will see other big names come back soon.

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Johnny Gargano

Much like King Kota, Johnny Gargano surprisingly chose not to renew his contract after an emotional farewell to NXT in December. This led many fans to believe that the brand's first triple-crown champion wouldn't venture elsewhere.

However, the 34-year-old has remained a free agent all year, opting to take time off and enjoy being a father instead.

Now that other black-and-gold mainstays such as Ciampa and Sky are on the main roster working major storylines, though, it could be enough to entice Gargano to return to WWE.

His former tag team partner, Ciampa, became the No. 1 contender for the United States Championship on the latest episode of Raw. This seems to indicate Triple H has plans for the man who stayed off the main roster for as long as possible.

If The Blackheart finds success this soon under the new creative team, Johnny Wrestling may not be that far behind.

Gargano has also spoken highly of Triple H and Shawn Michaels, and he cherished his time with NXT. So, we think he will return to WWE later this year.

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Bray Wyatt

Under the new creative team, Bray Wyatt seems like a no-brainer. He seemed like a lifer before his abrupt release last year.

Ever since, the 35-year-old has remained off the grid, leaving many fans to speculate about where he could show up next.

Honestly, WWE was always the perfect place for him because it relies so heavily on larger-than-life characters. His knack for theatrics also made great use of its high production value and major marketing machine.

Unfortunately, the third-generation star stumbled with WWE because the higher-ups never gave him enough free rein to grow. It seemed to stifle his creativity or pull the rug out from under him when he gained momentum. That could change with the new regime in place.

Wyatt told Busted Open Radio in 2016 (h/t Still Real To Us) that Triple H was instrumental to his reinvention with NXT. So, it’s a safe bet that he could return to WWE to work with the man who saved his career.

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Sasha Banks and Naomi

Sasha Banks and Naomi were at the heart of one of the biggest stories of 2022 when they reportedly walked out during the May 13 episode of Raw.

The two Superstars have been a topic of discussion ever since, as their current status remains unclear.

Many believed WWE had released them, but the plot thickens. Although PWInsider reported they were no longer on the internal roster, the latest update is that a source claimed they have reached an agreement to return.

This is in line with what Raj Giri of Wrestling Inc initially reported, as well. He stated that WWE released Banks in June but the company was attempting to “smooth things over.”

It wouldn’t be unprecedented for the global wrestling juggernaut to convince one of its top stars to come back. We’ve seen more implausible scenarios before now.

If you’re seeing a recurring pattern here, it’s that many of the Superstars who have the highest probability of return are NXT alum. Banks is no exception as she originally made a name for herself with the black-and-gold brand.

And SummerSlam also proved WWE has reignited interest in its women’s division.

With Triple H in the driver's seat, the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship could finally gain prestige. That could be enough to lure its last set of titleholders back later this year. More importantly, the new Head of Creative has a rapport with the wrestlers.

If anyone can convince Banks and Naomi to return, it’s The Game.

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

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Banks, Naomi Reportedly Reach Deal to Return to WWE

Multiple reports suggest that Sasha Banks and Naomi are set to return to WWE in the near future.

Angel Aramboles of WrestlingNews.co reported Monday that Banks and Naomi had reached an agreement to return to the company. It was noted that the expectation was that they would either appear on Monday's Raw or at some point not long after.

Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live (h/t WrestlingInc's Olivia Quinlan) stopped short of 100 percent confirming the report, but noted that a source told him it was true.

Banks and Naomi did not appear on Monday night's episode of Raw, but they were primarily SmackDown Superstars before their hiatus, so it may not be outside the realm of possibility that they show up Friday night.

Neither Banks nor Naomi have appeared on WWE programming since May, which is when they were both suspended by the company and stripped of the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.

It was reported that Banks and Naomi walked out prior to the May 16 episode of Raw due to their unhappiness with how they were being utilized.

They were reportedly scheduled to compete in a six-pack challenge to determine the No. 1 contender for Bianca Belair's Raw Women's Championship, but expressed concern over what that meant for them as a tag team.

Following their decision to walk out, WWE released a statement chastising Banks and Naomi, claiming that they tossed their titles on the desk of then-head of talent relations John Laurinaitis and acted unprofessionally.

On the following episode of SmackDown, WWE announced the suspension of Banks and Naomi, and stripped them of their championships.

It was subsequently reported by WrestlingInc's Raj Giri that WWE granted Banks her release from the company, but WWE has never confirmed that, nor has it commented on Naomi's status.

If Banks and Naomi are indeed back in the fold, it likely has everything to do with the change in leadership that recently occurred in WWE.

Laurinaitis is no longer head of talent relations, and Vince McMahon retired from his role as CEO, chairman and head of creative amid allegations that he paid former female WWE employees in exchange for their silence about sexual relationships or encounters they had with him.

McMahon's daughter, Stephanie McMahon, has been elevated to co-CEO and chairwoman, while Nick Khan was also moved into the co-CEO role. Meanwhile, Triple H is now vice president of talent relations and head of creative.

Triple H is known to have a strong relationship with Banks since he was responsible for signing her and pushing her in NXT before she made the move to the main roster.

The shift in power likely increased the chances of Banks and Naomi returning significantly, and now that it has been reported that they are back, it becomes a waiting game to see when or if they will resurface on television.

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WWE Reportedly Still Lists Rousey as Babyface Internally

Despite her actions at SummerSlam, WWE reportedly still considers Ronda Rousey to be a babyface.

According to PWInsider.com (h/t Quinlan), WWE's internal roster lists Rousey as a face, although that may be set to change soon.

Entering SummerSlam, both Rousey and Liv Morgan were fan favorites, but when Morgan pinned Rousey while trapped in an armbar, the former UFC champ snapped by attacking the SmackDown women's champion.

At Money in the Bank, Rousey retained the SmackDown women's title against Natalya, but Morgan took advantage after winning the women's Money in the Bank ladder match earlier in the night and successfully cashed in to become a champion for the first time.

Rousey shook her hand afterward, but her frustration boiled over at SummerSlam, leading to an outburst.

It is difficult to envision Rousey remaining a babyface after attacking one of the most popular and beloved female Superstars in WWE, meaning WWE may complete her heel turn in the near future.

That may not happen on Friday's episode of SmackDown, though, since WWE announced that Rousey had been fined and suspended for attacking an official during her tirade at SummerSlam.

Whenever Rousey does return, WWE would be best served deploying her as a heel since she has done her best work in that role.

It could also be a forward-looking move since Becky Lynch turned face at SummerSlam, and there is reason to believe that a Rousey vs. Lynch singles match could be in the works for WrestleMania next year.

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Some WWE Talent Reportedly Worried About Losing Spot Under HHH

While reactions to Triple H taking over as WWE's head of creative have seemingly been positive for the most part, there are reportedly some who aren't quite as excited.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio (beginning at the 6:24 mark of the following video), F4WOnline's Dave Meltzer said he has heard from some WWE talent that they are worried about losing their spot on the card with Triple H now in charge:

One can only assume that those who are reportedly concerned didn't come up through NXT when Triple H was in charge of the brand.

Several former NXT stars were showcased in a major way on Monday night's episode of Raw, including Ciampa, who won a Triple Threat match against Dolph Ziggler and Chad Gable before beating AJ Styles later in the night to earn a United States Championship match against Bobby Lashley last week.

Lashley is among those who never worked in NXT and has been pushed to the moon by Vince McMahon in recent years, winning the WWE Championship twice.

Because he wasn't signed and developed by Triple H, Lashley could conceivably be the type of wrestler who would have concerns about the change in leadership, although he wasn't specifically mentioned as someone who is worried.

Regardless of Triple H's bigger picture and plans moving forward, there is no question that Monday's Raw felt different and far more palatable.

There was a ton of in-ring action and added emphasis on the United States Championship, plus plenty of time for the women's division and a Tag Team Championship main event.

Triple H proved in NXT that he has a penchant for booking and putting together entertaining shows, so if anyone is going to find a way to effectively utilize as many performers as possible, it is likely him.

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