Has the Sasha Banks-WWE drama finally come to a head? A late, breaking report Wednesday night suggested that may be the case, with an outcome that will affect...
Sasha Banks Rumors: Conflicting Reports WWE Star Has Been Released amid Suspension
Jun 16, 2022
There are conflicting reports about Sasha Banks' status with WWE.
Raj Giri of WrestlingInc.com reported hearing that Banks has been released by the company.
Per Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, WWE "hadn't heard" that Banks was released when asked about it.
Sapp noted that WWE talent relations "didn't seem to know" about the status of The Boss.
Michael Cole announced on the May 20 episode of Friday Night SmackDown that Banks and Naomi were indefinitely suspended by WWE. The duo also vacated the WWE women's tag team championships.
The decision came after the company issued a statement about Banks and Naomi walking out during the May 16 episode of Raw because of Banks' issues with "creative ideas pitched" for the show.
Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out on tonight’s Raw after Banks had issues with “creative ideas pitched,” per @PWInsidercom
In addition to their suspensions, WWE removed Banks' and Naomi's merchandise from its online shop.
On the May 19 episode of The Masked Man Showpodcast (h/t Eric Mutter of WrestlingInc.com), former WWE writer Kazeem Famuyide said he heard both women's contracts "were set to expire within the next two months already."
There are conflicting reports about whether WWE has the ability to freeze the contracts for both Superstars while they are suspended.
WWE has frozen contracts in the past when Superstars weren't being used as onscreen characters for the company.
The most notable recent example of this was Daniel Bryan, when he reportedly tried to give his notice in 2016 but was told he was unable to do so because WWE kept his deal frozen. The former WWE champion retired from in-ring competition because of injuries.
Bryan was eventually brought back to WWE television in July 2016 as SmackDown general manager. He was cleared to return as a wrestler in 2018 and spent three more years in WWE before departing in 2021 to join AEW.
Banks is one of the most important Superstars in WWE over the past decade. She was among the first female Superstars called up in the summer of 2015 when WWE started treating women's wrestling with the same level of care and sincerity as the men.
During her 10-year run with the company, Banks has won seven singles titles and is a three-time tag team champion. She headlined Night 1 of WrestleMania 37 in April 2021, dropping the SmackDown women's title to Bianca Belair.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
Disenfranchised wrestlers continue to dominate the headlines with MJF, Sasha Banks and Naomi still capturing the attention of industry insiders and fans in the wake of public disputes with their employers...
Bray Wyatt-WWE Speculation; Sasha Banks, Naomi Rumors; Jeff Hardy, Adam Cole Injured
Jun 1, 2022
Professional Wrestling: WWE SummerSlam: Bray Wyatt (top) in action vs Finn Balor during match at Barclays Center.
Brooklyn, NY 8/20/2017
CREDIT: Chad Matthew Carlson (Photo by Chad Matthew Carlson /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Set Number: X161332 TK1 )
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe and All Elite Wrestling.
Wyatt Possibly Returning to WWE?
Former WWE Superstar Bray Wyatt sparked speculation Tuesday by changing his Twitter name and firing off multiple tweets teasing his return to professional wrestling.
While Wyatt has not competed for any wrestling company since getting released by WWE last summer, he has been going by his real name of Windham Rotunda, and his Twitter handle remains @Windham6.
His Twitter name is now "WYATT 6," however, which caused fans to suggest a return to WWE could be in his future.
Since Bray Wyatt is his WWE name and can't be used elsewhere, there is some thought that adopting the Wyatt name again could be a clue that he is WWE-bound.
Wyatt also posted three tweets consecutively about his impending return to wrestling:
Everything good that’s ever happened to me, first came a period horrible suffering. I never ask why, I just wait for the rough part to end. I was chosen for whatever reason. And I’ve got shit to do. It doesn’t hurt anymore, it burns.
I’m tired of watching. Tired of hearing irrelevant clowns speculate how I’ll be perceived. Tired of hearing about my greed, my desire questioned. Wherever and whenever I decide to return, I’ll remind everyone why they know my name. Again. And again. Believe in me.#IFoundIt
Although it may just be a coincidence, the fact that Wyatt is tweeting about a return now makes the timing interesting, as WWE's Hell in a Cell pay-per-view is on Sunday.
Seth Rollins is competing in the main event against Cody Rhodes in a Hell in a Cell match, and Wyatt has some well-documented history with Rollins inside the cell.
At Hell in a Cell 2019, Rollins and The Fiend faced each other inside the cell, and Rollins won by referee stoppage. The match was roundly criticized and viewed as one of the worst Hell in a Cell matches of all time since it was supposed to be an anything-goes affair.
It took Rollins a while to get back in the good graces of the WWE Universe after that, and it can be argued that Wyatt never fully recovered.
Having Wyatt confront Rollins inside the cell at Hell in a Cell would be a full-circle moment and could possibly start the healing process for both men.
Failing that, an AEW debut can't be ruled out for Wyatt either, as Dynamite is taking place in Los Angeles on Wednesday and AEW President Tony Khan could want a splashy debut on the show in the form of another former WWE star.
Update on Banks, Naomi's Status with WWE
Since getting suspended indefinitely a couple of weeks ago, Sasha Banks and Naomi reportedly haven't had much contact with WWE.
According to Fightful Select (h/t WrestlingInc's Eric Mutter), Sasha and Naomi have had "minuscule to nonexistent" contact with WWE, and all of their future travel plans have been canceled by the company.
WWE suspended Banks and Naomi indefinitely after they walked out during a recent episode of Raw. The then-WWE women's tag team champions had been scheduled to compete in the six-pack challenge main event that night against Becky Lynch, Asuka, Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H.
WWE changed the match to Lynch vs. Asuka in the middle of the show and subsequently released the following statement regarding Banks and Naomi walking out:
Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out on tonight’s Raw after Banks had issues with “creative ideas pitched,” per @PWInsidercom
On the ensuing episode of SmackDown, it was announced that Sasha and Naomi had been both suspended and stripped of the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.
Fightful Select (h/t H Jenkins of Ringside News) reported the night of the walkout that Naomi had been scheduled to win the six-pack challenge and face Bianca Belair for the Raw Women's Championship at Hell in a Cell.
That reportedly led to Banks and Naomi expressing concern about what that meant for them as a tag team and leaving the building when the booking of the match wasn't changed.
While Fightful hasn't been able to confirm a report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Dave Meltzer that Banks and Naomi have been suspended without pay, it did note that it spoke to a WWE higher-up who said WWE is unlikely to freeze the contracts of Sasha and Naomi if they aren't being paid.
If that is the case, Banks and Naomi could both possibly become free agents soon, as former WWE writer Kazeem Famuyide recently said on The Ringer's Masked Man Show (h/t Mutter) that he had heard both of their WWE contracts were set to expire in the next two months.
Although there has been no confirmation regarding the contractual status of Banks or Naomi, two of WWE's top female Superstars hitting free agency at the same time would be huge news in wrestling and a possible coup for a competitor like AEW if they are able to land one or both of them.
Jeff Hardy, Cole Out of AEW Match with Injuries
Tony Khan announced Tuesday that Jeff Hardy and Adam Cole had been removed from a scheduled 10-man tag team match set for Wednesday's episode of Dynamite in Los Angeles.
The original match would have seen Jeff team with his brother Matt Hardy as well as Jurassic Express and Christian Cage against Cole, The Young Bucks and reDRagon.
With Jeff and Cole out, Khan noted that Darby Allin is replacing Jeff in the match and New Japan Pro-Wrestling star Hikuleo is taking the place of Cole.
Both Jeff and Cole competed at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view on Sunday in winning efforts.
Jeff and Matt Hardy defeated The Young Bucks in a tag team match, while Cole beat Samoa Joe in the finals of the Owen Hart Foundation men's tournament.
Although Cole didn't show any obvious signs of injury or distress, Hardy did seem to be laboring at times during his match, as he struggled to get to the top rope and gain his footing on a couple of occasions.
Despite that, Jeff gutted it out and finished the match, and he even completed a huge spot with a Swanton Bomb to the outside of the ring on top of the steel steps.
While Hardy and Cole are big losses from Wednesday's match, it should still be a highly entertaining affair given all the talent involved.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: profanity).
When a performer is as consistently excellent as Sasha Banks has been over the course of her run in WWE , it is difficult to decide which of her many in-ring offerings stands above the rest as the absolute best...
WWE, AEW Rumors on Sasha Banks & Naomi's Pay, MJF's Future; CM Punk on Backstage Heat
May 30, 2022
WWE wrestler Sasha Banks reacts before throwing out the first pitch before the start of baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park, Sunday, May 8, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe and All Elite Wrestling.
Banks, Naomi Reportedly Suspended Without Pay by WWE
Former WWE women's tag team champions Sasha Banks and Naomi reportedly aren't being paid during their indefinite suspension from WWE.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestlingInc's Eric Mutter), it is possible Banks and Naomi could go "months or longer" without pay due to WWE's right to freeze their contracts.
Meltzer is unsure if WWE intends to do that, but if the company freezes their contracts, they might not be paid unless or until they return to WWE programming.
Two weeks ago, it was announced on SmackDown that WWE had suspended Banks and Naomi indefinitely for walking out during an episode of Raw. They were also stripped of the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.
Sasha and Naomi had been scheduled to compete in a six-pack challenge on Raw against Asuka, Becky Lynch, Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H., with the winner challenging Bianca Belair for the Raw Women's Championship at Hell in a Cell.
Since Banks and Naomi walked out, it was changed to a singles match between Asuka and Lynch, which Asuka won. Lynch was added to the title match last week, making it a Triple Threat at HIAC.
After Banks and Naomi decided to leave during Raw, WWE released a statement on the matter, scolding them for their actions:
Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out on tonight’s Raw after Banks had issues with “creative ideas pitched,” per @PWInsidercom
It was subsequently reported by Fightful Select (h/t H Jenkins of Ringside News) that WWE's plan was for Naomi to win the six-pack challenge and face Belair at Hell in a Cell.
Sasha and Naomi reportedly questioned what that meant for the future of their tag team and expressed frustration, leading to them walking out when the booking wasn't changed.
Meltzer (h/t WrestlingInc's Matthew Wilkinson)
subsequently reported that Naomi's WWE contract is set to expire "soon," and that she had been negotiating a new deal with WWE before walking out.
It was then reported by former WWE writer Kazeem Famuyide on The Ringer's Masked Man Show (h/t Mutter) that both Naomi and Banks will see their WWE contracts expire in two months, although Meltzer was unable to confirm Banks' contractual status.
Now, the suspension complicates things since it is unclear if WWE will opt to freeze their deals until they return to television.
MJF Reportedly Taken Off the Road by AEW
MJF reportedly won't be on AEW programming for the foreseeable future after a controversial weekend in Las Vegas for Double or Nothing.
According to PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson, MJF will be absent "at least for the next several TV tapings," but it could be even longer.
MJF made headlines on Saturday when he did not show up for a meet and greet during AEW Fan Fest, which forced AEW to offer refunds. Per Fightful Select (h/t WrestlingInc's Kellie Haulotte), nobody from AEW could get in contact with MJF at the time and a source said they were "very unhappy about how it all played out."
Fightful also reported that a flight had been booked for MJF out of Las Vegas prior to Sunday's Double or Nothing pay-per-view, but MJF never got on the flight, as he showed up at the event.
MJF competed in the opening match, getting squashed by former associate Wardlow, who beat him with 10 powerbombs.
After the match, MJF was stretchered away as an apparent means of writing him off television for the time being.
Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp reported after the pay-per-view that MJF told him he "showed up shortly before his match, left right after, and has a lot to think about."
MJF has expressed frustration with his pay in multiple interviews, specifically mentioning that he doesn't like former WWE wrestlers coming to AEW and making more money than him.
The 25-year-old phenom has been open about becoming a free agent in January 2024 and isn't ruling out the possibility of leaving AEW for WWE if the money is right.
While some aspects of what happened over Double or Nothing weekend could have been MJF playing up to his heel character, there do seem to be legitimate issues between him and AEW that could lead to him leaving when he gets the opportunity.
Punk Responds to AEW Backstage Heat Speculation
Following his AEW World Championship win over "Hangman" Adam Page in the main event of Double or Nothing on Sunday, CM Punk shot down the notion that he isn't well-liked backstage in AEW.
During the post-show media scrum, Punk was asked about how he has meshed with the AEW locker room, and he responded:
"I've grown so wise in my old age that I'll do my best to be as diplomatic as I possibly can with this answer. If there are people backstage that don't like me, it's a minority. If anybody says that nobody wants me here, or nobody likes me, I'd like to say that nobodies don't like me, and nobodies don't want me here."
The question may have been in reference to something Page said in a promo leading up to Double or Nothing. Page claimed he was "defending All Elite Wrestling" from Punk, which caused speculation about Punk having some detractors in the locker room.
Ultimately, it may have just been part of the storyline, with Page as a Day 1 AEW star and Punk joining the company later as a former WWE star.
Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Andrew Ravens of WrestlingNews.com) furthered the speculation by suggesting there may have been some truth to what Page was saying, however.
Whatever the case, there is no denying Punk's star power and importance to AEW, which is why he was rewarded with a title win at Double or Nothing.
Now, the focus will shift toward whether AEW continues to book him as the company's top babyface or leans into the speculation about Punk's personality and potentially turns him heel at some point.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: profanity).
WWE Backstage Rumors: Sasha Banks 'Being Portrayed Negatively' in Locker Room
May 29, 2022
WWE wrestler Sasha Banks reacts before throwing out the first pitch before the start of baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park, Sunday, May 8, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
Sasha Banks is reportedly facing
significant WWE backstage heat after walking out of the May 16 episode of
Monday Night Raw alongside tag team partner Naomi.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer
Newsletter reported (via Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News) there
hasn't been much support for Banks, even among those in the locker
room who usually side with wrestlers over the company.
"There is a lot of locker room
conjecture and talk about Banks and Naomi, largely with Banks being
portrayed negatively, as Naomi [was] supporting her friend but not
being the catalyst of it," Meltzer said. "Even those who would
normally not be pro-management were not anti-management in this
case."
WWE has taken a rare out-of-storyline
public stance following the walkout.
The company initially released a
statement apologizing for being unable to deliver the Raw
main event because Banks and Naomi left the building.
Later that week on SmackDown, longtime WWE announcer Michael Cole
stated the duo was suspended indefinitely and were being stripped of
their tag team titles, which would be awarded in a future tournament:
Sasha Banks and Naomi have been suspended indefinitely. There will be a future tournament to crown the new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions. pic.twitter.com/8xhJe0l5bV
Although it's always possible the
situation is an elaborate work, all of WWE's comments and the outside
reporting suggests the walkout and subsequent internal backlash is
real.
Both Banks (real name Mercedes Varnado)
and Naomi (Trinity Fatu) have gone quiet on social media since the
incident two weeks ago.
Kazeem Famuyide of The Ringer reported
(via Michael Perry of Ringside News) both Superstars' contracts were
set to expire within the next two months and they were talking about
potential extensions before the walkout.
Now their WWE futures are very much up
in the air, though it sounds like Naomi is facing a less tumultuous path to backstage reconciliation than Banks if the issues are resolved.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
All Elite Wrestling fans have not seen Kenny Omega since November, when he left Dynamite in the wake of losing the world title to "Hangman" Adam Page four days earlier at Full Gear...
Cody Rhodes-WWE 2K23; Sasha Banks, Naomi Rumors; Sami Zayn Reacts to Bloodline Photo
May 25, 2022
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 26: Cody Rhodes is introduced during AEW Dynamite on January 26, 2022, at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the
latest news from the WWE Universe.
Cody Rhodes Hints at Possible 'Special' Role in
WWE 2K23
Rhodes' return to WWE at WrestleMania
38 in early April came about a month after the release of the WWE
2K22 video game. It raised questions about whether he'd become
available as part of a future downloadable content (DLC) release.
Michael Straw of Sports Gamers Online
reported the company tried to work with 2K Sports, the game's
publisher, on a solution but there was simply "too little time" to go through the process of getting The American Nightmare in this
year's game.
"WWE tried, but it was quickly shot
[down]," a source told Straw. "They knew it was unlikely, but you
don't know for sure unless you ask."
While it's disappointing news for
Rhodes fans and gamers who prefer an updated roster, the fan
favorite responded to a message Tuesday suggesting he should grace
the cover of WWE 2K23 next year:
I don’t know the talented folks at @WWEgames - but I’m a pretty decent gambler and I would bet they’re working very hard on something special for pro wrestling fans https://t.co/IqiiiK9lHQ
Rhodes, who left WWE in 2016 for stops
in several promotions including All Elite Wrestling, has garnered ample crowd support
since his return and is likely staring down a major title run in the
coming months.
It's possible he'll be one of the
company's top titleholders heading into next year's WrestleMania
season, which would certainly seem to make him a serious candidate for
the 2K23 cover, especially since other options like Roman Reigns and
Becky Lynch were already spotlighted in recent years.
Even if Rhodes doesn't receive cover
placement, he'll likely be heavily involved in the promotional
material heading into the release.
Mixed Feelings Toward Sasha Banks,
Naomi Walkout
Banks and Naomi were the WWE women's
tag team champions when they walked out of Raw last week, leaving
their titles on the desk of head of talent relations John
Laurinaitis. It forced the company to change that night's main event,
and it led a rare statement concerning an out-of-storyline
development.
"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," the company stated.
Longtime WWE announcer Michael Cole
provided an update Friday on SmackDown, saying the pair was suspended
and would vacate the titles:
Sasha Banks and Naomi have been suspended indefinitely. There will be a future tournament to crown the new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions. pic.twitter.com/8xhJe0l5bV
One of the key questions amid the drama
is how other Superstars feel about the duo's actions.
PWTorch reported (via WWF Old School)
two schools of thought have emerged backstage:
I can say there are people in that
locker room—colleagues of theirs, [including] active wrestlers and otherwise, who are disappointed and not sympathetic to the way
Sasha and Naomi handled this. And there are
others who, yes, think this is a cool thing that they did. And they
sort of wished that they had the guts to do something like that and
take a stand.
Banks is one of WWE's most mainstream
stars, having garnered a high-profile acting role on the Disney+
series The Mandalorian, and Naomi had long been one of the company's
most underrated performers. They would represent major losses to the
roster.
But, unless this is one of the best
works in history, WWE is taking a hardline stance against the pair, likely with hope
of avoiding similar actions in the future.
Sami Zayn Jokes About The Bloodline
Photo
Zayn has been rocking a Bloodline shirt on TV in recent weeks, a sign of his growing role in a storyline with WWE
and universal champion Roman Reigns and the unified tag team
champions The Usos, Jimmy and Jey.
It spawned a photoshop of Zayn in a
family photo alongside Reigns and The Usos, who are real-life
cousins, that caught his attention on social media:
Jey Uso responded to the photo on
Instagram, calling Zayn the "help dawg" of the faction.
The three-time intercontinental
champion has shown how it's possible to get over and make a weekly
impact without needing a top-tier title reign.
He put together a terrific feud with
actor Johnny Knoxville leading up to WrestleMania, where the Jackass
star picked up a win using various antics, and his interactions with
Paul Heyman as part of the Bloodline storyline have been fantastic.
It'll be interesting to see where
things go from here as Zayn's overexuberance will likely cost The
Bloodline at some point, which could either thrust him into a marquee
feud with Reigns or simply mark the end of an increasingly
entertaining angle.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
JR Talks Stone Cold vs. Hulk Hogan; Sasha Banks, Naomi Rumors; Adam Cole on WWE Exit
May 24, 2022
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR 2K - WWE Hall of Famers Stone Cold Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan pose for a photo at the SummerSlam Confidential Panel to reveal the WWE 2K15 roster at Club Nokia, on Saturday, August 16, 2014 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision for 2K/AP Images)
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe and All Elite Wrestling.
JR Discusses Why Austin vs. Hogan Never Happened
Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Hulk Hogan is perhaps the biggest dream match in wrestling history that never happened, leaving many fans to wonder why it was never booked when Hogan returned to WWE in 2002.
On the latest episode of Grilling JR (h/t WrestlingInc's Marco Rovere), current AEW announcer and WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross noted that while the subject of Austin vs. Hogan was brought up at the time, Austin didn't want the match out of fear that it wouldn't have lived up to the hype: "Austin didn't have the match with Hogan because he didn't want to have the match The Undertaker did. Hogan was battered, beat up, multiple back surgeries."
Ross noted that Hogan was so worn down physically that even taking a flat-back bump was difficult for him, which severely limited the potential of his matches.
Many assumed Austin vs. Hogan was a certainty for WrestleMania X-8, but WWE went in a different direction with Austin facing Scott Hall and Hogan taking on The Rock.
While Austin vs. Hall was largely forgettable, Hogan vs. The Rock is considered an all-time classic, not because of the in-ring work but largely due to the fan reaction.
The crowd essentially forced Hogan to turn babyface, and he went on to beat Triple H for the Undisputed WWE Championship at the next pay-per-view, which was Backlash.
Hogan dropped the title about a month later to The Undertaker at Judgment Day in a match that was widely panned.
Ross explained what went wrong in the bout between Hogan and Taker, saying:
"The match was not an artistic success. But it wasn't because those guys didn't work their asses off. You've got a guy that's got a bad back and he's not a spring chicken. … Taker tried to do all he could to make the match a success, but it just didn't get the job done. And that's sad to say when you're talking about two legit legends like Taker and Hulk."
Austin's fears and suspicions were apparently realized at Judgment Day, as Hogan wasn't able to do much in the match, and The Undertaker was unable to carry it on his own.
Stone Cold may have encountered a similar scenario if he had faced Hogan, so perhaps it was for the best that a match between the legends was left to the imagination.
Banks, Naomi Situation Reportedly Has No End in Sight
The standoff between WWE and the team of Sasha Banks and Naomi reportedly isn't expected to end any time soon.
Last week on Raw, Banks and Naomi were scheduled to be part of a six-pack challenge against Asuka, Becky Lynch, Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H. with the winner going on to challenge Bianca Belair for the Raw Women's Championship at Hell in a Cell.
Banks and Naomi walked out either before or during the show, however, forcing WWE to change the match to Asuka vs. Lynch.
WWE later released a statement condemning the actions of Banks and Naomi, and the company has since referred to their walkout as "unprofessional" on numerous occasions:
Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out on tonight’s Raw after Banks had issues with “creative ideas pitched,” per @PWInsidercom
On last week's episode of SmackDown, announcer Michael Cole read a statement, noting that Banks and Naomi had been suspended indefinitely and stripped of the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships.
WWE has also removed Sasha and Naomi from the pre-show intro, deleted their Facebook pages and taken all of their merchandise off WWE Shop.
According to Fightful Select (h/t WrestlingInc's Sai Mohan), "there's no end on the horizon for this situation."
Fightful noted that while Banks and Naomi were not in Evansville, Indiana, for Raw on Monday and seemingly aren't figured into any immediate plans, WWE does not intend on releasing them from their contracts either.
With Banks and Naomi out of the picture for now, WWE booked Belair to defend her title against both Lynch and Asuka at Hell in a Cell in a Triple Threat.
Meanwhile, the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships are vacant, and WWE has announced that a tournament will be held to determine new champs.
Cole Reveals Biggest Reasons for Going to AEW
Adam Cole has been one of AEW's top stars since leaving WWE and joining the company in September, and he discussed some of his motivations for making the move to AEW recently.
During an appearance at Motor City Comic Con (h/t WrestlingInc's Matthew Carlins), Cole divulged that spending more time with his girlfriend, former AEW women's world champion Britt Baker, played a role in his decision:
"One of the biggest things was getting to be around and see Britt a lot more. At the time, our schedules were so different that there'd be some times that I'd see her for maybe half a day, one day a week. Sometimes I wouldn't see her for weeks at a time. So getting to travel with her and just being behind the curtain when she walks through after she's done a match or a promo is really nice."
Cole had been with WWE since 2017, working almost exclusively as part of the NXT brand, and he was at or near the top for the duration of his time there.
In addition to being the leader of Undisputed Era, Cole held the NXT Championship, North American Championship and NXT Tag Team Championship, making him only the second Triple Crown champion in NXT history.
Cole also still boasts the longest NXT Championship reign of all time at 396 days, but there wasn't much left for him to do after dropping the title.
He had accomplished everything possible in NXT, meaning his decision when his WWE contract expired came down to going to the WWE main roster or making the leap to AEW.
Cole admitted that watching AEW made him want to go to the promotion, saying: "It just looked like so much fun. You know, I had known tons of people on the roster, but to see these crazy, wild crowds every single week, I was like, 'God, I'd love to wrestle in front of these fans.'"
Cole's dream became a reality at All Out in September when he and Bryan Danielson both made their AEW debuts following the main event.
Since then, Cole has competed for the AEW World Championship on multiple occasions, and at Double or Nothing on Sunday, he will compete in the finals of the Owen Hart Foundation tournament against either Samoa Joe or Kyle O'Reilly.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: profanity).
