WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out on WWE Monday Night Raw on May 16. Here is everything we know.
On the May 16 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, a six-pack challenge was announced that would determine the No. 1 contender to the Raw Women’s Championship. That was later changed to a one-on-one singles match between Becky Lynch and Asuka.
WWE announced that the match was changed due to WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks and Naomi, who were scheduled for the six-pack challenge, left the building. And no, it is not a storyline.
Here is everything we know regarding why Banks and Naomi walked out on WWE Raw.
Everything we know about Sasha Banks and Naomi walking out on Raw
According to Fightful Select (subscription required), Banks had a meeting with chairman Vince McMahon to voice her displeasure about a situation, with both unwilling to budge on their respective stances.
In regards to the six-pack challenge, Banks and Naomi were among Lynch, Asuka, Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H. as competitors. In fact, Fightful Select reported that Naomi was supposed to actually win the match by pinning Nikki A.S.H., setting up a title bout against champion Bianca Belair at the Hell in a Cell premium live event on June 5. Additionally, the outlet reported that the match was set up so Naomi and Banks would not interact with each other.
WWE statement following Sasha Banks and Naomi walking out on Raw
WWE released the following statement regarding the tag champions walking out on the show:
“When Sasha Banks and Naomi arrived at the arena this afternoon, they were informed of their participation in the main event of tonight’s Monday Night Raw.
During the broadcast, they 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.”
Not only did WWE bring up that Banks and Naomi left their championships on Larinaitis’ desk, but also that they were uncomfortable working in the ring, even though they had matches against the two of them.
Fightful Select followed up after this statement, saying sources close to the situation said that neither Banks or Naomi never claimed that they did not want to work with two specific competitors in the initial main event. The outlet said that they were informed that the champions were angling to have a match with Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H. at Hell in a Cell, but that was turned down.
In a separate report, Fightful Select states that the issue was related to the creative direction of the tag team championships, and the duo were “vocal about developing more stories within the tag team division.”
Be sure to stay tuned to FanSided for all your WWE, AEW and Pro Wrestling coverage from unique analysis to fun angles, to viral content and much more.
