Sasha Banks unplugged Boss Time on Monday Night Raw — literally.
The WWE Star and Naomi, her fellow women’s tag team teammates, “exited” Monday’s Scope Arena in Norfolk, Va., ahead of their match, WWE confirmed to The Post. PWInsider was the first to report the couple exiting the building.
Banks and Naomi arrived at the arena and were informed that, according to WWE, they would be attending the Monday Night Raw main event. The match announced was that Banks, Naomi, Becky Lynch, Asuka, Doudrop and Nikki ASH would compete in a six pack challenge match to determine the next person to face Bianca Belair for her Raw Women’s Championship at Hell in a Cell pay-per-view later this month.
Banks and Naomi apparently had issues with the match. According to Fightful Select, Naomi should win.
“During the broadcast, they walked into WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis’ office, bags in hand, placed their tag team championship belts on his desk, and walked out,” WWE said in a statement. “They claimed they weren’t respected enough as tag team champions. And although they had eight hours to rehearse and set up their match, they claimed that they felt uncomfortable in the ring with two of their opponents – despite having had matches with those individuals in the past without repercussion.”
Sasha BanksWWE
Banks reportedly took her concerns directly to WWE Chairman Vince McMahon, who chose not to change the creative. Fightful Select also reported that Banks and Naomi’s issues were mostly rooted in proposed plans for them as tag team champions, rather than the women they were set to work with.
WWE turned the show around with Lynch frantically approaching WWE Official Adam Pearce to inform him that Banks and Naomi had left the building. The match switched to a one-on-one match between Lynch and Asuka, who ended up claiming victory.
On the show, commentator Corey Graves mentioned that they exited the building several times during the show, so it’s always possible that the incident will be used at an angle on screen in the future.
“Sasha Banks and Naomi left unceremoniously and unprofessionally,” Graves said.
Last minute changes are the norm before WWE shows as creativity is very fluid, but this incident didn’t seem to sit well with the company.
“Monday Night Raw is a scripted live television show whose characters are expected to meet the requirements of their contract,” WWE said. “We regret that we were not able to hold today’s main event as announced.