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WWE Suspends Sasha Banks And Naomi Indefinitely, Strips Them Of Their Titles, After Raw Walkout
Sasha Banks and Naomi were slated to take part in a Six Pack Challenge match on Monday Night Raw, but left the arena over apparent creative differences.
It doesn't look like WWE Superstars Sasha Banks and Naomi will be gracing TV screens any time soon.
The Women's Tag Team Champions have been suspended indefinitely after they walked off of Monday Night Raw last week.
The announcement came during Friday’s Smackdown, with announcer Michael Cole telling the audience that Banks and Naomi had “let us all down.”
“Their actions disappointed millions of WWE fans, and their fellow Superstars,” he said. “So because of what Sasha and Naomi did this past Monday night, they have been suspended indefinitely.”
In addition, Banks and Naomi have been stripped of their tag team titles.
During Monday’s Raw, the unexpectedly walked out of the arena ahead of their Six Pack Challenge match, which was slated as the night’s main event. The match would have pitted six Superstars: Banks, Naomi, Becky Lynch, Asuka, Doudrop and Nikki A.S.H against each other, with the winner would earning an opportunity to square off against Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair at Hell in a Cell on June 5.
According to a WWE statement, Banks and Naomi walked into WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis’ office with their suitcases in hand. They then "placed their tag team championship belts on his desk and walked out.”
The two had apparently asked for a change in the creative storyline of this match, but their request was denied.
"They claimed they weren't respected enough as tag team champions," the WWE stated. "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.”
The walkout left the WWE community abuzz. Bleacher Report noted that while the walkout “has historical precedent,” it felt “different, perhaps due to the speed with which WWE released a statement and the media attention the walkout has received.”
While neither Banks nor Naomi has spoken out publicly since the walkout, Naomi has removed all mentions of WWE from her Twitter profile.
WWE stated on Friday that there will be a future tournament to crown new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions.
Watch WWE Raw Mondays at 8/7c on USA Network, or you can stream it on Peacock.
