10 Reasons 2022 Was Wrestling's WILDEST Year Ever
4. Sasha Banks & Naomi Walk Out Of Raw
Wrestlers have walked out of companies before (see “Stone
Cold” Steve Austin and CM Punk, for example), but current champions leaving a
show while it’s on the air and are booked in that night’s main event is
pretty unprecedented.
But that’s exactly what happened during the 16 May episode of Raw, when WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Sasha Banks & Naomi walked out during the show due to a dispute over their booking. The tag champs had been slated to compete in a six-pack challenge to name a #1 contender for Bianca Belair’s Raw Women’s Championship.
Reportedly, Naomi was slated to win that match, and almost certainly would have lost to Belair. It also was rumored that Banks was scheduled to face SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey (and also lose to her), putting the tag titles on the sidelines and saddling the champs as losers.
Instead, Sasha & Naomi walked out and spent the year appearing on runways and at fashion shows while rumors flew about whether they had been or would be released, and where they would land. That two women would know their self-worth, stand up for themselves and walk out of a big money contract says a lot about them and how strongly they felt.
And now, Sasha – one of the most marketable wrestlers out there with an immense following on social media – is reportedly set to appear at NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 17, and she’s rumored to be headed to AEW shortly after. If this happens, you can chalk it up as one of the biggest stories of 2023.