New Details On Sasha Banks & Naomi's WWE Suspension
Backstage update on Sasha Banks & Naomi's ongoing absence from WWE.
WWE formally announced Sasha Banks and Naomi's indefinite suspension on last week's episode of SmackDown, doing so four days after the duo walked out of a Raw broadcast due to reported creative frustrations. Stripped of their Women's Tag Team Championships, the duo also had their merchandise removed from WWE's online stores, sparking mixed reactions behind the scenes.
In this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer clarified that Banks and Naomi's suspension is without pay. On top of this, WWE pulling their merchandise not only deprives them of their cut of the revenue, but was reportedly done to send a message to the rest of the talent roster.
Whether or not WWE will opt to freeze the duo's contracts hasn't yet been confirmed. They have that power, however, and may use "refusal to work" as their justification for it.
Freezing a wrestler's contract means extending the length of their deal for however long they aren't wrestling. This has been commonplace in the company for years, with injured athletes often getting the exact treatment. WWE doing this with Naomi, whose contract expires soon, may have an impact on the negotiations she was believed to be involved in prior to the walkout.
As was already known, Meltzer notes that WWE can freeze contracts without telling the performer(s) in question.