The WWE has taken the rare step of issuing an official statement about two of its Superstars, following a backstage walkout at Monday Night Raw.
The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions and Smackdown Superstars NAOMI and SASHA BANKS were advertised as being a part of a Six-Pack Challenge to determine a new Number One Contender for the Raw Women’s Championship. However, the broadcast of Raw noted that both women had left the building and referred to that as ‘unprofessional’.
The WWE then issued a statement through the official WWE website:
“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.”
The WWE has yet to state what, if any, punishment or consequences Naomi and Banks will suffer as a result of the walk-out.