Latest Fightful Select report on the subject from Sean Ross Sapp
Backstage Reactions To Sasha Banks & Naomi Walking Out
There are numerous staff and talent that we've heard from about the situation, ranging across the board.
One talent indicated that they often see criticism of WWE's handling of champions, the tag team division, the number of women's tag teams, and the booking of women in general, but see even more criticism when talent stand up against it.
However, one consensus among those we've talked to is that leaving during a show you were scheduled for, before that segment is something that is likely to lead you to getting buried throughout said show. One longtime WWE talent was quick to point out that not even Steve Austin's walkout was done in that fashion, as he was gone well before the show in question. Another female talent indicated that they didn't see anything particularly egregious worth leaving the show over, but understands the creative frustration.
Contrary to other reports, we've spoken to numerous talent in and out of WWE that have been supportive of Naomi and Sasha Banks' stance, and the duo in general. However, the much larger population lies in the "not being happy with creative is fine, walking out is fine, but walking out during the show isn't fine" camp.
There were also a ton of talent from outside WWE that reached out to us, with those that didn't watch Raw wondering if it was a work, to quickly realize it wasn't. One former WWE talent said that they didn't even understand the situation, but that it took balls to do what Sasha and Naomi did. A female wrestler in another company was surprised with the pay scale at what it is in WWE right now that the two would deem a creative situation worth walking out on. Other reactions we heard were mixed between "someone needed to do something like this to make a stand" and the echoed "can't walk out during a show you're scheduled for" sentiment.
However, there were a couple of talent that stated that comparisons to an acting role aren't quite the same, as you take a role knowing how big your part will be. With pro wrestling, it's largely dictated by the quality of booking, and said that Sasha Banks and Naomi were well within reason to not be happy about the direction things were going.
In regards to reports of Sasha Banks not being liked backstage, we have heard from several talent that things had seemed to have eased up in that regard in recent months. One talent said they were surprised that reports of that nature hadn't emerged prior, with another saying that she'd been far more outgoing since her return. One staff member who said that while they'd not had positive experiences with Banks in the past, they understood why she walked out during the show. They noted that once 8 PM rolled around, she wasn't going to be able to speak with Vince McMahon, and she knew she wasn't going to work the match, so there was no need to stick around.
One person close to the situation believed that the statement WWE put out during the show was a way to pit those talent against each other, but also believed that all of those involved would be quick to reach out to one another to clear up any misconceptions.
It's worth noting that this is a collection and aggregate of talent and staff we were able to hear back from and in no way reflects the entire locker room or every talent. We've still not heard directly from Naomi or Sasha Banks on the situation.
