WWE Blocking 4-Time Champion's Exit, No Improvement In Situation, Report Claims

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Sasha Banks are still at a stalemate when it comes to her future in the company after the four-time RAW women’s champion walked out following her loss at WrestleMania 35 in April. She has not been seen inside the squared circle since April 7 and plans for her return during the recent Money In the Bank (MITB) pay-per-view were shelved.

Banks was not happy with WWE in the aftermath of the “The Boss” and her tag team partner Bayley being made to drop their tag team titles to the IIconics at WrestleMania. The former women’s champion was said to have walked out of the company following the loss, with reports claiming she requested her release owing to the treatment meted out to her, but the speculation was sort of dispelled by a cryptic tweet from Banks herself.

Vince McMahon has been adamant about holding on to key members of his roster and is denying releases to anyone that is of importance to the company. Moreover, he is keen to avoid superstars quitting WWE and joining newly formed rival promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

Banks was denied her release request and has been asked to take time off from the company. There were suggestions she might return for MITB and win the women’s ladder match, but that did not happen. At the moment, there is no change in the situation, with WWE expecting Banks to complete her hiatus and eventually return as the company does not have any plans to let her out of her contract.

“The company originally wanted to place Sasha in that [Money In The Bank] match and have her win, but that didn’t happen. The situation with Sasha was quiet as of last week and she’s still expected to remain in the company and eventually return as I’ve reported,” Brad Shepard said on the “Oh, You Didn’t Know” podcast as transcribed by Ringside News.

Banks signed a multi-year deal with WWE in 2018 and thus the company holds all the cards when it comes to the pro-wrestler’s future. Wrestling Observer reported that the promotion has no plans to allow the women’s division star to leave and WWE was willing to sit out the rest of her contract if need be. The company also has the option of freezing her contract and then adding time on it when she does make her return.

“The attitude right now from the company side is that she can go sit out the rest of her contract if she wants to. The bad part of that is that if she doesn’t wrestle and tries to sit out, they can freeze the contract as well.”