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Welcome to the latest edition of WWE News and Rumor Roundup. Today, we'll take a look at the backstage discussions surrounding a few recently released superstars.
A former Million Dollar Champion criticized Vince McMahon for the budget cuts. Meanwhile, Sasha Banks spoke about why she wanted to be released back in 2019.
With the conclusion of this year's Survivor Series pay-per-view, today's roundup will also highlight an interesting Brock Lesnar mention and the original plan for the main event.
With that in mind, let's dive deeper into these news and rumor stories.
#5. Backstage talk about former WWE faction Hit Row
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November 2021 has included two rounds of budget cuts in WWE thus far. While Hit Row's B-Fab was let go on November 4, other members – Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, Ashante "Thee" Adonis, and Top Dolla – were released several days later.
As per Fightful Select, there had been internal discussions about whether or not the faction's members should have worked as heels or babyfaces. Additionally, pitches regarding which superstar would lead Hit Row made rounds backstage.
Previous reports have highlighted how Top Dolla was predicted to be the breakout star from the newer crop of talent on WWE's main roster. Fightful stated that his hosting skills and dedication to the faction attracted attention behind the scenes. However, since being released, rumors indicate that he received a polarizing reaction from higher-ups.
Top Dolla recently addressed hearsays about him having backstage heat, noting via Twitter that he won't let "BS" reports ruin his reputation:
Top Dolla also let WWE higher-ups know that releasing B-Fab earlier this month was a mistake. The Hit Row member mentioned this in a tweet reacting to rumors about him rubbing people the wrong way backstage, adding that he often stood up for himself upon hearing others say their faction would never work.
#4. Virgil thinks Vince McMahon "has lost it" following recent WWE releases
In addition to Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, Ashante "Thee" Adonis, and Top Dolla, five other members of the WWE roster got released on November 18.
John Morrison, Tegan Nox, Drake Maverick, Shane Thorne, and Jaxson Ryker made the list.
Ex-Million Dollar Champion Virgil took to Instagram to address the latest round of WWE budget cuts and criticized Vince McMahon. You can check out his post HERE.
"Between the sheets is where the dirt lays. Not saying much but the truth here. Vinny [Vince McMahon] has lost it. He literally does whatever he wants with no structure. Trips [Triple H] has ideas and half way they cut the motor. People's dreams get shattered, or maybe they get ignited. Depends. For me, I have been through the ringer, used abused and amused for others to benefit. Hey man my gig was good but looking back if I wasnt hustling to survive I would be treated like dog s**t to this day. Time to play your own game. Enough with the glass ceiling, the measuring stick, or the powers that be. Everyone needs to crush beef the way I do. Like a God." stated Virgil.
#3. Sasha Banks on why she asked Vince McMahon to leave WWE at one point
Though The Legit Boss continues to be one of the most prominent superstars today, she considered leaving WWE after WrestleMania in 2019.
Recently speaking with Ariel Helwani for BT Sport, Sasha Banks expressed that she always strives to be the best. However, at that point in her career, the former champion wasn't feeling well and thought she needed to leave. When Banks asked for her release, Vince McMahon denied it and offered her time off instead.
She felt this was a great decision for both parties and praised McMahon for showing kindness back then:
"I felt like I wasn't giving my highest good. If I'm not giving my highest good, if I'm not being the best, if I'm not used as the best then I gotta go find that. I am always that performer of wanting to be No. 1 and I felt in my heart that I wasn't feeling just good, I wasn't feeling good. I felt that I did all that I could and I needed that break. I needed that release and Vince told me, 'No.' That was a great decision on both ends. He knew what he saw and he's so smart, he's so kind, he's so gentle. He actually knew what I needed, which was 'time,' at the end of the point all of us just need a little bit of time," said Sasha Banks.
Both of them certainly have a good professional relationship. The Legit Boss even said a few months ago that the WWE Chairman trusts her.
#2. Brock Lesnar was mentioned during WWE Survivor Series 2021
This year's Survivor Series featured a backstage segment between Paul Heyman and Kayla Braxton, which highlighted Brock Lesnar's on-screen suspension from WWE.
As part of the storyline, Braxton heard from her sources that Lesnar's suspension had been lifted. She told Heyman the same thing during Survivor Series, and he looked surprised.
For those unaware, the December 10th SmackDown episode will go down at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Several days ago, the arena announced that The Beast Incarnate had vowed to be at ringside during the show. As a result, Heyman and Braxton's recent backstage segment likely set up Lesnar's imminent return.
#1. Original Survivor Series plan included Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair as the main event
Though Flair and Lynch's newsworthy match kicked off the main show at Survivor Series, it was originally slated to go on last, as per Fightful Select. Roman Reigns vs. Big E would have opened the pay-per-view instead.
However, plans changed before the live broadcast, and the WWE Champion ended up main-eventing against Reigns. PWInsider has confirmed Fightful's information about the original match lineup. The order for the aforementioned bouts reportedly shifted at around 5:45 PM ET.
During the pay-per-view, Becky Lynch and Roman Reigns picked up victories against their respective opponents, and it's safe to say that both matches extended beyond WWE's brand supremacy premise as they felt more personal.
