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This week’s on-screen WWE storylines have revolved around the upcoming Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt and Team Hulk Hogan vs. Team Ric Flair matches at Crown Jewel, while there has also been a lot of focus on Bayley following her return heel turn.
Off-screen, meanwhile, we have learned lots of backstage stories from WWE Superstars and legends over the last seven days, with the likes of Bayley, Bobby Lashley and Jinder Mahal giving an insight into real-life incidents that have happened in their careers.
For example, did you know that Brock Lesnar – the man who Lashley has wanted a match against for several years – has only met “The Dominator” on two occasions? As for Bayley, she gave an interview this week in which she clarified what really happened after The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection lost the Women’s Tag Team titles at WrestleMania 35.
In this article, let’s count down five of the most interesting backstage stories that have been told in the last week.
#5 Bobby Lashley’s meetings with Brock Lesnar
When Bobby Lashley returned to WWE in April 2018, it was widely reported that a match against Brock Lesnar – the Universal Champion at the time – could be on the horizon.
However, Lashley (and his three ‘sisters’) ended up getting involved in comedy storylines during his first few months back with the company, while he has been a mid-card heel for most of the last year.
Speaking to Uproxx this week, the 43-year-old former Intercontinental Champion reiterated that it is still his dream to face Lesnar in a one-on-one match one day, and he hopes the two men get to do battle before he turns 50.
He added that he does not know Lesnar outside of WWE and has only met him on a couple of occasions.
“I met him in passing a couple of times. Saudi was the first time I met him. Literally 'Hey, what's up?' Boom, boom and that was about it. Never said more than two words to him, so I think there's a little mystique there and also for me.”
Lashley’s WWE character has been involved in risqué segments with Rusev’s wife, Lana, on RAW recently, and he is not even on the same brand as new SmackDown recruit Lesnar.
#4 Bayley clarifies WrestleMania 35 reports
Shortly after WrestleMania 35, it was reported by Pro Wrestling Sheet’s Ryan Satin that Sasha Banks and Bayley “loudly” complained on the locker room floor and outside one of their hotel rooms about WWE’s decision to have them lose the Women’s Tag Team titles to The IIconics.
Four months later, Banks returned to WWE after an unexpected break and seemingly confirmed the report by revealing during a promo on Monday Night RAW that she did indeed “throw a fit on the locker room floor” at WrestleMania 35.
In September, “The Boss” opened up on her difficult 2019 so far in a WWE Chronicle documentary, in which she denied that the incident took place and claimed that she did not act unprofessionally following the event.
Now, after hearing from Banks, Bayley spoke on the topic in an interview with Sky Sports this week, reiterating that The Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection did not cause a scene at ‘Mania.
"We literally watched the main event in person by the hard cam and enjoyed the women stealing the show. We're professionals and we love this more than anyone can imagine, more than anyone else in that locker room."
#3 Paige wants to return as The Kabuki Warriors’ manager
It is only fitting that a story from the first episode of ‘WWE Backstage’ makes it into our weekly recap of WWE backstage stories.
This week, Paige appeared alongside Booker T, Christian and Renee Young on the debut episode of WWE’s behind-the-scenes show on FOX, and the former Divas Champion revealed that she is keen to make her on-screen return as the manager of The Kabuki Warriors.
"Hit me up brother, I'm ready, I'm ready to manage them again. Come on, Vince [McMahon]. I'm ready, coach, put me in!"
Paige has not appeared on WWE television since undergoing neck surgery in August 2019. Ironically, the fortunes of Kabuki Warriors duo Asuka and Kairi Sane have drastically improved since then, with the Japanese Superstars recently defeating Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross to win the Women’s Tag Team titles.
Before then, they did not have any meaningful storylines after forming a tag team in April 2019 with Paige as their manager, and many fans felt that the alliance between the three women was not working.
Without Paige by their side, The Kabuki Warriors defeated Lacey Evans and Natalya in a non-title match in the main event of the October 14 episode of RAW.
#2 How Jinder Mahal found out he would not face Brock Lesnar
Jinder Mahal began November 2017 as WWE Champion and looked set to face Brock Lesnar in a Champion vs. Champion match in the main event of Survivor Series.
Twelve days before the pay-per-view, Mahal lost his title on an episode of SmackDown to AJ Styles, who went on to do battle with “The Beast” in what turned out to be one of the best WWE matches of the year.
Mahal, who has been sidelined since June 2019 after undergoing knee surgery, spoke to talkSPORT this week about the chaotic night that he lost the WWE Championship.
He revealed that, just like when he won the WWE Championship from Randy Orton at Backlash, he was only informed that he was going to lose the title on the day of the show in Manchester, England.
“I do want to face Brock. I was supposed to have the match with him. [I found out I was going to lose the title] the day of the tapings in Manchester, the day of. AJ was in and I was out just like that. That’s the thing though: I found out I was becoming WWE Champion in one day. I won it in one day and I lost it in one day. But, that’s the way it goes.”
“The Modern Day Maharajah” was drafted from SmackDown to RAW as the #18 pick in the fourth round of the 2019 WWE draft, so we can expect to see him back on our screens soon.
#1 Ruby Riott’s tearful first meeting with John Cena
Ruby Riott discussed her journey to WWE and her wrestling career so far in a rare interview on Vickie Guerrero’s Excuse Me podcast this week.
Before joining NXT and becoming the leader of The Riott Squad, Riott appeared as one of Adam Rose’s Rosebuds in 2014-15, while she also worked in roles as an extra.
She revealed to Guerrero that she was due to arrive early at the building before an episode of SmackDown in Cleveland for her first day as an extra. However, she turned up 30 minutes late and became emotional because she feared that her dream of working for WWE was already going to be over.
After being shown the quickest way to the Talent Relations department by a security guard, Riott then stumbled across the biggest name in WWE at the time: John Cena.
“They [security] find me an elevator, there’s tears running down my face, I’ve got my gear bag in my hand. The door opens and the only person I see sitting at a table in front of me – I’ll never forget this – is John Cena. He can see I’m upset and I’m running to Talent Relations. He’s very kind. He just says, ‘It’s alright, you’re okay.’ I thought, ‘There’s no way I’m ever going to get a job here!’”
Fortunately for Riott, she ended up speaking to Road Dogg before SmackDown went on the air and she even took part in a tryout match.
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