'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
We're back! I'm hoping you need no introduction as to what we do here every day.
Today's roundup is as stacked as it was yesterday and how can it not be? It's WWE Draft week!
Sasha Banks' name has made it to today's edition and she features in two stories of contrasting nature. While one is certainly good news for the fans of The Boss, the other may invoke some concern.
We have backstage news on the 'tense' talks between Paul Heyman and Vince McMahon that happened on last week's RAW. The identity of the man behind the entire Tyson Fury and Braun Strowman angle was also disclosed. Heyman also reportedly wants two Superstars on RAW while Fox officials have put forth two names that they intend to see on SmackDown.
The format and other important details of the Draft were also revealed.
WWE also signed an exciting new talent from the independent circuit who, incidentally, was in the running to be a contestant on WWE's Tough Enough.
We were also provided with some interesting details about Finn Balor's salary now that he is back in NXT.
So without any further delay, here is today's roundup:
#1. Sasha Banks has earned Vince McMahon's respect
There was a time not too long ago when Sasha Banks was labelled as a trouble maker backstage. Her attitude was brought into question after she reportedly walked away after losing the Women's Tag Team titles at WrestleMania.
The Boss is back now and she looks better than ever as a heel. Banks has even managed to get into the good books of Vince McMahon, as revealed by Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp.
As per Sapp, Banks has earned the respect of the boss in the past few months.
Banks was recently involved in a RAW Women's title feud with Becky Lynch and despite losing to The Man at Hell in a Cell, both women managed to put on the best match of the night.
Banks is currently out with an undisclosed injury. More on that later on in the roundup!
#2. Paul Heyman is fighting to have two Superstars on RAW
The WWE Draft is all set to take place on the upcoming episodes of SmackDown and RAW and as expected, WWE is making it seem like a big deal.
Many Superstars are expected to change brands with WWE entering a new phase.
As revealed by WrestleVotes, sources backstage have been quite tight-lipped regarding the details about the Draft.
However, it was stated that Paul Heyman has specifically asked for Bray Wyatt and Aleister Black to be on the RAW Brand. Fox executives, in the meantime, want Roman Reigns and Charlotte to remain on the blue brand.
Draft info is being kept tight-lipped, rightfully so. They are trying to make this a big deal. With that said, I know Heyman has fought for Bray Wyatt & Aleister Black to land on RAW. On the flip side, FOX - not specifically Bischoff, has remained steady for Reigns & Charlotte.
We had reported earlier about two new Paul Heyman guys from SmackDown - Aleister Black and Buddy Muphy - possibly making the move to RAW. The hints regarding the same were dropped on the most recent episode of RAW.
Roman Reigns and Charlotte Flair are already a part of the SmackDown roster and the two top Superstars are expected to be retained by the blue brand.
#3. The tense meeting between Paul Heyman and Vince McMahon
Hell in a Cell ended with one of the worst main event finishes in recent memory and the fans were unsurprisingly quite vocal about their displeasure.
Tom Colohue and Korey Gunz discussed the angle on the latest edition of Sportskeeda's Dropkick DiSKussions. Tom Colohue revealed that Paul Heyman and Vince McMahon had an uneasy conversation during a production meeting on RAW while trying to figure out the future of the Seth Rollins/Bray Wyatt storyline.
Colohue said:
“Paul Heyman, in charge of RAW, was obviously in a production meeting with Vince McMahon, in which they were deciding how RAW was going to go. They laid out earlier that they would work on it from there. Paul Heyman was not happy with that situation. I don’t think Vince McMahon was very happy with that situation as a result.”
“We will see in the coming weeks about that one [if Wyatt stays on RAW or moves to SmackDown in the draft], but I know it was a tense moment in the production meeting where they just had to have that discussion [how to book Rollins and Wyatt], clear the air a little bit and decide where they’re going next. I don’t think not mentioning it was the right way, personally.”
#4. The brains behind the Tyson Fury-Braun Strowman segment
During the same episode of Sportskeeda's Dropkick DiSKussions, Tom Colohue also revealed the planning that went into the chaotic RAW segment between Braun Strowman and Tyson Fury.
Colohue revealed that Paul Heyman had planned the segment in advance while Vince McMahon too had a role to play on how the brawl went down.
“I know Heyman had already planned out how he was going to do the Braun Strowman and Tyson Fury segment. Vince was involved in that as well.”
Colohue added that Natalya and Lacey Evans were given more time to work with as the company made a late call to not address the Universal title match from Hell in a Cell and its fallout on RAW.
#5. Changes to the WWE Draft
The WWE Draft will be unlike any of its previous iterations.
Dave Meltzer revealed on the Wrestling Observer Radio that the upcoming Draft will be similar to the Football draft and will not feature any authority figures. Instead, representatives from Fox and the USA Network will be in charge of the picks.
It was also stated that the company doesn't plan on using any of its authority figures on tv anytime soon.
Meltzer added that all the decisions regarding the Draft have already been set in stone backstage and the Superstars have not been told about the same.
NXT, which was expected to be a major part of the Draft, will not play a big role as per Meltzer.
WWE also announced the rules of the Draft as well as the celebrities that will appear on the much-hyped show.
70 Superstars are eligible for the Draft this year with Tag Teams considered to be a single pick. 30 Superstars will be drafted to SmackDown while RAW will get 41 talents. As RAW is three hours long in comparison to SmackDown's two-hour runtime, the red brand will get three picks for every two picks that SmackDown makes.
Undrafted Superstars will become free agents and they would be eligible to sign up with a brand of their preference after the Draft.
#6. Sasha Banks injury update
As mentioned earlier, Sasha Banks has been pulled from tv appearances due to an injury. PWInsider reports that The Boss suffered a back injury during her Hell in a Cell main card opener against Becky Lynch.
Banks is currently undergoing tests and the complete nature of her injury has still not been revealed.
Fightful reached out to its sources backstage and were given no new updates about Banks' status. The latest on her situation is that she has not been cleared to return and is currently under observation.
#7. WWE signs Shotzi Blackheart
As reported first by Squared Circle Sirens, WWE has signed Shotzi Blackheart to a developmental deal. The popular independent wrestler is expected to report to the Performance Centre soon and she will be integrated into the NXT brand.
Blackheart had previously attempted to get on WWE's Tough Enough competition, however, an untimely medical condition meant that she failed to make the final fourteen.
Blackheart is one of the most active female competitors outside WWE as she has wrestled for top promotions such as SHINE, SHIMMER, EVOLVE and BEYOND over the past few years.
The 26-year-old was recently featured on the WWE Network as part of EVOLVE's 10th Anniversary show in which she had a no DQ match with Brandi Lauren.
Additionally, Blackheart currently holds titles in SHINE and Sabotage Wrestling. The talented wrestler even responded to the rumors of her signing with the WWE on Twitter:
#8. Did Finn Balor take a pay cut after his move to NXT?
The answer is no.
PWinsider has confirmed that Finn Balor will receive the same salary he used to get from his time on RAW or SmackDown despite moving to NXT.
Finn Balor made a surprise return to NXT last week after a short hiatus and has committed his immediate future to the yellow brand.
Balor is expected to be a major player in NXT as the brand headed by Triple H looks to compete with AEW on Wednesday nights. The Demon King will also be working a lighter schedule, yet, get paid like a main roster talent.
Now that's a sweet deal!
Follow Sportskeeda Wrestling and Sportskeeda MMA on Twitter for all the latest news. Do not miss out!
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
