The Rock Behind Nia's LoA?

[Captain Charisma]

SI.com’s Week in Wrestling is published every Wednesday and provides beneath the surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.

NEWS OF THE WEEK: WWE’S SEVEN DAY WHIRLWIND
Nia Jax, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, AJ Styles, Triple H, and Kurt Angle were all key players in a week WWE will not soon forget.

The reason behind Nia Jax’s much-discussed “leave of absence” has been uncovered, as Sports Illustrated learned that Jax balked at the idea of losing clean to Sasha Banks at TLC. She called her cousin, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, to ask for his advice, and Johnson encouraged her to walk away if she was unhappy.

COURTESY OF WWE
The history of the business is rife with examples of top talent–including Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, and The Rock–refusing to accept certain finishes. All of those talents held leverage over WWE due to their star power, while Jax’s main source of leverage is the relation to her cousin, who is one of the biggest box office attractions in the world.

How different would the career arcs look for Dolph Ziggler or Zack Ryder, two extraordinarily talented performers continually put in difficult situations, if they had ever made a similar decision? Ultimately, Jax has to be the primary person to look out for her own best interests.

Instead of tweeting about her unhappiness with the creative, Jax was willing to walk out to voice her displeasure.

https://www.si.com/2017/10/25/wrestling-news-nia-jax-dwayne-johnson-wwe

I hate this "Samoan club" thing. Rock and his relatives, samoan wrestlers and their relatives... I just hate it. I also want Nia to leave as I don't like her style.

 

[Deezy]

Not buying it....she already put over Sasha Banks a bunch of times already.

 

[Messiah]

She shouldn't be losing to a lower card talent like Sasha when she should be booked like a monster. She should be squashing people like Sasha.. but that's still a ridiculous reason to walk out.

 

[Deezy]

She isn't even a star yet....imagine what she acts like if she ever becomes one?

Call her bluff, Rock can only get them so much......start kissing Daves ass for that Hollywood rub or better yet, wait for Cena to make his mark.

 

[Cwalker]

She shouldn't be losing to a lower card talent like Sasha when she should be booked like a monster. She should be squashing people like Sasha.. but that's still a ridiculous reason to walk out.

"Lower card talent like Sasha"

 

[Smart Marx]

She shouldn't be losing to a lower card talent like Sasha when she should be booked like a monster. She should be squashing people like Sasha.. but that's still a ridiculous reason to walk out.

Sasha Banks < Nia Jax??? Lower card???

She isn't even a star yet....imagine what she acts like if she ever becomes one?

Call her bluff, Rock can only get them so much......start kissing Daves ass for that Hollywood rub or better yet, wait for Cena to make his mark.

Amen to this. If there's any truth to this rumor call her bluff. She shouldn't use Rock to get her way.

 

[Messiah]

"Lower card talent like Sasha"

Considering she's at the bottom of the card most of the time, yes.

You don't have to like it, but facts are facts.

 

[Smart Marx]

Considering she's at the bottom of the card most of the time, yes.

You don't have to like it, but facts are facts.

I'd prefer Sasha got pushed more than she does, but a former 4-time women's champion isn't lower on the card than the woman who's yet to win it and basically walked out because she felt she wasn't higher up on the card.

 

[Roadster]

Technically speaking, she's at the bottom of the card. Logistically and professionally, she's a highly popular and profitable star - so she ain't lower-midcard, in that respect.

At the end of the day, she reels in more money than Jax and therefore is the bigger star.

 

[Messiah]

Technically speaking, she's at the bottom of the card. Logistically and professionally, she's a highly popular and profitable star - so she ain't lower-midcard, in that respect.

At the end of the day, she reels in more money than Jax and therefore is the bigger star.

Naw man, you're thinking of the past. She was highly popular, not so much anymore.. Sasha is not as big of a draw as some people think.. Her merch sales absolutely suck to... Sasha can leave tomorrow and nobody would notice

 

[Drew]

She shouldn't be losing to a lower card talent like Sasha when she should be booked like a monster. She should be squashing people like Sasha.. but that's still a ridiculous reason to walk out.

The hell? You serious with this?

Yes she should be squashing people...but Sasha?

 

[Dale]

I kinda feel as though Rock is getting a bad rep for this supposed comment. People are acting like he's telling her to leave cos I got your back, kinda thing. To me, I just took the comment at face value as though he was telling her if you aren't happy with your job (whatever it be) then leave.

 

[Smart Marx]

I don't blame Rock for telling Nia to leave if she's unhappy, but I do blame Nia for leaving over having to put Sasha over.

 

[Roadster]

Almost forgot, Messiah.

Glad you still trolling.