UPDATE x 5: ProWrestlingSheet.com has a new report up claiming Titus O’Neil spoke with WWE management on Tuesday afternoon following the incident on Monday that got him suspended, to better explain himself.
The sites sources claim that O’Neil told several WWE officials that he grabbed McMahon’s arm because he was only trying to allow Stephanie McMahon to exit the stage first. The story goes that O’Neil was trying to “let the lady go first”, and was only trying to be polite. O’Neil reportedly understands that the situation may have been perceived differently by others.
As noted yesterday here on eWrestlingNews.com, O’Neil was originally suspended 90-days for “unprofessional conduct”. That suspension was reduced to 60 days at some point yesterday. Despite that, he’ll still miss WrestleMania 32 by less than a week.
UPDATE x 4: Titus O’Neil’s suspension has been shortened from ninety to sixty days. The decision to cut the suspension to a shorter period was made today.
It was noted that the suspension has gotten coverage in several mainstream news outlets, but there’s no word on what influence that may have had (however likely) on the decision. O’Neil will be out until around April 8th, meaning that he will still miss WWE’s WrestleMania 32 pay-per-view.
UPDATE x 3: Batista had a strong reaction to Titus O’Neil’s suspension. The former WWE champion took to Twitter and replied to a fan asking if he called WWE about O’Neil’s suspension of up to ninety days for unprofessional conduct after grabbing Vince McMahon at the end of RAW. Batista, a very close friend of O’Neil’s, said that he actually told O’Neil to ask for his release:
I did something better! I called @TitusONeilWWE and told him to ask to be released. #onelife https://t.co/ileACzeB8j
— Dave Bautista (@DaveBautista) February 11, 2016
Clearly, Batista (and many others backstage) think the suspension is complete bullsh*t. As was reported earlier, O’Neil was suspended by WWE in order to send a message to the rest of the talent that unprofessional conduct won’t be tolerated after several stars were close to crossing that line as of late.
UPDATE x 2: Titus O’Neil’s suspension issued last night was reportedly done in order to send a message to the WWE talent roster. According to sources, Vince McMahon suspended O’Neil for ninety days because “the message needed to be sent that WWE stars needed to stop “messing around” and be professionals”.
According to sources, there have been several people on the roster who have been walking a line in terms of following company rules and McMahon wants WWE to be a professional organization. While O’Neil was just messing around with McMahon, it was considered “one messing around too many” and O’Neil became the fall guy for everyone else who has been going too far.
As noted earlier, O’Neil is liked by WWE officials, particularly since he’s their go-to guy for charity with John Cena out. The Prime Time Players were broken up in order to help push O’Neil as a singles guy and while it hasn’t been acknowledged on TV, he went undefeated for nearly three months before he lost to Adam Rose on RAW.
O’Neil also posted his first social media comment since being suspended on Instagram:
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled (ranked below others who are honored or rewarded), and he who humbles himself (keeps a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly) will be exalted (elevated in rank).” Luke 14:11 #Blessed #ContentOfCharacter #Faith #Family #Community
A photo posted by Titus Oneil (@titusoneilwwe) on
UPDATE: Here is what led to Titus O’Neil’s suspension from WWE. Seriously.
We’ve said it time and time again – WWE’s backstage atmosphere has been compared to a high-school. Talents often receive backstage heat for the smallest of things. Just a few examples of that are former WWE Diva Kaitlyn interrupting Stephanie McMahon while she was in a conversation with someone else which resulted in her being “jobbed out” and embarrassed on TV and Pul London being fired for smiling during a TV segment where Vince McMahon walked backstage. There are MANY other examples over the years. Also keep in mind that Vince McMahon is a guy who despises sneezing and if you sneeze anywhere near him, you are “chewed out”.
Titus O’Neil is also well-liked backstage and does a TON of charity work for the company. He often takes part in “Be a STAR” rallies prior to WWE TV tapings as well.
As you’d likely guess, there are a number of people within WWE who are rolling their eyes over the suspension.
ORIGINAL: WWE has suspended Titus O’Neil after he had an incident with Vince McMahon on RAW. After RAW went off the air on the USA Network, the WWE Network streamed a live feed from the arena of Daniel Bryan celebrating with fans at ringside following his retirement speech. All of the main roster WWE stars were on stage as well as Vince McMahon. Bryan was hugged by Vince and walked to the back. Before the live feed ended, O’Neill grabbed McMahon in a “playful, physical way.” However, McMahon didn’t take it like that and shoved O’Neil. McMahon was angry at being grabbed and that led to the suspension.
WWE informed O’Neil that he was suspended when he arrived at Tuesday’s SmackDown TV tapings. WWE told him to go home. It’s being reported that he has been suspended for upwards of 90 days.
WWE has removed the WWE Network exclusive video of Bryan’s farewell from Youtube and WWE.com as well as the WWE Network.
