Neville Reportedly Quits WWE and the Most Controversial Stories This Week

The Shield reunited on the most recent Raw, but there's an argument to be made that this was far from the most controversial or shocking story of the week.

People are getting fired, turning heel and storming out. WWE needs The Shield now more than ever. 

And while The Hounds of Justice's return was certainly the feelgood story of the week, it might not have even been the most shocking story on Raw.

Because the cruiserweight division has seemingly lost its king.

Neville Reportedly Quits WWE Prior to Raw

Neville made waves when he reportedly quit WWE prior to the latest Raw broadcast. Stories have ranged from the disgruntled former cruiserweight champion walking out, as Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported (h/t Marc Middleton of Wrestling Inc), to PWInsider later stating he was not backstage at all (h/t Middleton).

Neville was reportedly set to lose to then-cruiserweight champion Enzo Amore, but when he refused to do so, WWE apparently called an audible to crown Kalisto champion of the oft-struggling division.

Amore has made a big splash since arriving at 205 Live in August, but the rise of The Zo Show has come at the expense of many cruiserweights, who have been relegated to supporting roles as fodder for Amore's scintillating promos.

Neville's dramatic exit is reminiscent of Austin Aries' sudden departure earlier this summer, as top cruiserweights seem to be growing frustrated with the low-ceiling division. And while Neville could be of more value to the independent circuit, it will be interesting to see how his rocky relationship with WWE plays out.

The Shield Officially Reunites to Kick off Raw

WWE completed its reunion of The Shield on Monday, as fans fully embraced the trio just as was discussed in the previous edition of this column. Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns are just better together for now, and to see them perform vintage spots like the Triple Power Bomb was a welcomed sight.

Reigns, Ambrose and Rollins are rock stars as a single unit, and with a few more months until WrestleMania season kicks into gear, expect this popular faction to give fans the babyface run they were deprived of when they prematurely broke up in 2014.

The Shield's Tables, Ladders and Chairs match against The Miz, The Bar and Braun Strowman is a near-lock to be a match-of-the-year candidate, with several exhilarating athletes involved and the year-end awards season upon us.

Sami Zayn Turns Heel, Aligns with Kevin Owens

World-class nice guy Sami Zayn turned heel at WWE Hell in a Cell in the dramatic conclusion to the nerve-racking main event between Kevin Owens and Shane McMahon.

SmackDown Live teased as much during the go-home show, but that hasn't stopped "I called it!" guys nationwide from taking credit for predicting the telegraphed turn.

Zayn appeared to be fighting every instinct to antagonize a small crowd in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on SmackDown, but he delivered an overall satisfactory explanation as to why he joined his ex-former best friend and current ex-rival. Zayn shows promise as a heel, if nothing else, because the character is convinced he did the right thing, not to mention that ska dance he performs was always obnoxious to begin with. 

WWE Fires Jimmy Jacobs Following Bullet Club Photo Scandal

WWE recently fired writer Jimmy Jacobs, per PWInsider (h/t Middleton of Wrestling Inc). While writer turnover is old hat in Stamford, Connecticut, Jacobs' ousting is especially reprehensible among the pesky message board crowd because he used to compete in ROH.

The last straw seemed to come when the former Age of the Fall member posted pictures alongside The Bullet Club the night it infamously invaded Raw.

WWE was not laughing along, as it slapped The Young Bucks with a cease-and-desist order, per Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet. Being a WWE employee and palling around with the enemy was a surefire ingredient to become unemployed.

Jacobs' ties to the independent circuit should allow him to land on his feet, and the man credited with creating The List of Jericho on Live Audio Wrestling by Chris Jericho himself already has a T-shirt for sale based on his firing.

Alfred Konuwa is a Featured Columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report and Forbes. Like him on Facebook.