Credit: WWE.com
On Feb. 25, the first ever women’s WWE Elimination Chamber match will take place in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. There are three reasons why Sasha Banks should win.
Twenty-four hours after the historic women’s Royal Rumble match, Raw commissioner Stephanie McMahon announced that the women of Raw would get another chance to make their mark in the history books, by holding the first-ever women’s WWE Elimination Chamber match.
The Elimination Chamber match is straight from a science fiction apocalypse scenario, with the chamber featuring reinforced walls, steel floors, and glass pods. Two superstars start the match, and at specific intervals, the four other competitors trapped in glass pods will be released at random, entering the fight. Competitors are eliminated by pinfall or submission, and the last woman standing will hold the Raw Women’s Championship, just in time for WrestleMania 34.
With the lack of staff readily available, instead of having to fight for a position in the match, Raw General Manager Kurt Angle simply announced the five women that would compete against Alexa Bliss and her Women’s title. The five women announced are Sasha Banks, Bayley, Sonya Deville, Mandy Rose, and Mickie James.
Much like the Royal Rumble fight, predictions and odds have been released as to who will win the landmark fight. Also like previous Royal Rumble fight predictions, Sasha Banks should win; for three specific reasons.
Credit: WWE.com
WWE’s Natural Born Leader
WWE turns to Sasha Banks for leadership in landmark events and historic fights more than any other female on the roster.
Banks participated in the first ever women’s Iron Man match against Bayley at NXT TakeOver: Respect in Oct. 2015, making it the first women’s match to ever headline a major WWE event, and the longest women’s match in history at 30 minutes.
The former Raw and NXT Champion and Charlotte Flair were the first women to headline a WWE pay-per-view, and the first to compete in a Hell in a Cell match at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view in Oct. 2016.
Banks has even fought in the last two Raw Women’s Championship matches at WrestleMania, so WWE knows she can not only draw tickets and viewership, but she can also fight in a WrestleMania-caliber event.
The company is clearly confident in Banks’ talents and abilities. It’s no wonder, as she lasted until the final four at the Royal Rumble match, wrestling for a total of 54 minutes and 46 seconds; hardly a feat just any women athlete could accomplish.
Logically, the next step in the Women’s Evolution is main-eventing WrestleMania. One of the few women that could pull that move off successfully, is Sasha. WWE needs to put talented workhorses in the right places, when it counts.
Credit: WWE.com
Perfect Timing for Sasha’s Heel Move
Let’s face it, Asuka is not exactly a face or a heel. She tends to defy labels. When fighting at WrestleMania, though, they’ve usually established which side of the face/heel spectrum the competitor fights on. It simply makes for better entertainment.
If Alexa Bliss walks out of Elimination Chamber still holding the belt, it could potentially bore some viewers. Bliss is a phenomenal heel character with skill WWE seems to be holding back, and so it would be unbelievable to most that she would win against the likes of Asuka.
If Banks walked out of Elimination Chamber the winner, not only would she put on a killer performance at WrestleMania, but it could further the heel turn WWE has been obviously hinting at since she flashed the old Banks attitude at Royal Rumble.
During the last week, Banks and Bayley have been adding fuel to their feud fire on Twitter.
Until I beat her... https://t.co/FfxxeYvI0u
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) February 10, 2018
It’ll come to no surprise to anyone if Banks and Bayley’s feud has an impact on the Elimination Chamber match, itself, but Banks is electric as a “bad guy” against any opponent. WWE can let Asuka reign as a strong face, while moving the heel storyline for Banks forward, by letting them duke it out at WrestleMania 34.
Banks can make or break talent and their careers with just a flip of the shades.
Credit: WWE.com
Banks Can Hold Her Own Against Asuka
Much to the dismay of Banks lovers everywhere, Asuka was the last woman standing at the Royal Rumble match, January. As a result, Asuka was allowed to choose which title she wanted to fight for at WrestleMania 34. She chose her home turf, pitting herself against Team Red.
The discussion became who could fight believably against Asuka, while creating a compelling story.
Bayley could hold her own against Asuka physically, but would have a hard time with the hard feelings. Alexa could slice Asuka with words, but would have issues avoiding a tap out. Banks could handle both aspects, and have fun while doing it.
As if they didn’t have enough to juggle with Rousey, Asuka, and Bliss, they decided to also throw Nia Jax in the mix. It was announced that Asuka would face Nia Jax in a singles event at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, giving the chance for Jax to enter the Women’s Championship match at WrestleMania, if she wins.
If Jax wins the singles match, she will face Asuka and the winner of the Elimination Chamber match in a triple threat match at the big show. Which then begs the question, who could face both Asuka and Jax?
Certainly not Bliss, though the WWE universe has been patiently waiting for Bliss and Jax’s friendship to backfire. If they were looking to definitely rip the title from Bliss and start feuds across the board, letting Bliss and Jax win at Elimination Chamber would do it.
If WWE wants a long-lasting, physically impressive, mentally challenging, full of surprises triple threat or singles match at WrestleMania, they’ll let Sasha Banks win at Elimination Chamber.
Next: Worst Booking Decisions in WrestleMania History
Tune in Sunday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. EST to catch all of the Chamber action, and to see if Sasha gets the recognition she deserves.