WWE Stomping Grounds 2019: Match Card, Preview, and Predictions
By Bryan Heaton
Raw Women’s Championship Match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Lacey Evans
In one of the few matches I’m, sadly, not really looking forward to, a Money in the Bank rematch pits Becky Lynch against Lacey Evans once again. As much as I love Becky and what she’s done lately, I am apathetic towards Evans. And to do this match again so soon seems like a classic case of “Roman Reigns Syndrome” in regards to Evans.
Whenever I have a conversation with other fans or writers about Evans, the general consensus is twofold: she was brought up to the main roster way too soon without a solid plan and her character is too one-dimensional to have any kind of connection with the crowd. Is that the kind of superstar we want as the face of the flagship show in the company?
But my main issue with Evans is how she’s been used. Yeah, the other things I mentioned above bother me, but it’s not like a make or break thing. She’s talented for sure, but could use a little more seasoning before getting launched into the main event. And the character itself has potential if it were to be given more time to develop.
Instead, the plan seems to be “get her on screen so everyone knows who she is, and then put her in the ring with Becky so osmosis takes care of the rest.”
Do I think Evans-Lynch could be great? Yeah — just not in 2019, or at least in June 2019. So we’ll get a perfectly average match in a spot that calls for something more. Conspiracy theorists might say it’s a way to cool off Becky after she took the WWE Universe by storm last summer through WrestleMania, but that’s nonsense.
Do I think Lacey could win this match? No, but I still wouldn’t be surprised if it happened. If Becky spends the rest of the summer on the chase, it may not be the worst thing — especially if the Sassy Southern Belle loses the title at SummerSlam in the Great White North. That’s just too ironic to pass up, so if I was booking it, that’s what I’d do.