Fans are surely excited to see Sasha Banks back in a WWE ring whenever possible, but WWE Extreme Rules should not be the moment we see The Boss return.
Sasha Banks has been the subject of a lot of chatter recently. Her absence from WWE programming has been discussed to high heaven and, for her part, the Legit Boss seems happy to fan the flames.
One thing that has caught the attention of fans recently is a comment made by Nikki Cross during her ongoing feud with Bayley, alongside Alexa Bliss. This feud, which has mostly been about who has more friends, has now devolved into whether or not Bayley has any friends willing to stand up for her. This has naturally led to speculation that we could be about to see the return of Sasha Banks.
It’s been a long time now since we’ve heard Michael Cole’s brutalistic war cry of “It’s Boss time!” I have to say, we’ve all missed it. We’re all very ready to hear it again as, without Michael Cole, how would we know when Sasha Banks was on our screens? Banks hasn’t been seen since WrestleMania. There she would lose the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, which have a very long name, to The IIconics.
From there, news would fluctuate, with talk of a potential release, complaints at her particular location on the card and disappointment in the brevity of her championship reign. Since then, Banks has been what can be best described as cryptic; giving very little away about her intentions or even current whereabouts.
Meanwhile, Bayley has continued on as if nothing is wrong. A move to SmackDown Live presented a new panel of opponents. After successive losses to Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch threatened to derail her initial momentum, Bayley would come out of WWE Money in the Bank the 2019 women’s Money In The Bank winner and SmackDown Women’s champion. Not a bad day at the office.
While there is understandable excitement at some of the potential matches that Bayley could now have on SmackDown Live, what we have instead is a repeat of the Alexa Bliss feud from two years ago. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as Bayley was badly in need of some exercise for that demon. Her loss of the Raw Women’s Championship to Bliss, and the kendo stick on a pole match in particular, was a burial and a half that Bayley has still not fully recovered from.
Bayley is doing well without Sasha Banks. This Sunday at WWE Extreme Rules, Bayley faces her biggest challenge yet as champion when she faces both Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross at the same time. This is assuming that Alexa Bliss recovers from her current illness in time to attend the match. Nikki Cross is still a threat on her own though. Sounds like Bayley could use a best friend to even the odds, right?
Sounds like Sasha Banks is coming back to save her friend, right? Maybe.
There are a lot of possibilities. Sasha Banks could simply fail to be there. Banks could arrive at the last minute, saving Bayley from a two on one beat down and heading into a tag team match at SummerSlam. Banks could also arrive, attack Bayley, and push herself into the number one contendership spot for the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
I want it to be the first option. I do not want to see Sasha Banks appear at WWE Extreme Rules.
I’ve written up three reasons why. Who knows, by the end of this, you might even agree with me.
3. Raw needs Sasha Banks
The WWE Raw women’s division has been in serious trouble since WrestleMania, mostly due to an absence of top talent.
Becky Lynch is, of course, the top woman and has essentially carried the division solo for several months. Alexa Bliss has been effective but used sparingly. Banks has been missing. Nia Jax has been injured. Ruby Riott is out of action. Ronda Rousey is nowhere to be seen. Bliss and Evans are essentially the only heels with anything behind them and Lynch is the only well-developed face.
Sasha Banks, even if she comes back, spits at fans and literally shanks Becky Lynch from behind, will be cheered upon her return. That doesn’t mean that she can’t be comfortably converted to heel but regardless of whether she comes back positively or negatively, anyone who lines up against her will be considered the heel. This gives her a huge opportunity to provide massive help and support for the rest of the division.
A heel lower down the card, or even a face on the way up, could benefit massively from a win over Banks. Even just feuding with someone of her brand recognition will be massively beneficial. Give Sarah Logan a three-week feud (encounter-promo-match) and both women will benefit. Nikki Cross is much the same and with the wild card in play, Banks could work very effectively with Rose and Deville on the blue side.
Really, both women’s divisions could benefit from a top name like Banks returning, but Raw is in the greatest need going forwards.
2. Becky Lynch needs a challenger
July marks the fourth month in the Becky Lynch vs Lacey Evans feud. There is no question that this is partly born of necessity – there isn’t really anyone else for her to wrestle – but four long months against someone who has barely wrestled on the main roster simply isn’t good enough.
Going into WWE SummerSlam, Becky Lynch needs something more. She needs a major feud to keep her momentum going, or to be a legitimate contender for the Raw Women’s Championship. SummerSlam has a much stronger casual audience than any of the pay per views that have taken place since WrestleMania. You’re not going to keep those fans watching without something big and worthwhile to walk about.
In the continued absence of Rousey, which would have been a sure-fire win for everyone, Lynch’s opponents are extremely limited. When Evans loses at Extreme Rules she will not be able to challenge Becky Lynch again for the Raw Women’s Championship. Alexa Bliss is currently tied up with Bayley. The only major heel left is Charlotte Flair and I’m pretty confident that none of us want to see that again for a long time.
Becky Lynch might be the only woman on the entire roster who won’t automatically be turned heel in a feud with Sasha Banks. It would be a top tier reintroduction for Sasha Banks. It’s also something that we’ve rarely seen in four years on the main roster. Lynch and Banks have feuded in NXT but never on the main stage. It’s new, it’s fresh, it’s exciting.
And it could definitely end in a title change.
1. Bayley should be able to beat the odds on her own
Since day one on the main roster, Bayley has been almost entirely defined by Sasha Banks. This is not okay and has done her personality and credibility serious harm.
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- Bayley would debut as Banks’ mystery partner.
- Bayley’s first championship match would be a triple threat against Banks and Charlotte.
- Bayley would win the Raw Women’s Championship because of cheating from Sasha Banks.
- Bayley would defend the title successfully at Wrestlemania in a four-way elimination match. Banks would feature and help Bayley eliminate Nia Jax.
- A month later, Bayley would finally wrestle without Banks in her corner and immediately lose the Raw Women’s Championship. History would repeat a month later.
- Bayley could not beat Alexa Bliss. Bliss would instead lose the title, temporarily, to Sasha Banks.
- Bayley would lose at the Elimination Chamber due to an attack from Sasha Banks.
- Bayley would go to therapy with Sasha Banks.
- Bayley would tag with Sasha Banks to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.
What Bayley hasn’t done is beat the odds on her own. Even in her successful defense against Alexa Bliss at WWE Stomping Grounds, interference from Nikki Cross would ultimately result in the win. Bayley did not win the match without some sort of assist.
It’s an established part of the Bayley character that she does not win big matches on her own. Maybe this time, Sasha Banks could help her friend best by not helping her friend at all. If this is a brand new Bayley, she needs to win on her own.