WWE Extreme Rules 2020 Predictions: The Age of Orton will be rekindled

https://twitter.com/SashaBanksWWE/status/1275258831870853128

Asuka (c) vs. Sasha Banks (w/Bayley) [Raw Women’s Championship]

As fun as this match will be, there’s no chance in hell that SmackDown superstar Sasha Banks will win the Raw Women’s Championship from Asuka. While Sasha Banks will instead dethrone SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley in the near future, Shayna Baszler should be slated to dethrone Asuka at SummerSlam.

Before Becky Lynch was scheduled to relinquish her championship for maternity leave, it was reportedly rumored that Baszler was originally planned to win the MITB Briefcase and cash in on Lynch to win the Raw Women’s Championship. Despite Vince McMahon’s lack of faith in Baszler, she could still win the gold if those original plans still hold value today.

When it comes to this championship match between Asuka and Banks, it was set up for tensions between Banks and Bayley to blow out of proportions. Somehow, Bayley will find a way to inadvertently screw Banks in this championship match against Asuka and thereby prevent Banks from winning two championships, like her.

This is WWE’s way of essentially killing two birds with one stone: setting up Banks vs. Bayley for SummerSlam and solidifying Asuka’s title reign with key victories over important, formidable opponents (e.g. Nia Jax, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks).

This methodical booking strategy prevents Asuka from being perceived as a transitional champion before she loses the title to Baszler, who has been kept off television to avoid stealing Asuka’s spotlight and momentum as champion.

Prediction: Asuka