WWE SmackDown: Ranking the top 5 moments since moving to FOX

Bayley turns on Sasha Banks, September 4, 2020

WWE teased a Sasha Banks vs. Bayley rivalry two years ago, but the never gave the fans the SummerSlam or WrestleMania match that they were hoping for. And in 2020, fans were ready to see Sasha vs. Bayley at WrestleMania 36.

However, an injury prevented that match from being built, so WWE had to buy time. Then, fans were wondering if Sasha vs. Bayley could be the main event at SummerSlam as the SmackDown Women’s Title match. Without fans, that match did not happen at the Biggest Party of the Summer.

Wrestling fans have been patient and want to see Sasha vs. Bayley happen on the “main roster” on a big stage and even surpass their legendary matches at NXT TakeOvers, but WWE honestly could not wait any longer.

Sasha lost the Raw Women’s Title at SummerSlam and was clearly frustrated on the following episode of WWE SmackDown. And at Payback one week after SummerSlam, the two women lost the Women’s Tag Titles when Shayna Baszler choked out Bayley by using Sasha’s arm.

They had one more chance to win back the Women’s Tag Titles on the Sept. 4 episode of SmackDown. However, they fell short, with Sasha laboring due to injured knees, which the champions targeted after she crashed knees-first into the ring post.

After the match, Bayley waved off staff attending to Sasha’s knee, seemingly in an effort to console and help her best friend.

Nope.

Bayley targeted the knees more viciously than either Nia Jax or Shayna Baszler, using the steel steps to destroy them. She then closed the emphatic beatdown by putting a chair around Sasha’s head and stomping on the chair from the top rope, injuring the Boss’ neck. As she did this, Bayley, true to her heel character, talked trash the whole way, showing only contempt for a woman who was her closest friend.

It was an incredible beating that solidified Bayley as WWE’s greatest heel and hinted at Sasha becoming WWE’s biggest babyface on any brand. Fans had waited a long time for this moment, and they couldn’t have been disappointed with the quality of this unforgettable betrayal.