Sasha Banks has moved on from feuding with Bayley for the WWE SmackDown Women’s Title.
Digital Spy has an article covering this feud that has been on and off again for a few years now on the main roster.
2020 was the year that the feud came full circle from them being best friends to tag team champions to them facing off as a babyface and heel in singles competition.
During this interview, Banks was asked if a WrestleMania match between her and Bayley was the ultimate goal.
“I just want to have the most fun time that I can have in WWE. Whether that’s Bayley at WrestleMania, whether that’s Liv Morgan, whether that’s Ruby Riott – it could be anybody.
But, of course, to main event WrestleMania is still one of my biggest dreams and to do that with Bayley would be ultimately a dream come true.”
Banks is slated to take on WWE RAW Women’s Champion Asuka in a non-title match at the upcoming Survivor Series pay-per-view event on November 22 in Orlando, Florida at the Amway Center that will air on the WWE Network. Bayley doesn’t have a match lined up just yet.
Current WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks has opened up about her current feud with her former friend, Bayley.
Speaking with DigitalSpy, “The Boss” explained how the entire Bayley storyline was “a long time coming.” She added how “[…] there were times in the past where we saw it stop and go, but in the long run we really had to have the fans see this long, long friendship which you don’t really get to see in the WWE too often.”
She reflected on how their storyline and relationship had gone through a five-year journey to get to this point. Banks shared how the pay-off with Bayley turning on her and their subsequent feud has met all her high expectations.
Banks explained how her feud with Bayley drew inspiration from the Trish Stratus versus Mickie James rivalry. “[…] they had a year-long storyline when I was watching as a teenager,” she said. “That’s what I wanted growing up, I wanted a year-long storyline where you just were on the ride the whole time. So for us, it’s kind of like a revamp of that.”
A new episode of the Mandalorian is currently available on Disney+ and Sasha Banks’ character makes her first appearance. Her performance on the show is credited under her real-name of Mercedes Varnado.
Banks has been posting to Twitter today in recognition of her character’s first appearance on the show.
“The Mandalorian braves high seas and meets unexpected allies,” reads a description for the episode.
Banks spoke to Digital Spy earlier this month about the role.
“I am just beyond extreme blessed. I cannot believe that I am in two of the biggest universes in the whole world, with WWE and the Star Wars universe,” Banks said. “I’m just like so in shock. I can’t believe it.”
“I act every single week on Friday Night Smackdown,” Sasha continued. “So I love performing and I love entertaining. So wherever that takes me, then that’s where I want to be.”
In September, Banks appeared in the trailer for the new season of the show. She appeared in a long robe that led to some speculation she could be portraying a Jedi character.
Booker T has extrapolated on comments he made during the Hell in a Cell Kickoff show. He had revealed how he wanted Bayley to successfully defend her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Sasha Banks, stating how he didn’t like Banks.
Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T explained how he doesn’t care what people think or say about him following his words. He stressed that he shared his opinion, nothing more.
“What if I say I don’t like Sami Zayn? Are they going to blow up the internet? What if I say I don’t like Bayley? Are they going to blow up the internet? What if I say I don’t like you? Are they going to blow up the internet? I mean guys, relax more than anything. Sasha Banks and I is something that her and I have to hash out. This is between us. It’s not between anybody else except Sasha Banks and myself.”
Booker T proceeded to list Banks’ championship accolades within WWE. He noted how she is a 5-time champion and a Grand Slam Champion, noting how he gives her “props” for her accomplishments. Regardless, he added how, ultimately, “[…] she rubs me the wrong way a little bit, It could be her attitude.”
Booker T On Issues With Sasha Banks
The Hall of Famer stressed how he didn’t say he hated her before reiterating that he stated how he “did not like Sasha.” He repeated how any issues that might exist are solely between them and recommended how people don’t “want to cross in my lane.”
He added how he appreciates what Sasha Banks does in the ring. Booker T explained how she is “better than the majority of the women that play that role and are put in that position” before praising her storytelling skills.
Sasha Banks successfully defeated Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. The two clashed at WWE’s recent Hell in a Cell pay-per-view.
Sasha Banks is your new Smackdown Women’s Champion after defeating Bayley at Sunday’s Hell in a Cell PPV. With the win, Banks is now just the 3rd female grand-slam champion in WWE.
“The boss” has now won the WWE women’s tag-team, NXT, RAW, and Smackdown women’s championship. Only Bayley and Asuka have done the same. More on that below.
Here’s a look at Sasha Banks’ nine title reigns in WWE/NXT:
1x NXT Champion
5x RAW Women’s champion
1x SmackDown Women’s Champion
2x WWE Women’s tag champion (with Bayley)
Bayley’s Path to the Grand Slam
Bayley became the 1st ever women’s grand slam winner on May 19th, 2019. That was when she first won the Smackdown women’s title. She had previously won the RAW title in 2017 and the tag titles with Sasha banks in 2019. Bayley first won the NXT title in 2015.
Asuka’s Path to the Grand Slam
Asuka became the 2nd grand-slam winner in WWE women’s divisions on May 10th, 2020 when she won the RAW Women’s Championship. She won the MITB match and it was revealed on RAW the next night that the match was actually for the RAW women’s title as Becky Lynch was vacating it. Asuka first won Smackdown women’s title on December 16th, 2018. She won the tag titles with Kairi Sane on October 6th, 2019. Asuka’s NXT reign began on April 1st, 2016.
Sasha Banks didn’t come up short while trying to get revenge on Bayley
As seen at Sunday’s WWE Hell in a Cell pay-per-view event in Orlando, Florida, Bayley defended the SmackDown Women’s Title against her former best friend inside of the Hell in a Cell structure.
It was a slow start and then they started using various weapons such as tables, kendo sticks, a fire extinguisher, and the cell. The finish saw Banks use a chair while putting Bayley into the Bank Statement for the win.
This snapped Bayley’s 380-day reign as champion and the first time that Banks has been the SmackDown Women’s Champion.
Last month on an episode of SmackDown after failing to reclaim the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship from the team of Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler, the betrayal happened. Bayley turned on Banks, who was kept off television to sell the angle.
After Bayley retained her SmackDown Women’s Title via disqualification at Clash of Champions, Banks returned to attack Bayley with a steel chair.
Time will tell whether WWE continues this feud or goes into a different direction heading into the Survivor Series pay-per-view event on November 22nd.
Sasha Banks has reflected on experiencing racism as a child during an appearance on the New Day’s podcast, Feel the Power. She shared how she used her fears as motivation to chase her dreams of becoming a pro wrestler.
Opening up about her experiences, Banks confessed it was hard for her as a kid. She found it challenging as her family moved around a lot. Banks stressed how she was the “only black girl in the whole freaking county” when she lived in Iowa, leading to a heavy sense of isolation.
However, it wouldn’t be until she moved to California that Banks would encounter racism first hand. She added that she soon watched pro wrestling after this encounter. This introduction to wrestling, coupled with the desire to be “break this fear,” gave her new direction.
“I was walking home from softball practice and this guy on his porch was screaming at me, ‘Hey ‘N’ Word, get the f–k out of here!’ And instantly, I became so shy and so scared,” Banks recalled. “Next thing I know, I’m watching wrestling like, ‘Whoa! This is who I’m going to be; I’m going to be larger than life. I’m going to be something that I can’t be right now, and I have to do this because this is my dream and I have to break this fear.'”
Banks continued, “So ever since I laid my eyes on wrestling, it was just always my mindset, and this is what was going to save me. It was going to break me away from being a scared little child and being so fearful. But now, I’m here, breaking so many fears, and it’s crazy.”
A new match has been announced for the upcoming WWE Hell In A Cell PPV as it will see Bayley vs. Sasha Banks.
Friday’s episode of SmackDown on FOX saw Banks issue a challenge to Bayley with the SmackDown Women’s Title on the line inside of the Hell in a Cell structure at this event.
They actually worked a title match on SmackDown, but Bayley used a steel chair to end it as she was disqualified. Thus, while Banks won the match by DQ, Bayley retained the title. Post-match, the issue was made.
This marks the third Hell in a Cell Match to be added to the card.
WWE presents the Hell In A Cell pay-per-view event on October 25 in Orlando, Florida at the Amway Center that will air on the WWE Network. Here is the updated card:
Updated WWE Hell In A Cell Card
WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns vs. Jey Uso – Hell in a Cell I Quit Match
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton – Hell in a Cell Match
WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley vs. Sasha Banks – Hell in a Cell Match
Sasha Banks has commented on the possibility of WWE eventually hosting an Evolution 2 pay-per-view during an interview on D-Von Dudley’s podcast, Table Talk.
Looking back on her matchup at 2018’s Evolution event, Banks stressed how her scheduled bout was a “beautiful match” for pay-per-view. She took part in a six-woman tag team matchup. Banks teamed up with Bayley and Natalya to defeat the Riott Squad.
“[…] I never dreamt that would happen because you would never dream of women main-eventing anything. But for all those women coming together from the past, present, and future, it was such an inspiring and incredible pay-per-view that I’m like, ‘Where is number 2?! Where is Evolution 2?’ We’ve been waiting for it and I know the fans want it. I’m dying for it, because you also saw a lot of matches that you would never see before and I think that’s really awesome to see, especially as the women’s division keeps on growing.”
Sasha Banks pointed to the ever-expanding roster of talented women in WWE and NXT. She highlighted how, when she first started, there were barely any women on the roster compared to the current day product. Because of the number of ready female Superstars, Banks admitted she struggles to see why WWE hasn’t yet committed to delivering Evolution 2.
She admitted how, if Evolution 2 were to occur, there would be only one person she’d want to face: Trish Stratus. Banks confessed she would “lose her mind” at an opportunity to share the ring with Stratus.
Sasha Banks has opened up on her future in the pro wrestling business.
The former WWE RAW and SmackDown Women’s Champion did so when she joined Table Talk w/DVon. Although she’s just 28-year-old, she has been in the business for 10 years and with WWE since 2012.
“Hmmm, maybe until the wheels fall off. Hopefully not. I’m going to do it until I just feel like I’ve done everything I wanted to do,” said Banks. “How about that?”
According to Banks, her health will play a big factor in her decision regarding how long she’ll wrestle, but she thinks she’ll be in WWE for a long time.
“Health as well. I’m going to leave healthy and really fulfilled with what I’ve done because I’ve already been very fulfilled in everything as well and very healthy with what I’ve been doing in the ring. I’ve been taking care of my body. I’ve been happy, healthy and full. So, who knows how long? It can be forever. I can be like Ric Flair!
“They ask me if I’ll retire tomorrow. I’m still one of the youngest in the WWE! I’m going to be here for a long time. Get used to that. Ask me that question in like 10 years.”
Banks did state that she wants to have kids as she would love to be a mother one day, but notes that when that time is right the universe will let her know.
WWE has confirmed via a press release that former NXT Champion Aleister Black will be returning to Raw as a guest on the KO Show this Monday Night.
His return was set up during the SummerSlam PPV where Kevin Owens did guest commentary and invited the former champion to his talk show during the upcoming episode of Raw.
Black has been out of action since the July 27 episode of the Red Branded Show where he was attacked by Seth Rollins and then taken out by Murphy. There is no word on what the company is planning for Black but it’s possible that he rekindles his feud with Rollins and his disciples.
The SummerSlam PPV saw Asuka challenging for not one but two titles on the same night as she faced both the Raw Women’s Champion Bayley and SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks in separate matches.
While Bayley managed to retain her title during the show, Asuka managed to beat Banks and win the SmackDown Women’s title after locking the Boss in Asuka lock and making her tap.
A WWE announcer tried to talk to Sasha Banks backstage after her title loss at the PPV event but the former champion was not ready to give a reaction as seen in the video below:
WWE Superstar Naomi recently appeared on WWE’s The New Day: Feel The Power podcast. The tenured Superstar discussed a number of topics from her career with the company, from FCW, to Team B.A.D and her current run with her ‘Glow’ gimmick.
When discussing her run with Team B.A.D, Naomi would say how it was the perfect point in hers, Tamina Snuka’s and Sasha Banks’ career to team up. “I just think at that time? We were just in a point in our careers with Sasha and Tamina where we just wanted more and wanting to grow and get better.”
Naomi on Sasha Banks
Naomi elaborated further, saying “there was so much changing and happening in the [Women’s] division. And just knowing what a superstar Sasha was and what she was going to be? Without a doubt, it was as always a pleasure to work with her to have insight from her for me.”
The WWE Superstar would then have huge praise for her former partner, saying “to me, Sasha is like the best we have in WWE, in my opinion. I got to work with Sasha in NXT, way before she became The Boss and really kicked off. I just thought she was always like an amazing person, and really admired her.”
Do you agree with Naomi about Sasha Banks? Let us know in the comments
As expected, Asuka vs. Sasha Banks 3 is set for the upcoming WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view event.
Asuka wanted a rematch with Banks and she got it. During Monday’s episode of RAW, WWE booked Asuka vs. SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley in a non-title match with the stipulation that if Asuka wins then she earns the right to challenge the RAW Women’s champion for the title at SummerSlam.
It happened and saw the finish of Asuka tapping out Bayley. There was some outside interference from Banks earlier in the match.
Their first match took place at Extreme Rules that saw a controversial finish that ultimately didn’t count since Bayley counted the pinfall. Banks then dethroned Asuka as the champion a few weeks ago on RAW when Asuka was counted out thanks to Bayley attacking Kairi Sane in the backstage area.
WWE presents the SummerSlam pay-per-view event on Sunday, August 23, 2020 at an unknown location that will air on the WWE Network.
Updated WWE SummerSlam Card
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton
WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman vs. Bray Wyatt
WWE RAW Tag Team Champions The Street Profits vs. Andrade & Angel Garza
WWE United States Champion Apollo Crews vs. MVP
Seth Rollins vs. Dominik Mysterio – Dominik Allowed to Use Weapons
Current WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley recently helped her partner, Sasha Banks, secure the Raw Women’s Championship last week on Monday Night Raw.
Speaking with SI.com, Bayley reflected on her current partnership with Banks. She admitted how their pairing is the “most fun” she’s had on TV to date.
Bayley shared how everyone keeps telling her how it looks like she’s having fun on TV. She thinks it’s “awesome” people can see the enjoyment come through. Bayley credited this to the fact she loves being around Banks as they “get along so freakin’ well.”
She commented on how it had taken them a long time to get into this position together. According to Bayley, both Superstars have experienced plenty of ups and downs and “being held back.”
“One of the things we heard a lot was, ‘We can always count on you.’ We believed they could count on us to run the whole company. It took a lot of proving, but that’s what we’re doing now. We are very vocal about what we believe is right and what we want to do to help the company and help the division. It’s finally being able to shine through, and it’s very rewarding.”
Bayley assisted Banks’ victory after her assault of Kairi Sane drew Asuka away from the ring. Banks would win the WWE Raw Women’s Championship after Asuka was counted out.
The new WWE Raw Women’s Champion Sasha Banks claimed the championship last Monday Night on Raw entering her fifth reign. Her win saw her join her partner Bayley as a double champion within WWE. Unfortunately, her recent accomplishment took place at the WWE Performance Center in front of zero fans.
Speaking in a WWE The Day Of documentary clip, Banks shared her thoughts on performing at WWE events without a crowd in attendance due to the current coronavirus pandemic.
She confessed she missed feeling the crowd’s energy but noted she has learned a great deal since audiences have been unable to attend events. Despite this growth, Banks admitted she’s ready to have fans return as long as it’s safe to do so.
“Until then, I’m gonna keep on entertaining and you’re gonna keep on watching at home. I hope you enjoy it. But maybe it’s during these crazy times, that it’s on such a different grande scheme of things of how I look at this as a whole, since we don’t have an audience.”
Banks continued, “Maybe that’s why I’m not as so, like, ‘Oh my God, what are they going to think?’ Because their opinion is really online, and the thing is I don’t have to read that, and I don’t read it. Really, my opinion is my opinion of what I think this match is going to be and what it means to me.”
Sasha Banks explained how if she feels confident she has just “killed it” in a match up, then no one’s opinion of it matters except hers. She stressed how she is happy to have the confidence to know that if she’s satisfied with her performance, other people’s opinions can’t affect her.
Asuka has been knocked off the top of the mount of the women’s division on RAW after failing to retain the title in her latest defense of it against Sasha Banks.
Banks won the RAW Women’s Title when she beat Asuka on Monday’s episode of RAW. The title could’ve changed hands via pinfall, submission, count out, disqualification, or if anyone interfered.
The competitive match came to an end when Bayley had attacked Kairi Sane in the backstage area. Asuka walked out to save her friend from the attack and was counted out as a result.
Thus, Banks is the new champion. With Sane leaving WWE and reports that this was her last appearance on WWE television, it appears that this is the way that WWE wrote her out of storylines.
This was a rematch from the WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view event. It ended in controversy when Asuka accidentally sprayed the green mist into the eyes of the referee. Bayley hit Asuka in the back with the title.
Bayley put the referee shirt on and counted the pinfall as Banks pinned Asuka. Other than the finish, fans seemed to praise the two stars for the match. In fact, their previous encounter went to a count out finish at last month’s Backlash pay-per-view event.
WWE Executive Vice President of Television Production Kevin Dunn was reportedly upset during The Horror Show at Extreme Rules pay-per-view.
There were said to be some “production snafus” that took place during the match between Sasha Banks and RAW Women’s Champion Asuka, according to Fightful.
Dunn, who has been with WWE for more than 20 years, was said to be upset because cameras were catching SmackDown Women’s Bayley in spots where they weren’t supposed to.
While exact instances were not provided, it was noted that the issues “set Kevin Dunn off.”
The snafus were not considered to be significant, but it was enough of a situation that Dunn reportedly shouted at people for not protecting the talent on camera.
The Banks vs. Asuka match ended in controversy after the referee went down by taking errant mist from the champion. Bayley, who had been at ringside to support Banks, then took the referee’s shirt and went on to count a pin for Banks. They quickly escaped with Asuka’s belt, but she is still considered the official champion.
Next Monday’s RAW will feature Banks vs. Asuka in a match where the title can be decided by pinfall, submission, count out or DQ, including outside interference.
Vince McMahon reportedly changed the finish to the Raw Women’s Championship match between Asuka and Sasha Banks at The Horror Show at Extreme Rules on Sunday.
The original plan for the match had Asuka defeating Banks to retain the title. However, Vince McMahon made a late call and changed the finish at the last minute, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.
There was no reason given for why Vince made the change.
Banks vs. Asuka ended in controversy as the referee took errant green mist from Asuka, blinding him while Bayley counted the pin for Banks. Bayley then intimidated the timekeeper into ringing the bell to end the match. Banks’ theme music then played as Bayley presented her with the Raw Women’s Championship.
Banks and Bayley later promised to explain what happened during tonight’s Raw on the USA Network, where they will also celebrate their wins at Extreme Rules. Below is post-PPV footage of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions making their escape with the gold:
It should be noted that WWE still lists Asuka as the Raw Women’s Champion.
Banks tweeted after Extreme Rules and commented on how The Golden Role Models are taking over.
“Officially taking over the whole company! Jajajajjajajajajajajajjajajajajajja #2beltzbanks #ExtremeRule,” she wrote.
Sasha Banks recently commented online that she believes her team with Bayley is better than Harlem Heat was. Booker T then addressed Sasha’s comments on his YouTube channel and show.
“She didn’t say that, tell me she didn’t just say that,” Booker started. “My thing is this, I put her over! I put Bayley over too, right? Sometimes that’s very hard to do but I managed to do it because I’m the bigger man.”
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) July 5, 2020
Booker continued to address Sasha’s claim that her team with Bayley is better than Harlem Heat was.
“Sasha, Bayley, great tag-team but as far as those two being anywhere near as great as the Hall of Fame tag-team, 10x world tag team champions – set the record – along with the greatest manager in the history of the game, Sister Sherri Martel,” Booker continued. He then broke out a picture of him and his brother Stevie Ray in a match from Germany.
“That’s real right there. As far as Sasha Banks & Bayley goes, as far as those two in tag-team wrestling goes and what Harlem Heat brought to the game and still sprinkling out there all over the world right now. People still singing the name on a yearly basis as far as Harlem Heat goes.”
“As far as Sasha and Bayley go, I’m going to leave it at that.”
All Elite Wrestling’s Executive Vice President and in-ring talent Cody Rhodes has commented on the recent Sammy Guevara controversy that came to light. Guevara has been suspended from AEW without pay and will undergo sensitivity training after he came under fire for comments he made about Sasha Banks on a podcast back in 2016.
Responding to a fan on Twitter, Cody Rhodes addressed the situation after being asked to reinstate Guevara. The AEW TNT Champion stated:
“Sammy will return. And he will be a better professional wrestler, and a better man when he does.”
Sammy Guevara Apologizes
Since the clip of Guevara’s comments surfaced, the Inner Circle member released an apology video addressing his statements. He acknowledged that he has grown as a person over the past four years and would be taking a break from social media:
“I just want to apologize to anybody I let down, to Sasha, to anybody I hurt with my words.”
Guevara continued, “It just sucks cause 2016 me is not me today. 2020 me would never say those kind of hurtful things that I did in 2016. I used to think it was funny to do some kind of shock humor to pop the room I’m in. I thought it would be funny to do that kind of humour, shock humour and it’s not.”
He stated how some people may be dubious over his statement. For them, four years may not be that much time for genuine change. He argued that so much has happened in his life as wrestling allowed him to travel the world and grow as a person. Guevara stressed he now understands the words he says can have an impact on people. He promised to never joke or take sexual assault lightly again.
Sasha Banks would speak with Sammy Guevara about his words. She explained how the two had an open discussion. Banks stressed how “the comments he made, jokingly or not, have absolutely no place in our society!”
Tag-team wrestling was on full display during the Wednesday night war last week. Both shows featured tag matches in the main event. On Dynamite, Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara took on the Best Friends. On NXT, Sasha Banks and Bayley defended their belts against Tegan Nox and Shotzi Blackheart. This led to Chris Jericho and Sasha Banks having an interesting exchange on Twitter about TV ratings for the segments.
Banks has recently been claiming that her team with Bayley is the best of all time. She noted on Twitter that they are better than Jericho and Guevara’s team as well.
— Mercedes Moné Varnado (@MercedesVarnado) June 21, 2020
Banks was responding to a Tweet regarding the NXT main event beating the AEW main event in the ratings this week. Jericho then noted on Twitter, however, that AEW still won for that segment in the key demo (18-49, which advertisers consider to be the most important demographic.)
Congrats guys, proud of you! But don’t forget to add that you got SMOKED in the all important p18-49 demo (which is what advertisers care about the most) 367k to 264k! You did good…Just not good enough! ? https://t.co/3qcGIjxdck
It seemed as though both promotions chose to feature tag-team wrestling last week. On Dynamite, Kenny Omega & Hangman Page retained their titles over the Natural Nightmares. The Young Bucks defeated Kip Sabian & Jimmy Havoc. The Best Friends then defeated Le Sex Gods in the main event.
On NXT, Imperium retained their titles over Breezeango. Bayley and Banks defeated Blackheart and Nox in the main event as well.
Sasha Banks and Bayley retained their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships twice this week. They won a triple threat match against the Iiconics and Nikki Cross & Alexa Bliss at Backlash. Then on NXT, Banks, and Bayley defeated Tegan Nox & Shotzi Blackheart in the main event. In the wake of these title defenses, Sasha Banks made a very bold claim online.
According to Banks, her and Bayley are the greatest tag-team of all time.
Current WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley has admitted she “loves” the idea of once again feuding with the long-time friend Sasha Banks. Speaking with Sporting News, Bayley opened up about her heel turn and what it would mean to reignite her feud with “The Boss.”
Bayley revealed that she was thrilled when she found out she would be turning heel. She confessed that it was a challenge she was always interested in pursuing. She noted how she felt she could “maybe do even better than the other character.” Once she turned heel, however, Bayley shared it was harder than she expected it to be. With her new gimmick, she suddenly had a lot more to learn that she hadn’t encountered before.
Bayley Vs. “The Boss”
Regarding restarting a feud with Banks, Bayley stated how it’s something she’s “always dreamed about, especially after Takeover five years ago.” According to her, as soon as they got to the back, she was already eager to do it again. She added how Banks is her favorite person to be in the ring with.
“Luckily, throughout my time on ‘”Raw” and “SmackDown,” I’ve been able to share every WrestleMania with her and almost every pay-per-view. We’ve been tag team champions. I’m so grateful that we’re doing stuff together every single year. That’s definitely something I would love to do again before we both retire.”
The reign as WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley has been extended.
Bayley successfully retained at the WWE WrestleMania 36 pay-per-view event on Sunday night. A five-pack challenge match was booked with Bayley, Banks, Lacey Evans, Tamina, and Naomi.
Tamina was the first to be eliminated after a reunion with Team Bad. Banks eliminated Naomi after making her tap out. Evans eliminated Banks with the Women’s Right. Banks came back down to the ring and hit the back stabber that allowed Bayley to pin Evans to win the match.
While fans had hoped to finally see a one-on-one encounter between Bayley and Banks after all of these years, WWE had a different plan in mind.
WWE had Paige make an appearance via Skype on the March 20th episode of Friday Night SmackDown. This is where she did a segment with Bayley and Banks.
It was announced that Bayley would defend her title in the contest. Originally, Dana Brooke was supposed to be in the contest. However, she was ill and quarantined. Thus, she was pulled from the championship match.
What are your thoughts on Bayley retaining the WWE SmackDown Women’s Title? Was this the right call by WWE officials? Sound off in the comment section.
This week’s episode of SmackDown saw Paige making an appearance on the show through Skype and announcing a six-pack challenge for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 36.
During the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer talked about this announcement and revealed the original plans for the championship at the Show Of Shows.
According to him, the original plans called for Sasha Banks to challenge her friend for the title at the Grandest Stage Of Them All but they nixed these arrangements.
The company felt that there wasn’t enough time to build a feud between the two. So the officials decided to hold off the bout for a later late and announced the six-pack challenge for WrestleMania instead.
While not confirmed, it’s likely that they will use the announced bout to kick off the feud between the two and have a singles match with a longer build somewhere down the line.
For those who don’t know, Paige announced that Bayley will
be defending her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Sasha Banks, Lacey
Evans, Naomi, Tamina Snuka, and Dana Brooke in a six-pack challenge at
WrestleMania.
There is no word yet on which night of the show this match will take place on but you can check out the updated match card for the event at this link.
