It finally happened. Bayley and Sasha Banks mixed it up backstage on Monday Night, setting the tone for a match between the two superstars at WrestleMania 34 in less than two weeks. Finally, WWE fans will get their wish of seeing these two women tear down the arena in what should become an instant classic.
While WWE has done a solid job of building the women’s divisions on both Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live, the notion of a Bayley-Banks confrontation has been brewing since last year. The two former champions have the kind of rivalry that makes many think of Trish Stratus and Lita or John Cena and CM Punk.
At any given moment, this match can sell in any locale.
WWE has decided to make Asuka, Nia Jax, Alexa Bliss and Charlotte the main focus of their women’s divisions at WrestleMania 34, leaving both Bayley and Banks in a holding pattern. After the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble Match and Elimination Chamber event, the only logical thing was to finally take the kid gloves off and rekindle the fire the two ignited from their days in NXT.
Bayley is to the women’s division as John Cena is to WWE. A likeable performer who gets over with the younger generation of wrestling fans. Banks is uber-popular, but is best suited in a heel role. In the ring as BFFs, there has always been this underlying competition, with Banks always getting the best of her ally. Now, it would seem, the tables are turned, and Bayley is the one who is tired of being run over.
The attack by Banks on Bayley was the final straw, opening the door for yet another women’s match at WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans. It’s a huge step for the company. WWE is pushing the women’s divisions on both programs, putting storylines together that rival the men on the red and blue teams. This is the revolution Stephanie McMahon talked about, only its three years in the making.
After Charlotte and Banks had an epic feud two years ago that ended Monday Night Raw shows and highlighted Hell in a Cell in 2016, it is only fitting these two women return to their roots and showcase how good women’s wrestling can be.
Given there is a strong possibility of a Superstar Shakeup following WrestleMania 34, this is the best possible match WWE can give its fans, mainly because it is not known if Bayley and Banks will be part of the same brand once the company moves away from its marquee pay-per-view of the year.