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When Gary Cassidy of Sportskeeda reported that Sasha Banks was going to become the brand new WWE RAW Women's Champion, I have to admit that I was quite intrigued.
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The match that played out between Asuka and Sasha Banks on WWE RAW this week was definitely a back-and-forth affair, where it did seem like the Champion had the situation well under control until footage started playing from the backstage area where Bayley was obliterating Sasha Banks' best friend- Kairi Sane.
This would cause Asuka to get counted out and lose the WWE RAW Women's Championship to Sasha Banks. Why would WWE pull off such a move so soon into Asuka's current run?
I have 5 reasons but I would like to begin my article by saying that these are just suppositions and no, this is not inside knowledge. However, I am convinced that the following reasons are why WWE decided to make Sasha Banks the WWE RAW Women's Champion.
#5 To ensure a SummerSlam match between Sasha Banks and Asuka for the WWE RAW Women's Championship
There is no dearth of talent in the WWE RAW women's division at this point in time. And so, for WWE to get another match out of Asuka and Sasha Banks for the WWE RAW Women's Championship at SummerSlam, they would need to give the two women a reason to compete. And they would need to give the fans a reason to care about yet another encounter between the two women.
Since Sasha Banks won the WWE RAW Women's Championship through dubious means, now Asuka has a reason to go after her. Because Kairi Sane was destroyed to the disgust of everyone watching WWE RAW, the audience will be invested in the SummerSlam match, which is for so much more than a title now.
#4 Sets up a potential dream match between Sasha Banks and Stephanie McMahon, once the former loses the WWE RAW Women's Championship
Because she is a prominent figure from an era of WWE that fans remember fondly, Stephanie McMahon may be the most recognized name among the women in WWE. I wouldn't be surprised if a match between Sasha Banks and Stephanie McMahon or even Bayley and Stephanie McMahon were to be set up in the future, especially if you consider that she can still go (as we evidenced during Ronda Rousey's debut match). The WWE RAW Women's Championship doesn't even need to be on the line, because this is a storyline that doesn't need a title.
Look at the way Bayley took a shot at Triple H shortly after Sasha Banks became the WWE RAW Women's Champion in the Tweet that I have linked above. It is very clear that something may be in the works and with talks about another Evolution pay-per-view coming our way very soon, this could certainly be the main event.
#3 To have Sasha Banks and Bayley show up on both WWE RAW and SmackDown, to help the dip in viewership
It is no secret that WWE RAW has seen some of its lowest viewership numbers during the current pandemic, obviously due to the lack of a live audience, which is the lifeline of just about any WWE show. Sasha Banks and Bayley have clearly been the breakout stars during this current audience-less era of WWE and Vince McMahon would ideally want them on both WWE RAW and SmackDown to ensure that the ratings stay safe and secure for the time being.
And before you suggest that Sasha Banks and Bayley's push will come at the cost of Asuka, I do not mean to imply this at all, with my assessment at least. It makes sense for a heel to have the title during the pandemic and Asuka can defeat Sasha Banks to win the WWE RAW Women's Championship once the crowds are back in the arena once more. For now, it's impossible to deny that Sasha Banks and Bayley on both WWE RAW and SmackDown will help the product.
#2 To portray Sasha Banks and Bayley at the same level as WWE RAW's biggest missing asset- Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch has been the biggest breakout star for the company, male or female, since the departure of CM Punk. While she has not stepped away from the ring for good, as CM Punk did, it is safe to say that we won't see the former WWE RAW Women's Champion in the ring for some time. And so, the need of the hour for WWE was to establish that their biggest stars in the women's division- Sasha Banks and Baley were at the same level as the former RAW Women's Champion- Becky 2 Belts.
And now, by putting the WWE RAW Women's Championship around Sasha Banks' waist, the company has ensured that Sasha Banks is in the same league as Bayley Dos Straps and well, Becky 2 Belts.
There's even a readymade rivalry awaiting Becky Lynch for whenever she decides to return to the arena again. I just think it'll be a while before she comes back to claim the WWE RAW Women's Championship.
#1 Because the plan may not be to split up Sasha Banks and Bayley anytime soon
A lot of people are under the assumption that a program between Sasha Banks and Bayley is the way to go for WWE. While that certainly may be the case down the line, possibly at WrestleMania, and while certainly, they have teased a split several times already, it does seem like Sasha Banks and Bayley will remain a cohesive unit for the time being especially since The Boss is now the new WWE RAW Women's Champion.
It would make sense for Sasha Banks to lose the title shot, in this instance, if the plan for her was to go up against Bayley because she would be jealous of her friend who had 2 titles. However, because the two of them are WWE Women's Tag Team Champions as well, at the moment, it makes sense for them to stick together as they also hold the WWE RAW and SmackDown Women's titles as well.
Banks' WWE RAW Women's Championship win was WWE's way of saying that both women rule the roost in the company at the moment.
Also, do take a moment to check out this video of the latest WWE Rumors, a new series featuring my colleague- the amazing Stephanie Chase.
Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE
