5 directions for Sasha Banks when she returns to WWE 

News from WWE broke earlier this weekend stating Sasha Banks would be out of action for six to eight weeks. The Boss suffered an injury in a live-event match against SmackDown Women's Champion Charlotte Flair.

The severity of the injury wasn't known right away, but WWE announced Saturday that The Boss would have to wait for nearly two months.

Banks was one of the favorites to win the 2022 Women's Royal Rumble. A plethora of roster cuts and departures have left the SmackDown roster decimated. She was one of the few viable challengers for Flair left on SmackDown.

Now that The Boss will miss six to eight weeks of action, what will become of the division? Could some reinforcements be on the way for the blue brand? She's already sent a message to the rest of the girls in the locker room.

What path will Banks take when she inevitably returns from her injury? Here are five directions for Sasha Banks once she returns to WWE.

---

#5. A mid-card feud might be the best way to ease her back into WWE action.

If WWE opts to utilize Banks before WrestleMania, she may need a tune-up feud before a potential program at The Show of Shows. While SmackDown's women's division is extremely thin, perhaps she has a brief feud right before 'Mania.

A timetable of six to eight weeks would land Banks' return at the end of February or around the beginning of March. That might be enough time to build up a meaningful program for The Show of Shows after a mid-card angle.

The Boss might feud with someone like Shayna Baszler or Natalya before she gets into bigger feuds. Banks vs. Flair might seem like a WrestleMania-worthy feud, but WWE has provided that angle to fans before. Flair has also traditionally won at the Show of Shows.

The Queen said she was entering the 2022 Royal Rumble so that she could win and pick her opponent. It could be a new wrinkle, but Flair doesn't need another huge accolade like that.

Before a potential fight with Flair at WM, Banks might have a tune-up feud when she returns. The sooner she returns, the sooner she will be able to get back into the groove in the ring.

#4. Banks could pursue the WWE Women's Tag Team titles with Naomi or another star.

The current WWE Women's Tag Team Champs are Carmella and Queen Zelina. If Banks isn't slated for a major title match for WrestleMania 38, she could easily challenge the women's tag belts.

Banks and Bayley were the first to hold those titles. The last time the friends crossed paths was after Bayley attacked Banks. The Boss ended up winning the SmackDown Women's title from the former Hugger but turned heel to feud with Bianca Belair.

The Boss has always been an ally of Naomi. She even had words with Sonya Deville over her treatment of her friend and may help her out upon her return.

An easy way to book a returning Banks would be to pair her with Naomi. Carmella and Vega may still hold the titles heading into WM. There aren't a lot of established teams currently, as Rhea Ripley and Nikki A.S.H. are destined to break up. It would give her something to do while also allowing someone different to have a title shot.

#3. WWE could book Banks into a title match before WrestleMania 38.

There is usually one WWE pay-per-view before WrestleMania 38, and it's often Elimination Chamber. According to WWE's 2022 PPV schedule, the last "premiere event" before the Show of Shows is Royal Rumble.

With the Royal Rumble happening at the end of January, February may not host an event.

If that is the case, the last show before 'Mania could be in March. It could just as easily be another event in Saudi Arabia. If the Elimination Chamber is scrapped, however, it would be a mistake.

Chamber matches are a good way to establish the challenger for the championship not selected by the winner of the Royal Rumble. It also forces one of the champions to defend his or her title in the structure.

If it's the Elimination Chamber or a show in Saudi Arabia, Banks could be placed right into a title feud upon her return. She competed at Crown Jewel last October and has a fan base everywhere.

#2. Her return to WWE could be saved for a post-WrestleMania feud

Over the last decade, WWE has had several debuts and returns immediately after WrestleMania. The RAW and SmackDown following The Show of Shows were a must-watch over the last decade. With so many changes in WWE over the last two years, this tactic could change.

The former IIconics attacked Charlotte Flair after one show. Shinsuke Nakamura debuted on the main roster one year. Brock Lesnar returned to WWE in 2012 following WrestleMania 28.

Due to a shift in strategy, booking, and other factors, this may or may not happen in 2022. WWE could simply opt to save Banks' return for a big moment after The Show of Shows. The booking plans could have changed due to her unfortunate injury. Because of that, the angles could shift and open up a spot following WM.

Having someone return or debut to attack a Champion is an easy way to close the door on a WrestleMania feud. Banks doing so after The Show of Shows could be a way to bring her back.

#1. A WrestleMania program with the SmackDown Women's Champion could be WWE's decision

Depending on the availability of stars, WWE plans might have to change between now and WrestleMania. That is precisely what happened at SummerSlam when Bayley was injured before the event.

While Charlotte Flair will likely be the Champion, it won't be a fresh feud. Banks and Flair battled over the RAW Women's title. The Boss was an ancillary piece of Flair's feud with Toni Storm. She was also the impetus for Shotzi's heel turn after Shotzi lost to Flair.

It was obvious that WWE wanted to insert Banks into a program for the SmackDown Women's title. But with the Draft adding new faces (Shotzi, Xia Li, Aliyah, Storm) to the blue brand, they wanted to wait for the pairing.

Since the roster is barren as of today, the possibility of Banks and Flair squaring off at WM 38 is high. Bayley, Alexa Bliss, and Asuka could return at the Royal Rumble and win the match. Either of those three women could challenge the Queen at WM 38. So could Banks.