Sasha Banks’ Return Will Revitalize Becky Lynch’s Babyface Status in WWE

Sasha Banks finally made her WWE return on the August 12 edition of Monday Night Raw. The Boss interrupted Natalya’s tearful promo and just when it seemed that Banks was back with some kind words, she instead attacked Nattie in the middle of the ring. 

This brought out Becky Lynch and she ran down to brawl with Sasha, who destroyed her with a steel chair. Now it appears that the Raw Women’s champion is on a collision course with the returning Boss. 

This could not have come at a better time for Becky Lynch. The Man has been on fire since August of 2018, when she turned on Charlotte Flair at SummerSlam. Lynch was disgusted with Charlotte for inserting herself into the title picture, especially at Becky’s expense. Lynch took action and in the process, took the reins of her WWE career.

The company thought it had a new heel for Charlotte to work. The Queen could tangle with Lynch, maybe even drop the championship to her and win it back in the end. It was a simple plan that became overly complicated when Becky decided to get herself over on social media. Suddenly, everything was turned upside down.

Watch Sasha’s shocking return to WWE!

In the months that followed, Becky Lynch stood up to the entire McMahon family. She fought anyone that crossed her, including men. She also worked the main event of WrestleMania 35 and walked away with both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Championships. None of that would likely have been possible had she never become The Man. The fans demanded Lynch be given a chance and WWE made it happen.

But one full year after her initial turn and Lynch finds herself in a difficult spot. That’s due to the fact that many fans have now turned on her. It’s not that she’s lost the full support of the crowd. However it does seem that the woman who once raged against the machine has since become an important part of that machine. This may or may not be true, but perception is reality and it’s perhaps damaged her standing with fans.

Of course now, that’s all changed. Lynch has a new adversary and that adversary bears little resemblance to the woman that fans last saw at the side of Bayley. This version of Sasha Banks is hardcore. She’s unapologetic and most importantly, she’s ruthless. Banks attacked an emotional woman who could not defend herself. This was not Becky’s turn against Charlotte, where Lynch met Flair face-to-face on an even playing field. 

Becky sounds off on the women of WWE!

https://twitter.com/BeckyLynchWWE/status/1160300574207815681

This was Sasha blindsiding an injured Natalya. It’s obvious that WWE intends on building Banks as the newest big bad for Becky to battle. The fact that Sasha has always had a reputation for being a privileged and arrogant WWE Superstar in the eyes of many, only helps her cause now. 

It’s that same cocky Superstar that will now get the chance to flex her muscles against Lynch. Sasha received many of the same opportunities that Charlotte has and that will almost certainly not be forgotten. Becky will fire back at Banks because of that, giving fans a new reason to support The Man. 

It may not be the perfect solution, but it’s one that should work. The fact is that Sasha Banks disappeared because she was reportedly unhappy with dropping the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 35.

The company will likely use that to its advantage and paint Sasha as a selfish Superstar who left because she lost. This may be the spark that Becky needs to regain her standing with the fans. But now the question becomes will those fans accept Sasha as a heel? Or will they decide that she’s now become too cool to be booed?

Listen to Booker T’s reaction to Sasha’s turn!

Therein lays the issue for any WWE Superstar that makes a heel turn. It’s become a roll of the dice for the company, in terms of how the angle will get over. Turning heel is fine. But if WWE really wants that heel to be hated, then there’s no room for error.

The slightest indication that a heel’s rebellious nature is just too intriguing to ignore, is enough to ruin the entire plan. This was true of Becky Lynch in 2018. Could it be the same for Sasha Banks now?

WWE seems to have done everything right so far. Sasha attacked the right person on the right night. But even as the shock and awe of the moment brought fans to their feet, it also brought something very unexpected. A “thank you Sasha” chant actually erupted in the crowd after Sasha laid Nattie out.

This is the same Toronto crowd who cheered Natalya on during her match with Becky at SummerSlam the night before. But then they turn on her after she’s laid wrecked by Sasha Banks?

The problem is that it’s much too soon to predict how this storyline will play out. It’s being designed to get Banks over as a monster heel, while also renewing Lynch as one of the biggest babyfaces on the roster.

But if for some reason this does not work, then what happens next? Does Sasha become the new anti-authority protagonist, while Becky is forced to turn into the corporate antagonist? Or is that even possible? Only time will tell. 

 

 

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Wrestling Rumors. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on iTunes,YouTube, iHeart Radio, boinkstudios.com and live every Friday at 12pm EST on Wrestling Rumors Facebook Live