SummerSlam is over and “The Man” is still the RAW Women’s Champion. It was expected that Natalya would be a one-off opponent for Becky Lynch and after tonight’s RAW that became evident. Lynch had a backstage segment where she gave respect to Nattie from their match at SummerSlam.
She continued the segment by stating that she made it clear a long time ago that she was here to deal with anyone who has ever done her wrong. The champ vows to address anyone in the locker room and make it clear that this is a “cat and mouse game.”
As RAW was getting later and later into the show the women’s presence wasn’t there. We knew that the Women’s Tag Team Titles were going to be defended, but not much else was happening…..until it did.
Sasha Banks has returned after a four-month hiatus. As reported earlier, The Boss interrupted Natayla’s remembrance of her father Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart who passed away a year ago. Banks originally came to the ring and embraced Nattie and appeared to want to participate in the memory of her father.
This was short-lived as Banks turned heel and attacked the “injured” Queen of Harts. She snatches off her purple wig to reveal a new blue hair color. She unleashes on Nattie with the crowd going wild. This assault continues with Banks driving her injured arm first into the steel steps, not once, but twice.
Lynch’s music hits and she makes her way to the ring and trades blows with Sasha. Sasha loses it and unleashes chair shot after chair shot on the RAW Women’s Champion and finishes it up with a drive into the steel steps.
Banks leaves with a big smile on her face as she heads up the ramp and looks back at the carnage she unleashed.
After this, we had the only women’s match of the night and that was the aforementioned Women’s Tag Title match. This may have been better if the match was placed better on the show. Perhaps it should have happened prior to Sahsa’s return, but it is what it is.
The match was solid with high energy, could have gone a little longer. Asuka takes a nasty kick to the ring post at one point. The match ends with Alexa Bliss trying to drag her partner to their corner so she can be tagged in. Once Cross is able to get up she executes the tag.
The ending was a little awkward as Sane didn’t sell the wait for the Twisted Bliss, but other than that it ended as expected. Bliss hits her finisher and picks up the win to retain the titles for her team. This begs the question if Cross is ever going to score the win.
The winner of the week is quite obvious and that is Sasha Banks.
WINNER: Sasha Banks
It is quite obvious that the fans missed Sasha. Her return was much needed as half of the RAW women’s roster is out with injuries and the rest WWE refuses to highlight. The return was done perfectly.
This feud between Becky and Sasha is what is needed now. After months of just okay matches with Lacey Evans and Natalya, this has the makings of becoming a great rivalry. Personally, I was hoping for Banks to return and turn on Bayley, but this works just as well and probably better.
As far as any losers of the night there really weren’t any sour parts. The tag titles are being used more in this past week then they have since WrestleMania so no complaints there. The Kabuki Warriors are actually getting TV time, so no complaints there either. It was obvious that Bliss and Cross weren’t going to lose the titles so quick.
I am going to forgo any losers of the night this week for RAW. Everything was done as it was supposed to and although more women presence on the show would have been nice, what was done made up for it.
Who were your Winners and Losers of RAW this week? Discuss your thoughts in the comment section.
Check back in with Diva Dirt tomorrow for SmackDown’s Winners & Losers.
