Sasha Banks Returns To SmackDown Looking For WrestleMania Revenge

Written by James Holder • Published 31st July 2021
Sasha Banks

Sasha Banks has made her return to WWE for the first time in over 4 months after appearing on tonight’s episode of SmackDown!

Bianca Belair arrived in the ring to celebrate 100 days as the SmackDown Women’s Champion. However, Carmella had other ideas. The former champion said that she deserved another shot at Belair, seeing as she held the title for over 130 days. As Carmella was making excuses for her defeat at Rolling Loud Festival last week, Zelina Vega made her own claim to a title match.

Vega got right in Belair’s face to make the challenge. Just as Belair was accepting, Carmella attacked from behind and laid waste to the champion. But there was to be one more surprise as the returning Sasha Banks sprinted to the ring to even the odds.

The segment ended with Banks and a slightly confused Belair embracing in the middle of the ring.

In the main event, Banks and Belair took on Carmella and Vega. The two rivals worked well as a team, pulling off some impressive tandem offence before Banks picked up the win, forcing Carmella to submit.

However, the union was short lived as the pair celebrated in the ring, the former champion hit a Backstabber on Belair. Not content with that, Banks continued the beatdown locking in the Bank Statement, before raising the SmackDown Women’s Championship over the body of her stricken rival.

‘The Boss’ last appeared inside a WWE ring back in the main event of night one of WrestleMania 37. On that occasion, the long-reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion was defeated by Bianca Belair.

With Banks out of the picture, Belair repeatedly clashed with Bayley, latterly overcoming her rival inside Hell In A Cell. After Bayley suffered a serious knee injury, the champion gained a new challenger in the form of Carmella. However, Belair was again victorious.

Interestingly, despite Banks being away from WWE, both ‘The Boss’ and Belair have talked up the possibility of a WrestleMania rematch in recent months.

The SmackDown women’s division has been in a state of flux in recent weeks with departures as well as arrivals. With Bayley out for a reported nine months, Toni Storm, Shotzi Blackheart and Tegan Nox have arrived on the blue brand.