WWE Royal Rumble 2019: Ronda Rousey vs. Sasha Banks preview

The match

Sasha Banks challenges Ronda Rousey for the Raw women’s championship at tonight’s (Sun., Jan. 27, 2019) WWE Royal Rumble pay-per-view (PPV) at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.

The story

For some time, Rousey made it clear one of her dream matches in WWE would be a showdown with Sasha. Her reasoning was simple: most women have their best match with Banks, and Ronda can do more with her than anyone else.

This respect/admiration/desire was brought to television during an interview with Alexa Bliss, where Rousey inserted it into storyline and Banks happily answered the call, winning a number one contender match against Nia Jax to set up the match we’re getting here.

In the meantime, they’ve engaged in a war of words that has, essentially, eroded any of the admiration that existed before and replaced it with aggression. They don’t hate each other, necessarily, they just have a lot to prove, both to one another and to the wider fan base. Banks is better at this, and has been making history since before Rousey even had a thought about trying her hand at professional wrestling. Rousey is a champion, though, and eager to continue showing everyone why she deserves that honor.

There’s also the matter of the Four Horsewomen, competing stables that, well, haven’t really competed yet in any meaningful fashion, at least not while referencing each other. They started doing so here. It’s a legitimately compelling angle too, considering Banks is Bayley’s current tag team partner while Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch both have Rousey in their sights.

This match, then, is about Banks trying to become champion, and Rousey trying to maintain her position, yes, but so much more. It’s about potential, what has been and what could be because of it.

What to expect

Rousey has shown time and again she can deliver the goods when it matters. Banks has done the same. There’s no reason to think these two won’t absolutely tear the house down.