With 2016 coming to a close, there is only one more PPV to take place on WWE’s calendar, Roadblock: End of the Line. At the event, Sasha Banks will face Charlotte in a 30-minute iron man match, with Banks’ Women’s championship on the line.
Although the Banks/Charlotte rivalry has arguably dragged on too long, their match on December 18th still looks plausible to steal the show.
While Banks has had an incredible year as top women’s babyface on Raw, winning the Women’s Championship three times and main eventing two Raws and a PPV, a heel turn should be considered for ‘The Boss’ sooner rather than later, and there are plenty of reasons why. Here are five reasons WWE should turn Sasha Banks heel.
#5 Her promos will be better
While Banks’ babyface promos haven’t been bad, they haven’t been her best work. Sure, the crowd reacts favourably every time Banks speaks, but that is due to their love for ‘The Boss’ rather than her ability.
Often relying on the same stereotypes of ‘I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a WWE fan as a girl’, or ‘I want to be the best, to make history’, Banks’ promos haven’t been as strong as needed from a top babyface.
However, going back and watching her heel promos in NXT, it is obvious that ‘The Boss’ is a natural heel on the mic, and her best work as a talker has yet to be seen on the main roster due to her babyface status for the entirety of 2016.
While promos aren’t as important as in-ring work these days (just ask Roman Reigns), it would be dumb of WWE to not utilise Banks’ obvious ability as a heel on the mic in the near future.
Check out a stellar promo from Banks as a heel in NXT:
#4 She’s been champion three times as a babyface
Although Banks’ three women’s title wins in 2016 were all great, the second and third lacked the emotion that the first win did. Sure, anytime a babyface rises to the top and overcomes the heel, it is an awesome moment.
However, Banks has now done that three times in only a few months, and it has led to a lack of electricity for her reigns, especially since she loses the title so quickly. Now that WWE has milked everything they can from Banks’ reigns as a babyface, a championship reign as a heel would freshen things up in the Raw women’s division.
Although Banks’ third reign hasn’t been lacklustre, it has lacked electricity with Banks still a babyface. A heel turn at Roadblock: End of the Line, however it is executed, would be a strong way to inject life into ‘The Boss’ third reign as women’s champion.
While WWE loves when a babyface rises to the top and reigns as the champion, it is time for Banks to reign as a heel after three consecutive title wins/reigns as a babyface.
#3 Bayley vs. Banks III
If you ask an NXT fan what their favourite women’s match in NXT history is, they will most likely say one of the two Bayley vs. Sasha Banks matches from 2015. With both of their NXT matches being instant classics, fans have been clamouring for these two to face off on the main roster.
However, it still hasn’t come to fruition, and that is because of both women’s current status as a babyface. Considering Banks was the heel in their initial matches, it is only fitting that she turn heel in their eventual face off.
In their NXT feud, Banks’ incredible heel work opposed Bayley’s natural babyface fire to perfection, and the same magic would be produced if WWE allowed Sasha to embrace the dark side once again. This could all be set in motion at Raw’s PPV Roadblock: End of the Line.
After Banks emerges victorious from her Iron Man match with Charlotte, Bayley could come out and celebrate The Boss’ victory alongside her. However, Banks, annoyed for having her spotlight stolen, could attack Bayley with a Backstabber and a Bank Statement, setting up a Women’s Championship match between the two for the Royal Rumble 2017.
If possible, WWE could keep the two apart until Wrestlemania 33, as the third match between Banks and Bayley arguably deserves the grandest stage of them all. While Roadblock: End of the Line may be too soon for the Banks heel turn, it should happen in the build-up to Wrestlemania as it is the perfect catalyst for Bayley vs. Banks III.
#2 Her best work has been as a heel
While Banks’ latest tenure as a babyface on the main roster has been great, her best work in WWE so far has come as a heel, especially in NXT. The Boss’ promos, matches and character were all top-notch as a heel in NXT, and she came across as a natural.
While Banks was a heel on the main roster throughout 2015, she was underutilised in the poor ‘Divas Revolution’ storyline, and never got to showcase her best heel work like in NXT. Now that she has been a babyface for a year, it may be time to utilise Banks’ natural ability as a heel and showcase her best work so far in WWE, with a turn to the dark side.
Some examples of Banks’ incredible heel work in NXT include making a Bayley fan cry at NXT Takeover: Respect, and belittling Bayley in impressive promos heading into their Takeover Brooklyn bout.
While her babyface run of 2016 has been splendid, ‘The Boss’ will never truly have her best work on the main roster until she turns heel, and it would be smart of WWE to utilise this as soon as possible, especially in a feud with Bayley.
Check out one of Banks’ best promos as a heel in NXT at the 1:28 mark:
#1 Her gimmick isn’t meant for a babyface
‘The Boss’. That nickname alone showcases why Banks’ gimmick is a natural heel persona. A boss is often associated with someone who is in charge. Arrogant, mean and a loudmouth; a boss shouldn’t be a nice person.
Instead, lately as a babyface, Banks hasn’t been able to fully embrace her character, often relying on a watered down version of her true persona. Playing the role of a respectful, nice girl who isn’t nearly as vicious as she was, Sasha has not felt like a ‘boss’, per se.
With a heel turn, ‘The Boss’ could revert to her true bearings, and become the mean, stuck up, arrogant women’s heel she was back in NXT. Another reason for her weaker promos has been Banks’ inability to go all out as a character.
A heel turn could inject life into her promos, and Banks could finally embrace her mean, vicious side that was so evident against Bayley in NXT. While Banks has somehow made the gimmick work as a babyface (due to her incredible popularity, I’d say), a heel turn for Banks would see a much more suitable persona for someone who calls them self ‘The Boss’.
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