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Stephanie McMahon appeared via video link last night on WWE SmackDown to address the current situation in the Women's Division. Sasha Banks and Bayley have been running riot on all three main brands and after McMahon put stipulations in place to prevent Banks from winning the RAW Women's Championship a few weeks ago, the two women found a loophole.
At present, Bayley and Banks hold all of the Championship available to the women on WWE's main roster and Banks could be forced to defend her RAW Women's Championship against Asuka at SummerSlam.
The situation regarding Bayley's SmackDown Women's Championship is much more interesting since McMahon announced a triple brand battle royal for next Friday's show which could see a number of women making their return to TV.
#5. WWE tri-brand Battle Royal: Lana
Lana was last seen on WWE TV a number of weeks ago when it was made apparent that The Ravishing Russian had formed an alliance with Natalya. Lana has since had several personal issues that include her mother, father, and husband all contracting COVID-19, even though Lana herself didn't catch the virus.
Reports suggested that WWE asked Lana to remain home after being in contact with a number of people who have the virus and she has since failed to appear WWE TV.
This battle royal would be a fantastic place for Lana to make her return since the former NXT star doesn't have as much experience in the ring as many of the other women who will be included in this match. Whilst that may seem like an issue, Lana could easily wait it out and win this match based on luck, this strategy has been seen a number of times and Lana could gain a SmackDown Women's Championship match out of it.
#4. WWE tri-brand Battle Royal: Natalya
Natalya is a former SmackDown Women's Champion, the only ever female graduate of the Hart Family Dungeon is certainly no stranger to Sasha Banks and Bayley and more than deserves a shot at the WWE title that she once held.
Nattie has been overlooked for most of her career and hasn't been seen on WWE TV for more than a month given the fact that the Division has instead been dominated by Banks and Bayley and the Riott Squad reunion. It's thought that Nattie was taken off WWE TV because of the issues surrounding Lana but if The Ravishing Russian is ready to return then Nattie could too.
Natalya was able to overcome the odds to win the SmackDown Women's Championship back in 2017 and could do it again here. It would also make for an interesting storyline if Banks is in Bayley's corner and Lana is in Nattie's.
Kairi Sane wasn't able to even out the numbers game for Asuka, but the two women may have met their match with Lana and Natalya now on the same page.
#3. WWE tri-brand Battle Royal: Carmella
Like many other women on this list, it's been weeks since the WWE Universe has seen the Princess of Staten Island on WWE TV, but Carmella isn't one to miss a multi-woman match.
Carmella was able to win the inaugural Women's Money in the Bank ladder match on two separate occasions and even won last year's Women's WrestleMania Battle Royal, so she would easily be considered a favorite if she returns and takes part.
Mella was on lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic, but her boyfriend Corey Graves has continued being part of WWE TV on a regular basis. It's unknown why the former SmackDown Women's Champion hasn't been on WWE TV in recent weeks, but it could just be that the creative team has nothing for her at present.
The Women's Division on SmackDown has been quite packed as of late with feuds between former friends Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville getting deeply personal whilst the feud between Lacey Evans and Naomi looks as though it's taken over Twitter in recent weeks.
#2. WWE tri-brand Battle Royal: Mickie James
Mickie James has most recently been providing commentary on Main Event after it was reported that the former six-time Women's Champion's contract had expired. James returned to WWE in January 2017 and has since been seen as a veteran in the Women's Division putting over the new women's talent but hasn't been able to match Trish Stratus and her seven Women's Championship reigns.
It's unknown what Mickie's current contract status with WWE is or if she's able to be a part of this match. It is thought that the former Champion would want to be part of this match to set up what could be her final shot at that Women's Championship before the end of her WWE career is officially announced.
Mickie James herself took to Twitter last night and commented on the fact that a tri-brand match has been announced, which could be a hint that the former Champion wants to be part of the match or that the Virginia native is set to lace up her wrestling boots one more time.
#1. WWE tri-brand Battle Royal: Stephanie McMahon
It would be a long shot since Stephanie McMahon hasn't stepped into the ring since she tapped out to Ronda Rousey back at WrestleMania 35, but stranger things have happened in a WWE ring.
WWE wants to push those rating back up and the return of someone of Stephanie McMahon's stature to WWE TV could be exactly what the company needs. It's obvious that Sasha Banks and Bayley have touched a nerve after they took the RAW Women's Championship at Extreme Rules and were still able to find a way to win the rematch.
If there's anyone who could return and stop the Banks and Bayley in their tracks heading into SummerSlam then it has to be the former Women's Champion herself. Stephanie has been on both RAW and SmackDown in recent weeks and both times to address the current situation with Banks and Bayley so for the former RAW Commissioner to be a surprise addition to this match to take on the SmackDown Women's Champion at SummerSlam, would definitely be a surprise.
