As the suffix to this year’s Roadblock: End of the Line pay-per-view suggests, by next Monday morning [UAE time] the feud between Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair will have been drawn to a close.
Played out over the past eight months with first the Divas and then the RAW Women’s Championship the prize, Banks and Flair have delivered an enthralling rivalry.
They have made history on numerous occasions with the title switching hands at regular intervals between the two worthy champions.
The Boss and the Queen have delivered brutal beauty in the ring, their ingenuity, style and punishing storylines playing out in front of the WWE Universe with both growing into their roles at every turn.
You have to give it to Stephanie McMahon and Triple H for giving the two Superstars the opportunity to thrive and placing so much trust in them and the reward for doing so is clear for all to see.
A first women’s Hell in a Cell, first Falls Count Anywhere women’s title match, the headlining of major pay-per-views and a storyline that keeps on going has been the result – taking women’s wrestling to its zenith.
All involved must be applauded, but none more than the competitors themselves.
The historic rivalry of @SashaBanksWWE & @MsCharlotteWWE draws to a close THIS SUNDAY at #WWERoadblock: End of the Line on @WWENetwork. #RAW pic.twitter.com/sIKny4zLFL
— WWE (@WWE) December 13, 2016
Both struggled with promos at various times but now are more than capable of delivering on the mic, while their creativity in the ring – combined with a constantly changing backdrop to their matches – has meant that the rivalry has never felt tired or at risk of overkill.
Clearly that has been a concern for WWE Creative and hence the need for a “final showdown” at Roadblock.
In another first, the pair will vie for the title in a first Ironman [why not Ironwoman, WWE – come on now it’s 2016!] match for the Women’s Championship.
Once again, history will be made and, rightly so, it will be Banks and Flair that do so in a match that can bring to life a PPV that is usually more a stumbling block on the growing calendar of events draining the wallet.
These two certainly deserve to take their titanic tussle to WrestleMania and a first women’s headline match would the icing on the cake for the female cast of WWE, whose importance to both Team Red and Blue are immense.
But, for now, we must approach this as the “one last time” tag doing the rounds with the promos and appreciate Banks-Flair for what it is: one of the greatest rivalries in WWE’s history.
They have set the bar higher than anyone else before them in the women’s division and they have, without doubt, served up feud of the year in a breakout 2016 that will see them secure Hall of Fame status when they step out of the ring in years to come.
After Roadblock, the WWE must take both competitors down different paths and the likes of Nia Jax and Bayley [watch out for her this weekend, revenge could be on the cards, as could an injury that puts one of the headliners out of action] heading up the waiting cast to take the baton forward.
It will be a tough ask with Banks and Flair also on deck, but for now simply sit back and enjoy the End of the Line in one of WWE’s greatest rivalries.
For now, thank you ladies, it’s been a real pleasure.
