Sasha Banks Takes Aim At Ronda Rousey On Social Media Ahead Of WWE Royal Rumble 2019

By Benjamin Richardson / January 23, 2019

As excitement begins to mount surrounding their upcoming match at this Sunday's Royal Rumble, Sasha Banks fanned the flames on social media last night with a pointed and surprisingly incisive branch of barbs aimed squarely at opponent Ronda Rousey.

Rousey had sniped Sasha this past Monday on Raw by referencing people saying "vile things" about The Boss. In response, Banks accompanied an Instagram post ostensibly designed to promote the upcoming event in Phoenix with a set of comments far closer to the bone than WWE superstars' typically inane social media output:

"Here's something you might already know about me @rondarousey ... I don't give a damn who's saying "vile" things about me. Truth is, those are the same people who pump you up not because they like you, but because of who you are, and what you can do for them. At the end of the day I do what I do for the betterment of women's wrestling. And if that means calling people out on their shady ? , or doing nothing for weeks on end because I choose to work hard on my craft instead of kissing ass in dark corners, then so be it."

Crikey. Banks continued:

"You see those women's tag titles? That's what my desire has brought to this division. You think I played you when in reality, I've been the same exact person this whole time. I respect, respect. Respect for those who share the ring with you, respect for this thing we call professional wrestling, and respect for the ones who go out of the way, when the cameras are not on, to do everything they can to make things better for every women in that locker room. You got a little success and decided to disrespect me... "

Of course, this is all just promotional bluster, but it's good promotional bluster, and another example of the thriving women's division benefiting from its performers enjoying wider creative freedom in recent months. It's almost like this is the whole point.