10 Wrestlers Who Deserve A Big Push After WWE Royal Rumble 2019

2. Sasha Banks

Finn Balor Sasha Banks Andrade
WWE.com

Sasha Banks became the first WWE veteran to truly outshine Ronda Rousey at the Royal Rumble.

It's not that 'Rowdy' was bad; rather, 'The Boss' was outstanding. Rousey was her usual, punishing self, but Banks was operating a level we haven't seen since last year's Raw clash with Asuka - a level everyone knows she's capable of hitting when entrusted with a big spotlight, despite the peripheral role she has spent the past few years playing.

Banks put forth a similar performance at the 2018 Rumble, albeit in the titular match. That face-off with Trish Stratus was electric. Sasha felt like 'The Boss' again, and yet WWE did nothing with it, relegating the former NXT standout back to the midcard.

Though the crimes committed against her character aren't as deep as Bayley's, Sasha's demotion is even less understandable than her partner's. Here was a wrestler positioned at the heart of WWE's Women's Revolution through an awesome feud with Charlotte. She has since become a bit-parter, and while she'll always shine when handed opportunities like the Rousey match, it'd be nice if she was given the chance to do this more often.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.