By Ryan Frye
Professional wrestling is an industry built on creating moments. But a moment would be nothing but a distant memory without a camera to capture the energy, emotion, and electricity of that moment forever. Perhaps that's why they've always claimed that a picture is worth a thousand words. And that very notion is the reason for the existence of this series: Picture Perfect.
After a lengthy hiatus, Picture Perfect returns today to chronicle Monday night's Women's Championship match between the defending champion Charlotte, and "The Boss" Sasha Banks.
Professional wrestling is an industry built on creating moments. But a moment would be nothing but a distant memory without a camera to capture the energy, emotion, and electricity of that moment forever. Perhaps that's why they've always claimed that a picture is worth a thousand words. And that very notion is the reason for the existence of this series: Picture Perfect.
After a lengthy hiatus, Picture Perfect returns today to chronicle Monday night's Women's Championship match between the defending champion Charlotte, and "The Boss" Sasha Banks.
SETTING THE STAGE
As two of the Four Horsewomen, Sasha Banks and Charlotte have a long and sorted past. They ascended through the ranks of NXT together, first as members of the BFFs—the Beautiful Fierce Females—then as bitter rivals. By the time they finally arrived to the WWE main roster, on the same night no less, they had already been heralded as the saviors of the then-dubbed Divas division.
But the past year that each have spent on the main roster have led them down distinctly different paths.
Sasha Banks has spent as much time sitting on the sidelines, biding her time as she has inside the ring. In the matches that she has had, however, she's emerged victorious in nearly all of them. It was clear throughout that she was destined for great things in due time, but fans of hers had grown impatient of waiting.
Meanwhile, Charlotte was thrust into the spotlight from the moment she debuted. After just two months, she would defeat Nikki Bella to become the Divas Champion and held that title through its evolution into the Women's Championship.
The Boss' first attempt at Charlotte's throne fell short in a triple threat match at WrestleMania, but, after pinning her in a tag team match at Battleground, Banks was afforded her second golden opportunity on the following RAW. This time, she was determined for the story to have a much different ending.
But the past year that each have spent on the main roster have led them down distinctly different paths.
Sasha Banks has spent as much time sitting on the sidelines, biding her time as she has inside the ring. In the matches that she has had, however, she's emerged victorious in nearly all of them. It was clear throughout that she was destined for great things in due time, but fans of hers had grown impatient of waiting.
Meanwhile, Charlotte was thrust into the spotlight from the moment she debuted. After just two months, she would defeat Nikki Bella to become the Divas Champion and held that title through its evolution into the Women's Championship.
The Boss' first attempt at Charlotte's throne fell short in a triple threat match at WrestleMania, but, after pinning her in a tag team match at Battleground, Banks was afforded her second golden opportunity on the following RAW. This time, she was determined for the story to have a much different ending.
PAINTING THE PICTURE
For 309 days, Charlotte had been champion. She had been the standard bearer of a division that had undergone a transformation. They went from "Divas" to superstars just like the rest of the roster. They went from a footnote of every show to a highlight of many.
Thus, the confidence Charlotte exuded in her pre-match interview was perhaps well earned. But in her time as the champion, she seemingly forgot about the threat that "The Boss" Sasha Banks posed.
Yes, Banks discussed the dream she had as a ten year old earlier in the night, but she'd proven herself perfectly capable of making dreams a reality in the past. And on this night, she had an opportunity to realize the ultimate dream for any woman in the wrestling industry.
After the in-ring introductions concluded, the bell sounded, and the combatants circled around the ring.
A fierce lock-up ensued that would spill all over the ring and onto the mat. Finally, Charlotte broke the lock-up and shoved Sasha into the corner. Sasha would then take an unsuspecting Charlotte down to the canvas, and we were back to square one.
Thus, the confidence Charlotte exuded in her pre-match interview was perhaps well earned. But in her time as the champion, she seemingly forgot about the threat that "The Boss" Sasha Banks posed.
Yes, Banks discussed the dream she had as a ten year old earlier in the night, but she'd proven herself perfectly capable of making dreams a reality in the past. And on this night, she had an opportunity to realize the ultimate dream for any woman in the wrestling industry.
After the in-ring introductions concluded, the bell sounded, and the combatants circled around the ring.
A fierce lock-up ensued that would spill all over the ring and onto the mat. Finally, Charlotte broke the lock-up and shoved Sasha into the corner. Sasha would then take an unsuspecting Charlotte down to the canvas, and we were back to square one.
Charlotte looked to pick Banks' legs, but The Boss would have none of it and backslid into a one count. Their elbows remained entangled momentarily before Charlotte whipped Sasha off the ropes which Sasha countered with an elbow to the face.
Charlotte's protege Dana Brooke then got involved, grabbing Banks' leg from the outside, opening the door for Charlotte to drop her challenger from behind. Referee Mike Chioda would warn Brooke, but the warning wouldn't undo the damage already done.
Charlotte looked for a bodyslam, but Sasha escaped and countered with some leg scissors into a backbreaker and finally a straitjacket hold.
Charlotte was able to utilize her power to get to a vertical base and back Sasha into the corner a few times to free herself from the submission. Sasha, though, again took control with a takedown of the champion and a momentary Bank Statement before the offspring of the Nature Boy weaseled her way to the outside.
Sasha wouldn't allow her fellow Four Horsewoman a breather, though, instead deciding to drop her with a sliding kick. Then, off the apron, Sasha hit flying knees onto Charlotte. She'd quickly toss her back inside the ring and go for an unsuccessful cover.
Charlotte rested in the corner before trying to stave off an aggressive Sasha Banks with her legs, only for Banks to toss her legs onto the ropes and attempt a double stomp to the gut, but Charlotte narrowly avoided that.
A boot to the face bought Charlotte precious time which she took advantage of with a nasty neckbreaker. It was then Sasha on the defensive with boots to push away the champion. She looked to seize the moment with a springboard move, but Charlotte shoved her to the floor.
Charlotte, like Banks earlier, wasn't going to allow her opponent any time to recuperate. Instead, she immediately went to the outside and rocked Banks with a boot that sent her into the barricade.
Charlotte grabbed her championship and taunted Sasha with it, screaming "You don't deserve this! This is mine! This is mine!" The feisty Banks responded by kicking the title out of Charlotte's hands and driving her into the apron.
Charlotte's protege Dana Brooke then got involved, grabbing Banks' leg from the outside, opening the door for Charlotte to drop her challenger from behind. Referee Mike Chioda would warn Brooke, but the warning wouldn't undo the damage already done.
Charlotte looked for a bodyslam, but Sasha escaped and countered with some leg scissors into a backbreaker and finally a straitjacket hold.
Charlotte was able to utilize her power to get to a vertical base and back Sasha into the corner a few times to free herself from the submission. Sasha, though, again took control with a takedown of the champion and a momentary Bank Statement before the offspring of the Nature Boy weaseled her way to the outside.
Sasha wouldn't allow her fellow Four Horsewoman a breather, though, instead deciding to drop her with a sliding kick. Then, off the apron, Sasha hit flying knees onto Charlotte. She'd quickly toss her back inside the ring and go for an unsuccessful cover.
Charlotte rested in the corner before trying to stave off an aggressive Sasha Banks with her legs, only for Banks to toss her legs onto the ropes and attempt a double stomp to the gut, but Charlotte narrowly avoided that.
A boot to the face bought Charlotte precious time which she took advantage of with a nasty neckbreaker. It was then Sasha on the defensive with boots to push away the champion. She looked to seize the moment with a springboard move, but Charlotte shoved her to the floor.
Charlotte, like Banks earlier, wasn't going to allow her opponent any time to recuperate. Instead, she immediately went to the outside and rocked Banks with a boot that sent her into the barricade.
Charlotte grabbed her championship and taunted Sasha with it, screaming "You don't deserve this! This is mine! This is mine!" The feisty Banks responded by kicking the title out of Charlotte's hands and driving her into the apron.
Charlotte then rolled back into the ring while Banks tossed Dana Brooke the Women's Title. Mike Chioda then turned around, seeing Dana Brooke stand over Sasha with the title in-hand. He'd eject her from ringside, and The Boss slyly smiled and waved goodbye to Charlotte's protege, her way of paying tribute to her idol, Eddie Guerrero.
Leading into the match, Charlotte said this match differed from their Battleground tag team match because Sasha was now all alone but, after Brooke's ejection, so was she as RAW headed to commercial break.
During the break, Charlotte had taken control, but Sasha would assert her dominance once more with some leg scissors. Charlotte fell onto the bottom rope throat-first with a drop toe hold then Sasha avoided a forearm in the corner. Charlotte responded by whipping Banks into the ropes but ate double knees to the shoulders as a result.
Both women were down, making this a crucial point in this championship match. As we were heading down the stretch, who was going to take control? Who would leave the first RAW of the New Era as Women's Champion?
Both began stirring midway through Mike Chioda's count and reached their feet around the same time. The two then exchanged forearms back-and-forth, each one more physical than the last.
Charlotte, though, ended that exchange with a knee to the gut then rebounded off the ropes for a boot, but Sasha moved out of the way before nailing a pair of clotheslines then a dropkick and a knee to the face that stunned the champion into the corner.
Sasha would successfully hit her double knees to the gut in her second attempt, and the first near fall of the match followed.
Charlotte then tripped Sasha face-first into the bottom turnbuckle, giving herself a few seconds to regroup. She then went for a suplex, but, two counters later, she ended up with a neckbreaker instead.
The champion ascended to the top rope for a moonsault but landed on her feet. She'd try to flip onto Sasha anyway, but The Boss put her knees up.
Charlotte slid to the floor, and Sasha took advantage with a suicide dive, nearly injuring herself in the process. But Sasha Banks was not concerned with the well being of her body in this moment; she was instead concerned with becoming the Women's Champion. Thus, she quickly slid Charlotte back in the ring and attempted a cover... but Charlotte kicked out at two.
Sasha went to the top rope where Charlotte met her, and the two battled for positioning momentarily. Charlotte looked to win the battle when a superplex looked imminent, but a change of plans occurred and Sasha was instead dropped onto the ropes stomach-first.
The Boss crashed to the floor, and Charlotte knew this was her moment. After being on the defensive for the majority of the match, this is where she could change the momentum of this match for good. Thus, she headed to the top and hit a beautiful moonsault to the outside.
Leading into the match, Charlotte said this match differed from their Battleground tag team match because Sasha was now all alone but, after Brooke's ejection, so was she as RAW headed to commercial break.
During the break, Charlotte had taken control, but Sasha would assert her dominance once more with some leg scissors. Charlotte fell onto the bottom rope throat-first with a drop toe hold then Sasha avoided a forearm in the corner. Charlotte responded by whipping Banks into the ropes but ate double knees to the shoulders as a result.
Both women were down, making this a crucial point in this championship match. As we were heading down the stretch, who was going to take control? Who would leave the first RAW of the New Era as Women's Champion?
Both began stirring midway through Mike Chioda's count and reached their feet around the same time. The two then exchanged forearms back-and-forth, each one more physical than the last.
Charlotte, though, ended that exchange with a knee to the gut then rebounded off the ropes for a boot, but Sasha moved out of the way before nailing a pair of clotheslines then a dropkick and a knee to the face that stunned the champion into the corner.
Sasha would successfully hit her double knees to the gut in her second attempt, and the first near fall of the match followed.
Charlotte then tripped Sasha face-first into the bottom turnbuckle, giving herself a few seconds to regroup. She then went for a suplex, but, two counters later, she ended up with a neckbreaker instead.
The champion ascended to the top rope for a moonsault but landed on her feet. She'd try to flip onto Sasha anyway, but The Boss put her knees up.
Charlotte slid to the floor, and Sasha took advantage with a suicide dive, nearly injuring herself in the process. But Sasha Banks was not concerned with the well being of her body in this moment; she was instead concerned with becoming the Women's Champion. Thus, she quickly slid Charlotte back in the ring and attempted a cover... but Charlotte kicked out at two.
Sasha went to the top rope where Charlotte met her, and the two battled for positioning momentarily. Charlotte looked to win the battle when a superplex looked imminent, but a change of plans occurred and Sasha was instead dropped onto the ropes stomach-first.
The Boss crashed to the floor, and Charlotte knew this was her moment. After being on the defensive for the majority of the match, this is where she could change the momentum of this match for good. Thus, she headed to the top and hit a beautiful moonsault to the outside.
She scurried to get both of them in the ring for a cover which she did, but Sasha still managed to kick out at two. After catching her breath, Charlotte set up the Figure Eight, but Sasha countered with a roll-up that received a two count.
Sasha fended off Charlotte with a boot to the side of the head but walked right into a bigger boot to the face. From behind, Charlotte nailed Natural Selection! Cover; 1, 2, rope break!
Out of the cover, Charlotte locked in her Figure Four. Sasha slapped Charlotte and desperately tried to free herself from the hold. Charlotte failed to bridge into the Figure Eight but instead rolled to the outside to increase the pressure on Sasha's legs. She'd only relinquish at the referee's count of four.
Another Figure Four attempt failed with Sasha rolling though into a Bank Statement. Charlotte tried to roll through but failed and, in that moment, seemed doomed to tap out. Luckily, however, she was able to get her foot on the bottom rope.
Charlotte and Sasha intensely locked eyes, and Charlotte promised "You'll never beat me! Ever!" Banks would then hit a backstabber into the Bank Statement, this time in the center of the ring. Charlotte had nowhere to go, no way out of this agonizing submission hold. She had no choice but to tap out, and she would.
Your winner and your new WWE Women's Champion, Sasha Banks! And the capacity crowd roared in approval, as this woman had realized the dream she'd had since she was ten years old.
"You deserve it!" they chanted to the new champion who, with tears in her eyes, declared it the era of women's wrestling, and the era of The Boss.
Sasha fended off Charlotte with a boot to the side of the head but walked right into a bigger boot to the face. From behind, Charlotte nailed Natural Selection! Cover; 1, 2, rope break!
Out of the cover, Charlotte locked in her Figure Four. Sasha slapped Charlotte and desperately tried to free herself from the hold. Charlotte failed to bridge into the Figure Eight but instead rolled to the outside to increase the pressure on Sasha's legs. She'd only relinquish at the referee's count of four.
Another Figure Four attempt failed with Sasha rolling though into a Bank Statement. Charlotte tried to roll through but failed and, in that moment, seemed doomed to tap out. Luckily, however, she was able to get her foot on the bottom rope.
Charlotte and Sasha intensely locked eyes, and Charlotte promised "You'll never beat me! Ever!" Banks would then hit a backstabber into the Bank Statement, this time in the center of the ring. Charlotte had nowhere to go, no way out of this agonizing submission hold. She had no choice but to tap out, and she would.
Your winner and your new WWE Women's Champion, Sasha Banks! And the capacity crowd roared in approval, as this woman had realized the dream she'd had since she was ten years old.
"You deserve it!" they chanted to the new champion who, with tears in her eyes, declared it the era of women's wrestling, and the era of The Boss.
A FEUD FAR FROM OVER
The era of The Boss has arrived, but the question is, how long will it last?
One would assume that Charlotte will be invoking her rematch clause, potentially at SummerSlam, and we'll get to witness these two try to top themselves once again.
The women's wrestling revolution spans far beyond Charlotte and Sasha Banks, though. There are great women's wrestlers across the globe that finally have the opportunity to perform their craft just like their male counterparts do.
Sasha Banks had a dream, and she made it a reality. Now, in the era of women's wrestling, the sky is the limit.
One would assume that Charlotte will be invoking her rematch clause, potentially at SummerSlam, and we'll get to witness these two try to top themselves once again.
The women's wrestling revolution spans far beyond Charlotte and Sasha Banks, though. There are great women's wrestlers across the globe that finally have the opportunity to perform their craft just like their male counterparts do.
Sasha Banks had a dream, and she made it a reality. Now, in the era of women's wrestling, the sky is the limit.
