DGS Main Event Pro Wrestling Feud of the Year – Charlotte v. Sasha Banks

Sasha Banks / Charlotte (Forbes.com)

This might have been the most obvious DGS Main Event Award, considering how many times I have covered these two this year. In 2016, Sasha Banks and Charlotte were able to elevate themselves as icons of the professional wrestling world. These two women changed EVERYTHING. Their feud was booked better than any male star in WWE, and they got more attention than anyone else (and deservingly so). It would be highly illogical if I didn’t present Sasha and Charlotte the award for Feud of the Year.

Although the Women’s Revolution had a slow build in 2015, by 2016 it was on fire. A WOMEN’S Title was created before WrestleMania 32, which seemed to motivate Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks even more. The match those three had together might have been the best part of that show. They created a moment (more than just a “WrestleMania moment”). Charlotte won, but fans wanted more of Sasha. *(Becky was able to get her moment as a member of the SmackDown roster)* The Charlotte/Sasha rivalry officially kicked off at Battleground in a tag team match, but once they finally went one-on-one, the party really got started.

For about 5+ months, these ladies had the most innovative, exciting, scary and revolutionary series of matches of all time. These two looked like they actually cared about one-upping one another, working extremely hard to give the fans something to talk about at the water cooler the next day. They literally gave their blood, sweat and tears to pull off a great rivalry. During that time, the WWE Women’s Title changed hands six times. Frustrating? Yes, but that’s not what I want to point out. The type of matches that they were in are what really stands out:

• A fantastic match on Raw in which Sasha won her first Women’s Title.
• A SummerSlam match. While there were some errors, it delivered in a big way. Charlotte regained her title.
• Sasha won the title again on Raw during the show’s main event. This would be the second time two women main evented the show, the first being Trish Stratus and Lita.
• A few weeks later, Charlotte won the belt in the first ever Women’s Hell in a Cell match. It was BRUTAL (in the best way possible).
• Another Raw moment for Sasha: She won the title in the main event in a falls count anywhere match.
• At Roadblock a few weeks ago, Charlotte took the title back in the last(?) chapter of their rivalry in an Iron Woman Match. This was the second one in WWE history, the first also involving Sasha against Bayley.

Sasha might have had extremely short reigns, but it was the passion she put into every match that made you forget that little fact, if only for a moment. Her hero was Eddie Guerrero and several times she used his old ways to make her dream come true. It was always great to see. Charlotte used some of that Flair magic her dad gave her to make her one of the top bad guys on Raw. Ric’s guidance over the years has helped her grow into a supreme athlete.

A possible controversial statement: This rivalry could be compared to Ric Flair v. Ricky Steamboat from the 80’s. Both worked extremely hard to make a title mean something and (on occasion) to get one another over. These women are on par with any major rivalry as of this moment. A small break can help freshen things up, but I’m sure we won’t see the end of “The Boss” v. “The Nature Girl”.

Years from now, when new fans watch archives of Sasha Banks v. Charlotte, they will see something that was revolutionary at the time. It was an honor to cover their matches this year, and to give them this award for Feud of the Year!

Current DGS Main Event Awards:

MMA Tag Team of the Year

Pro Wrestling Tag Team of the Year

MMA Rookie of the Year

Pro Wrestling Rookie of the Year

MMA Comeback of the Year

MMA Overrated Fighter of the Year

Overrated Pro Wrestler of the Year

MMA Underrated Fighter of the Year

MMA Most Improved Fighter of the Year