Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks WWE Great Balls of Fire 2017 Match Preview and Pick

The Raw Women's Championship will be at the center of a budding rivalry and high-profile match Sunday night at Great Balls of Fire as Alexa Bliss defends her title against three-time titleholder Sasha Banks.

The Boss has dominated competition against Little Miss Bliss to this point but Sunday night, under the brightest lights and with the highest stakes, will she be able to force one last tapout to the Bank Statement, or will Bliss once again rise to the occasion and score another impressive victory?

Background

The June 26 episode of Raw was headlined by a historic Gauntlet match that featured six of the top female competitors on the roster battling for the right to head to the July 9 pay-per-view event and challenge Bliss for her prize.

For 33 minutes, Nia Jax battled, defeating Mickie James, Bayley, Emma and Dana Brooke on her own to advance. Then she ran into Banks. The physically superior wrestler wore her opponent down but could not account for Banks' heart.

The Boss fought her way back into the match and trapped Jax in the Bank Statement.

After over one half-hour of competition, an exhausted Jax had no choice but to tap out.

One week later, Banks continued her winning ways over Jax, who partnered with Bliss for a tag team match. Early, Jax assaulted Bayley at ringside, taking her out of commission and leaving Banks to fend for herself.

The No. 1 contender kicked Jax to the floor and tapped Bliss out, proving to herself and the WWE Universe that she can beat the champion.

The Match

Bliss has in-ring charisma that is nearly unmatched by any other heel on the women's roster. She camouflages whatever weaknesses she may have by being able to get her character over with the audience, and the result is a hotter match than it otherwise would have been had she concentrated simply on doing moves.

Banks, a charismatic worker in her own right, possesses an in-ring arsenal that is best utilized as a heel but has proven effective in her role as babyface.

While she does not necessarily fit the personality of a traditional, sympathetic babyface, Banks does have an electric comeback that should be on full display as she overcomes the chicanery and oppressive heel onslaught by Bliss.

Prediction

The finish will be the most interesting element of this match.

If Banks loses clean, she is exactly what some have suggested: a placeholder until SummerSlam, where Bliss will finally defend against Jax.

If she wins or loses in anything but a clean fashion, the expectation is the feud will continue.

With that said, Bliss is on a roll at this point and Jax is the obvious contender to dethrone her. No matter how she does it, expect the champion to emerge from Dallas with her title in one hand and the other raised in victory.

Winner: Alexa Bliss