Sasha Banks: WWE Women's Champion slams Conor McGregor
'I want to become the female version of Eddie Guerrero'
By David Ruse
Last Updated: 10/08/16 4:50pm
WWE Women's Champion Sasha Banks says she would "kick Conor McGregor's butt" if the UFC star ever stepped foot in a wrestling ring.
McGregor incurred the wrath of a host of WWE Superstars after apparently questioning their toughness during a media call to promote his impending bout with Nate Diaz at UFC 202 in Las Vegas on August 20.
The Dubliner had his size questioned by Roman Reigns and AJ Styles, while WWE Hall of Famer and 16-time world champion Ric Flair accused the mixed martial artist of "copying his persona".
And Banks - who is gearing up to defend her title against Flair's daughter, Charlotte, at WWE SummerSlam - is adamant that her career is more demanding than McGregor's.
"He fights twice a year and is then off, whereas we do this every single day," Banks told Sky Sports.
"He's complained before about scheduling and doing media, so I would love to see him in the ring and see if he could do our schedule.
"He can cry all he wants but we are definitely better than him, it takes a really tough person to do our job - and I could kick his butt!"
Banks is clearly not enamoured by McGregor, the reigning UFC featherweight champion of the world, but she is a huge fan of late WWE Superstar Eddie Guerrero.
The Boston-born star says the former WWE, Intercontinental, United States and Tag Team Champion, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 38, inspired her to become a wrestler.
Not that her mother was convinced at the time…
"Whenever I wrestle, I think of Eddie," said Banks. "I wonder what he would do and how he would do it and whether he would be proud of me.
"The first wrestling match I saw was one of his - my mum would tell me to turn off the TV but I just told her that something about it had me hooked.
"He is the reason I wanted to be a wrestler and the reason I am in WWE - I want to be the female version of him because he is the greatest of all time.
"He is always in my mind and I aspire to be like him every single day, even though those are huge shoes to fill."
Since debuting on WWE's NXT brand in December 2012 - she lost to British performer Paige on that occasion - Banks has claimed the NXT Championship and won Pro Wrestling Illustrated Magazine's Match of the Year accolade for 2015 for her showdown with Bayley last August.
The Raw Superstar and PWI Woman of the Year also prised the WWE Women's Championship from Charlotte last month - and has no plans to slow down.
"I remember writing in my journal when I was 10 that I wanted to be the greatest women's wrestler of all time and that's how I want to be remembered.
"I want people to look back and say: 'Wow, Sasha Banks was amazing' and for women wrestlers to want to be better than me because I was the best."
Banks' bout with Bayley came inside The Barclays Center in Brooklyn - the venue for this year's SummerSlam, live on Sky Sports Box Office on Sunday, August 21.
WWE SUMMERSLAM
Live on Sky Sports Box Office
Midnight, Sunday, August 21 (Mon)
The card is packed with high-profile encounters - Brock Lesnar's clash with Randy Orton and the Universal Championship encounter between Seth Rollins and Finn Balor to name but two.
Yet, Banks is aiming make her match the night's most memorable and leave fans in New York singing her praises for the second year in succession.
"Looking at the matches, Charlotte and I are going to have real competition," added the 24-year-old.
"Hopefully I get enough time but whenever you put me in the ring I am going to steal the show and show people that I'm the best.
"People told me I killed it in Brooklyn last year - Bayley and I had the world talking about our match so I'm definitely going to try and do it again when I wrestle Charlotte and prove that was no fluke."
Watch WWE SummerSlam at midnight on Sunday, August 21 (Monday morning) on Sky Sports Box Office and Sky Sports HD Box Office.
WWE SummerSlam booking details
WWE SummerSlam will be shown on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) AND Sky Sports HD Box Office (492) at midnight on Sunday, August 21 (Monday morning).
WWE SummerSlam will be repeated on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 491) BUT NOT Sky Sports HD Box Office (492) between 10am on Monday, August 22 and 8pm on Wednesday, August 24.
Repeat showings will air at 10am, 3pm, 8pm and 1am, with THE FINAL PLAYOUT starting at 8pm on Wednesday, August 24.
The event is priced at £19.95 for UK customers, €24.95 for viewers in the Republic of Ireland.
Viewers can call 03442 410 888 to book WWE SummerSlam NOW. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).
You can also book WWE SummerSlam online NOW by visiting this link: https://my.sky.com/orderboxoffice/
Viewers can also book using their Sky TV remote nearer the event by pressing the 'Box office' button and following on-screen instructions. (Only bookings via Sky TV remote are recordable using Sky Plus).
Sky TV residential customers only. Commercial customers contact Sky for price and to order. Sky Box Office terms apply. Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.
