WWE SummerSlam 2019 preview: Raw Women’s Championship match

Becky Lynch gets a fresh challenger and Natalya gets a chance to shine in her home country of Canada when these two face off for the WWE Raw Women’s Championship at SummerSlam

There’s a lot to unpack heading into the Raw Women’s Championship match at SummerSlam. Current champion Becky Lynch and No. 1 contender Natalya go way back, we’re talking pre-WWE, a history that has been exquisitely woven into their current storyline.

The two started in pro wrestling around the same time and wound up working the circuits together, including time in Japan. Flash forward several years to both women being WWE Superstars on SmackDown Live, only this time Natalya would blindside Lynch from behind to establish herself as a heel.

Lynch hasn’t forgotten the betrayal. She posted a video package to Twitter of her long-storied history with Natalya that reflects her Kill Bill-inspired persona using the song “Bang Bang,” which featured in the movie.

To Natalya’s credit, she’s put the cats away and is all business, firing back at Lynch with her own impassioned tweets.

During an episode of “A Moment of Bliss” on WWE Raw, Lynch was also quick to point out how Natalya is friends with her rival Ronda Rousey. During an interview with The Post, Natalya said she speaks with Rousey “all the time” and that Rousey “definitely wants to come back.” But that return probably won’t be happening at SummerSlam. The Raw Women’s Championship match will be centered around Lynch and Natalya going out and putting on a clinic.

The interesting part is how Lynch will be received in Toronto. She’s been rallying hard on Twitter, almost in heel-like fashion, about being Canada’s new hero. Meanwhile, Natalya, who basically comes from Canadian royalty in The Hart Family, is defending her home country as she vows to make Lynch eat her words.

This match has a similar vibe to the time when “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Bret “Hitman” Hart brought their feud to Canada. During In Your House: Canadian Stampede, The Hart Foundation (Hart, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, The British Bulldog, Brian Pillman, Owen Hart) faced the American team of Austin, Ken Shamrock, Legion of Doom (Hawk and Animal) and Goldust. In the states, Austin’s team would’ve been the babyfaces going in, but because it was Canada The Hart Foundation wound up working as the faces while Austin turned on a dime and worked the match heel. It would be really interesting to see Lynch and Natalya do something similar.

Natalya recently challenged Lynch to a submission match at SummerSlam. Will she accept? Find out what happens on August 11 during SummerSlam’s live broadcast on the WWE Network.