Sasha Banks Returns On WWE SmackDown, Enters Royal Rumble

Sasha Banks returned to WWE on Friday's SmackDown broadcast in Kansas City, weeks after suffering what was believed to be a significant injury.

SmackDown Women's champion Charlotte Flair kicked off the card by promising to win the women's Rumble match. Several participants, including Natalya, Aliyah, and Shotzi, interrupted, before Banks herself suddenly appeared.

Banks said that she was "ready to Rumble", giving way to a brawl between the assembled wrestlers. The segment concluded with Banks throwing Flair over the top rope.

Banks last wrestled at a house show on Sunday, January 2 in Fayetteville, NC, against Flair. During the course of the match, Banks suffered an apparent foot injury.

WWE later claimed that Banks was due to be out six to eight weeks as a result of the injury, which would have put her out of the Rumble.

In addition to the timeframe they provided, WWE wrote in a statement, "After seeking emergency medical attention, it was determined nothing was broken. Sasha underwent an MRI and it was discovered she has a bruised calcaneus bone. She is at home recovering and undergoing physical therapy."