WARNING: This article features MAJOR spoilers from Batwoman season 2, episode 17, "Kane, Kate."
The Arrowverse is about to use one of Batman's biggest villains as Bane will be arriving in Batwoman season 2, but with a twist that may have implications for the third season. While the Dark Knight can not be used on the small screen, it has not stopped the Arrowverse from either using or alluding to some of Batman's greatest foes. Even before Batwoman had premiered on The CW, the Elseworlds crossover gave fans a smorgasbord of Batman Easter eggs, including the memorabilia of multiple baddies. Ever since Batwoman joined the Arrowverse permanently, multiple villains keep getting referenced, with some of them being dead while others are alive.
One of the foes whose status has been ambiguous since 2018 is Bane, one of Bruce's most physical and intelligently challenging antagonists. During the Elseworlds event, The Dark Knight Rises version of Bane's mask was seen in Arkham Asylum, alluding that he was one of their inmates. However, Batwoman season 2 explored a bit more what has happened to their version of Bane, as "Kane, Kate," revealed that Batman had kept his Venom this entire time. It didn't stop there, as the episode showed Bane's Venom about to be put to use - but not in the way some Batman fans may be used to normally.
After the team thought they had gotten Kate back, the former Batwoman betrayed them - still thinking that she was Circe - and stole multiple things from Batman's collection. One of them happened to be Bane's Venom supply, which Black Mask quickly put to good use. As Batwoman season 2 introduced Russell Tavaroff, a.k.a. Menace in the comics, the Batwing-centric villain is about to play a different role in the Arrowverse. Instead of becoming Menace, Russell will become Batwoman's new Bane, with the trailer for the season finale giving a glimpse of his transformation.
Given that the actual Bane is someone the Arrowverse likely can't access, given how big of a Batman foe he is, this is a loophole that lets them do a version of the supervillain. It also makes sense for Menace to be the one to become the Arrowverse's new take on Bane, given how Batwoman has used Snakebite differently from the comics. The DC iteration of Menace originally got his enhanced gifts through Snakebite, with its TV counterpart being a euphoric drug. It is also fitting for Russell to become Bane as Luke is about to make his debut as Batwing in the season finale.
It would be weird if Luke and Russell's war ends after the Batwoman season 2 finale, as there are more things that can be done between the hero and villain. Batwoman season 3 would also be able to set up a powerful recurring foe through Russell as Bane in the Arrowverse. It is unlikely that Russell would serve as the main threat for a whole season, but there is no reason why Batwoman could at least have this new take on Bane around in a recurring capacity.