Fans React to WWE Veteran Claiming Bayley is 'Washed Up'
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Both backstage and in the ring, Bayley remains one of the most beloved WWE Superstars of the modern era. Despite this, she has been surprisingly absent from WWE television.
After earning an opportunity to win the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship with Lyra Valkyria, she was written off in favor of Becky Lynch making her surprise in-ring return.
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Needless to say, fans want to see The Role Model back in the ring as soon as possible. However, one former WWE personality doesn't think she belongs there.
SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 28: WWE SmackDown Champion Bayley speaks onstage during ACE Comic Con at Century Link Field Event Center on June 28, 2019 in Seattle, Washington.
SEATTLE, WA - JUNE 28: WWE SmackDown Champion Bayley speaks onstage during ACE Comic Con at Century Link Field Event Center on June 28, 2019 in Seattle, Washington.During an episode of Behind the Turnbuckle, former WWE personality Jonathan Coachman went in on Bayley, claiming that she was "washed up."
"Bayley is done!" Coachman declared. "She's washed up! She's Boring! She's nothing! She's nothing anymore!"
Coachman went on to question whether anything would feel different if Bayley left the roster, and that he was never a fan.
Jonathan Coachman says Bayley is washed up
'She's boring. She's nothing anymore.'
(Behind The Turnbuckle)pic.twitter.com/gwrx459nBL — Vick (@Vick_8122) May 8, 2025
"When I was in the WWE for 13 years, there would be certain people – and she'd be one of them – that you'd walk around backstage going, 'How in the world is she winning the Royal Rumble?' Or 'How in the world is he doing that?'"
"To me, I've never, and I think she's a very sweet person, but there are a lot of sweet people. But I just don't ever think that she's sold a ticket."
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Naturally, this justifiably led to a massive backlash from the pro wrestling fandom, with multiple people online defending Bayley and slamming Coachman.
"Mercedes and Bayley helped sell out the Barclays," one fan explained. "Bayley has sold out her own merch and people would go to shows to see HER. I can't believe a dude that NO ONE, in the HISTORY OF EVER, bought a single solitary ticket to see could try to speak on her legacy."
Mercedes & Bayley helped sell out the Barclays
Bayley has sold out her own merch & people would go to shows to see HER
I can't believe a dude that NO ONE, in the HISTORY OF EVER, bought a single solitary ticket to see could try to speak on her legacy — #WEWANTBAYLEY #CEO ⚠️ (@baymonebrainrot) May 8, 2025
"Nah man. Not cool," said another fan. "Of course he's entitled to his opinion but Bayley is damn great. And let's be real, her story with Damage CNTRL and Iyo specifically last year was fantastic. She was also cooking recently til they shoehorned Becky into Mania."
Nah man. Not cool. Of course he's entitled to his opinion but Bayley is damn great. And let's be real, her story with Damage CNTRL and Iyo specifically last year was fantastic. She was also cooking recently til they shoehorned Becky into Mania. https://t.co/dXIXG8V4Fy — Michael Vizard (@VizTheRogueTTV) May 8, 2025
"Funny like real goats like Stone Cold, Taker, Bret, Cena, Punk see Bayley as one of the best, while it's always the irrelevant and jobless ones like Coach and [Vince] Russo who say the worst things about her," said another fan. "As Punk says, don't listen to the opinion of people you wouldn't ask for advice."
Funny like real goats like Stone Cold, Taker, Bret, Cena, Punk see Bayley as one of the best, while it's always the irrelevant and jobless ones like Coach and Russo who say the worst things about her. As Punk says, don't listen to the opinion of people you wouldn't ask for advice — Ted - Fan Account (@TedBayRose3) May 8, 2025
In the end, Coachman appears to be completely off base. Bayley has had a legendary career and remains one of the best wrestlers to step into the ring.
Bayley is a four-time world champion with WWE and is the first-ever WWE Women's Grand Slam Champion. She is, without a doubt, one of the best to ever do it, and deserves to be respected as such.
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