WWE Superstar Teases Return To Fan-Favorite Gimmick
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The mysterious and unsettling transformation of Bayley continued on the August 18th episode of Monday Night Raw. A new, cryptic backstage segment has fans speculating that the "Role Model" may be on the verge of bringing back a piece of her past.
This is the second consecutive week that WWE has aired a segment featuring Bayley seemingly in the midst of a psychological breakdown. The story appears to be one of the major new angles on the Raw brand.
bayley has a premonition pic.twitter.com/SerUz6Q1L2 — WWE (@WWE) August 19, 2025
The segment on last night's show from Philadelphia saw Bayley backstage, where strange, distorted voices once again tormented her. The voices mocked her for her recent career failures, including not being booked on WrestleMania 41 or SummerSlam this year.
As the taunting escalated, Bayley screamed for the voices to stop. In a chilling final moment, a voice responded by sweetly asking her if she wanted a "hug." The segment ended there, leaving the audience with more questions than answers.
More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match
Bayley's History of Transformation
This new, darker direction is the latest chapter in a career defined by character reinvention. Bayley first won the hearts of the fans in NXT as "The Hugger," an ultimate babyface whose bubbly, optimistic persona was incredibly popular.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Nia Jax and Bianca Belair in action during Smackdown at Pechanga Arena on January 17, 2025 in San Diego, California.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 17: Nia Jax and Bianca Belair in action during Smackdown at Pechanga Arena on January 17, 2025 in San Diego, California.
WWE/Getty Images
In 2019, she shocked the world with a dramatic heel turn, destroying her inflatable "Bayley Buddies" and adopting the arrogant "Role Model" character, which led to her most dominant championship reigns. Most recently, she had a triumphant babyface run after being kicked out of her Damage CTRL faction, which culminated in a WWE Women's Championship victory at WrestleMania 40.
Return of "The Hugger"?
The specific reference to a "hug" has sent fans into a frenzy of speculation. It is a direct callback to her original, beloved character, which she famously rejected when she turned heel. Many fans are now predicting that this storyline could be leading to a complex, split-personality gimmick, where Bayley might switch between her various past personas.
Her recent on-screen struggles are fueling this psychological turmoil. After a successful championship run, she has hit a losing streak, and the dissolution of her Damage CTRL support system has left her feeling isolated.
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