7 days ago
WWE Teases Major Change For Fan-Favorite Star
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A major character change appears to be on the horizon for former WWE Women's Champion, Bayley. On the August 11th episode of Monday Night Raw, a dark and cryptic promo segment has the wrestling world buzzing about what's next for the "Role Model."
The segment, which took place in front of a live crowd in Quebec City, teased a potential psychological breakdown for Bayley. It was a stark departure from the heroic babyface character she has been portraying for the past year.
A Downward Spiral
During the show's second hour, Bayley spoke in the ring about the isolation she feels and the series of high-profile losses she has suffered recently. The emotional promo was intercut with video clips of her in-ring defeats, and she repeatedly blamed herself for her failures.
The segment then took a strange and unsettling turn. The camera focused on Bayley rubbing her ears, as if trying to block out voices in her head, while the background behind her appeared to waver. The screen briefly went black as strange, distorted voices could be heard, hinting at a serious mental shift for the character.
A History of Transformation
Bayley is a master of character reinvention, and this would be the third major transformation of her WWE career. She first got over with the fans as the bubbly, lovable "Hugger" in NXT, an ultimate babyface whose journey to the NXT Women's Championship was one of the brand's most celebrated stories.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: A general stadium view during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 11: A general stadium view during WWE Monday Night RAW at Toyota Center on March 11, 2024 in Houston, Texas.
In 2019, she shocked the world with a dramatic heel turn on the main roster. She famously took a knife to her inflatable "Bayley Buddies," cut her hair, and adopted the arrogant "Role Model" persona, which led to her longest and most successful championship reigns. Her most recent character shift was a babyface turn in early 2024 after she was kicked out of her own faction, Damage CTRL, a storyline that culminated in her winning the WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania 40.
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The Cracks Begin To Show
This new, darker direction comes after a difficult period for Bayley. Her triumphant babyface run has hit a wall, with recent losses in her feud with Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria costing her the Women's Intercontinental Championship. In a backstage segment after the promo, Lyra Valkyria commented on the unsettling display, stating it was the reason she distanced herself from Bayley, as she wanted to avoid being pulled into her "downward spiral."
It remains to be seen what this new chapter holds for Bayley, but the mysterious segment on Raw has made her one of the most intriguing characters to watch in WWE.
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