WWE: How To Save Bayley’s Main Roster Career

Last year I bought a Bayley t-shirt. For me, this was a big move. As a kid, I’d owned action figures of the Hardy Boyz and The Undertaker, but as an adult this was the first wrestling merch I’d ever bought. It was a statement of intent, because I believe in Bayley. Her sincerity just connects with me. It’s refreshing. It’s uncomplicated. But there’s a problem.

Bayley has been broken by the main roster. There was always a risk it would happen and, despite the problem not yet being obvious or urgent, it’s one fans of the hugger will have to face sooner rather than later. Slapdash booking has seen Bayley’s coronation as Raw Women’s Champion take place on a throwaway edition of Raw rather than Wrestlemania. Charlotte’s pay-per-view win streak, for so long the cornerstone of the Raw women’s division, was then quietly extinguished at the already forgotten Fastlane. Thanks to interference from Sasha Banks, no less.

It’s baffling. It’s like Raw had all the ingredients to make a chocolate fudge cake but instead made an eggy purée which it had to pour straight down the sink.

Bayley is now the beneficiary of outside interference – making her appear both weak and heelish. But she can be saved. WWE, allow me to save the career of a wrestler who you are coming very close to squandering.

Dropping the belt at Mania

The story, for now, is that Bayley and Sasha are best friends. This, of course, means Sasha is going to betray Bayley at Wrestlemania. That we know this already should not be an excuse for WWE to get cold feet and avoid being predictable. Sometimes story beats become recognisable tropes because they are psychologically satisfying to the human mind. It is, of course, the execution which makes the difference.

Sasha must betray Bayley completely. Bayley, the honest snowflake with a can-do attitude, must never see it coming. She must be left in disbelief on the outside of the ring as Sasha leaves Wrestlemania with the championship.

The Hugger’s Crucible

For the next few weeks, Bayley’s naivety must be centre stage. She has to reel in disbelief as Sasha taunts her every moment. How could her friend have done this? The boss has played her completely. Bayley will stand in the ring week after week wearing that deer-in-the-headlights look which makes you want to cry.

She will get her rematch though. And she will lose again.

Next, Bayley ought to feud with Emma. Yes, Emma. She was actually drafted to Raw before disappearing like a sitcom character who was put on a bus. Here Bayley must struggle too. She must learn the main roster is a tougher arena than she thought. In fact, she should be so bad that, come the inevitable redraft, Stephanie McMahon banishes her to Smackdown.

Rock Bottom on Smackdown Live

Bayley will enter Smackdown with a brave face – her happy go lucky act on the blue brand. But her usual schtick must be torn down immediately. The women of Smackdown will ask why they should care about Bayley. Because all Bayley has done lately is lose. Smackdown is not the B-show anymore, and a Raw reject isn’t going to cut it.

And then, in her first match on Smackdown, Bayley must lose again. This is rock bottom.

Alexa Bliss Vs Bayley

If WWE decided to create the perfect foil for Bayley’s girl next door character, they would be wasting their time. She already exists, and she’s called Alexa Bliss.

Bliss may very well be the Tom Brady of last year’s WWE draft. She’s athletic, clinical in the ring and her looks of mean girl disgust every time fans jeer her is something which cannot be taught. She is the anti-Bayley, to the extent that this feud might be impossible to mess up. Not even WWE creative could manage it.

Now, Bayley and Alexa have squared off before, back in NXT. But if anything this would be like adding fuel to the fire and getting a Catherine wheel. They have history. Last time Bayley came out on top, but now she’s stepping into Alexa’s yard.

And this is where you make Bayley the star you know she can be. With Smackdown’s focus on story over moments, Bayley must be pushed to the edge only to find her resolve. She must fight a bully and come out on top with fire in her eyes. At Summerslam Bayley must beat Alexa Bliss. Only then will she become more than relatable. Only then will she be a hero.