Everyone loves Bayley, even people who say they don't really do like her. Her charisma and personality are infectious, she is a bright and shining person, an amazing wrestler, but most importantly she's just Bayley. That's an important thing. That person isn't a character walking to the ring every Monday night, no, that is Bayley a genuine person just a woman that heads out every match has fun and enjoys herself.
The key word is genuine. Bayley is what we all wished we were as kids growing up watching wrestling, she's a wrestling fan that is living their dream as a professional wrestler. She was the most dominant NXT Women's Champion of all-time (until Asuka's reign), her matches with Sasha Banks, Paige, Becky Lynch, Charlotte, Asuka, and more were all amazing. She was the best female wrestler in NXT, I'd say best wrestler period but Finn Balor was still there, everyone couldn't wait to see what she did when she made the move to the main roster. She debuted onto RAW and made a huge splash against Charlotte, down the road finally dethroning the undefeated PPV queen and winning the RAW Women's Championship. Pretty impressive. Except since then she's been in shambles.
So how is WWE managing to take one of their most popular superstars, essentially their female John Cena, and just destroying her character in every way possible ??
One of the biggest reasons is that they are treating Bayley like a little girl rather than a woman. I think I need to explain that a little better, what makes Bayley unique is that genuine feeling you get that almost childlike innocence from a fan living out their dreams; that feeling is what has allowed her to connect with so many people everyone in the audience cheering for Bayley, especially kids. However, childlike innocence which creates a bond with fans, especially younger ones, and being treated like a child are two different things. All I ever saw WWE do to Bayley on the main roster since day one was push her as this bigger kid. Which in comparison to everyone else on the roster whether it's her best friend Sasha Banks or her rival Alexa Bliss all have dimensions to them and they act like adults they don't have a smile on their face all the time because no one should. It's always treating her like a kid that is really hurting her character, I understand what they want to do but this isn't the Bayley that charmed NXT, she doesn't come across as a woman who is fun and friendly but when she steps between the ropes is absolute business and a monster wrestler. She's just plain and that is a shame when you consider she is essentially their female John Cena in the waiting.
WWE also made the big mistake of having Bayley win the RAW Women's Championship too early. This is a belt that has changed hands far too many times back and forth between Charlotte and Sasha Banks, it needed more time and a solid long term champion so that it was more established again. I understand they wanted her as the champ but because of the back and forth by the time Bayley got it it just felt not special even though she was the one to win. I also think it was too early for her to win. Like I said Bayley is the female John Cena as far as crowd reactions and merchandise there's no woman better than her so she is a woman that deserved a legit lengthy title run after a decent amount of time on the main roster and not just after a few months. A decent run that of all things didn't end in her home town, they gave her a short run again diminishing the title by switching champions too soon, the home town thing was a punch in the gut too. I understand how popular and how good Alexa Bliss is and getting the title around her was a priority but a few more months of back and forth between the two leading to a title match at Summer Slam would have been better. Also not losing the belt in her home town, that is harsh WWE.
Is it possible for WWE to get Bayley back on track ??
Yes.
And now is the perfect time because Sasha Banks is the RAW Women's Champion. I know I said it was too soon for a title reign, however, a heel turn on her best friend for Sasha Banks is a great idea which gets sympathy for Bayley. Losing her best friend will give her that human element she needs again but overcoming it is necessary, overcoming it by pushing through adversity like an adult while remaining spunky for the crowd. Then a lengthy back and forth feud like the two had in NXT it is a brilliant way to have the two on a massive level again. This does see Alexa Bliss out of the situation but I see her as a good opponent to help Nia Jax get over as a face right now because she is such a hot heel. Banks and Bayley have such chemistry that it would be easy for Banks to get Bayley over being the more "established" of the two as far as main roster women goes.
A lot of this has to do with WWE treating Bayley like a person and not a one dimensional kid that pushes merchandise again, the quicker they do that and let her bust out of her shell the quicker she can reconnect with the audience. Also a lengthy feud with Banks is a must. A lengthy feud with anyone really as long as it doesn't turn into a bunch of squash matches either way.
I want Bayley to succeed because she has so much potential to be one of the best ever, they just need to get her there and change is needed. So try hard WWE, fix this problem. Let Bayley be Bayley and things will work out. Just ask Izzy, Bayley's biggest fan, she is probably super disappointed with how Bayley is right now bring this kind of thing back and everything will be ok
The key word is genuine. Bayley is what we all wished we were as kids growing up watching wrestling, she's a wrestling fan that is living their dream as a professional wrestler. She was the most dominant NXT Women's Champion of all-time (until Asuka's reign), her matches with Sasha Banks, Paige, Becky Lynch, Charlotte, Asuka, and more were all amazing. She was the best female wrestler in NXT, I'd say best wrestler period but Finn Balor was still there, everyone couldn't wait to see what she did when she made the move to the main roster. She debuted onto RAW and made a huge splash against Charlotte, down the road finally dethroning the undefeated PPV queen and winning the RAW Women's Championship. Pretty impressive. Except since then she's been in shambles.
So how is WWE managing to take one of their most popular superstars, essentially their female John Cena, and just destroying her character in every way possible ??
One of the biggest reasons is that they are treating Bayley like a little girl rather than a woman. I think I need to explain that a little better, what makes Bayley unique is that genuine feeling you get that almost childlike innocence from a fan living out their dreams; that feeling is what has allowed her to connect with so many people everyone in the audience cheering for Bayley, especially kids. However, childlike innocence which creates a bond with fans, especially younger ones, and being treated like a child are two different things. All I ever saw WWE do to Bayley on the main roster since day one was push her as this bigger kid. Which in comparison to everyone else on the roster whether it's her best friend Sasha Banks or her rival Alexa Bliss all have dimensions to them and they act like adults they don't have a smile on their face all the time because no one should. It's always treating her like a kid that is really hurting her character, I understand what they want to do but this isn't the Bayley that charmed NXT, she doesn't come across as a woman who is fun and friendly but when she steps between the ropes is absolute business and a monster wrestler. She's just plain and that is a shame when you consider she is essentially their female John Cena in the waiting.
WWE also made the big mistake of having Bayley win the RAW Women's Championship too early. This is a belt that has changed hands far too many times back and forth between Charlotte and Sasha Banks, it needed more time and a solid long term champion so that it was more established again. I understand they wanted her as the champ but because of the back and forth by the time Bayley got it it just felt not special even though she was the one to win. I also think it was too early for her to win. Like I said Bayley is the female John Cena as far as crowd reactions and merchandise there's no woman better than her so she is a woman that deserved a legit lengthy title run after a decent amount of time on the main roster and not just after a few months. A decent run that of all things didn't end in her home town, they gave her a short run again diminishing the title by switching champions too soon, the home town thing was a punch in the gut too. I understand how popular and how good Alexa Bliss is and getting the title around her was a priority but a few more months of back and forth between the two leading to a title match at Summer Slam would have been better. Also not losing the belt in her home town, that is harsh WWE.
Is it possible for WWE to get Bayley back on track ??
Yes.
And now is the perfect time because Sasha Banks is the RAW Women's Champion. I know I said it was too soon for a title reign, however, a heel turn on her best friend for Sasha Banks is a great idea which gets sympathy for Bayley. Losing her best friend will give her that human element she needs again but overcoming it is necessary, overcoming it by pushing through adversity like an adult while remaining spunky for the crowd. Then a lengthy back and forth feud like the two had in NXT it is a brilliant way to have the two on a massive level again. This does see Alexa Bliss out of the situation but I see her as a good opponent to help Nia Jax get over as a face right now because she is such a hot heel. Banks and Bayley have such chemistry that it would be easy for Banks to get Bayley over being the more "established" of the two as far as main roster women goes.
A lot of this has to do with WWE treating Bayley like a person and not a one dimensional kid that pushes merchandise again, the quicker they do that and let her bust out of her shell the quicker she can reconnect with the audience. Also a lengthy feud with Banks is a must. A lengthy feud with anyone really as long as it doesn't turn into a bunch of squash matches either way.
I want Bayley to succeed because she has so much potential to be one of the best ever, they just need to get her there and change is needed. So try hard WWE, fix this problem. Let Bayley be Bayley and things will work out. Just ask Izzy, Bayley's biggest fan, she is probably super disappointed with how Bayley is right now bring this kind of thing back and everything will be ok