What to make of the ‘new’ Bayley

Bayley stunned the WWE Universe when she attacked Becky Lynch and turned heel. Was this the right move for her career?

No one saw that coming. Bayley took a page out of her best friend Sasha Banks’ playbook and attacked Becky Lynch with a chair. But that isn’t very becoming of a character whose entire gimmick is predicated on hugs, right?

Earlier in the evening, Bayley cut a promo where she said she no longer wanted to be overshadowed. Rightfully so — her SmackDown Women’s Championship reign hasn’t exactly lit up the charts. She’s done a great job on social media campaigning to give the entire women’s roster a chance. Ember Moon getting a title shot is proof of that. Yet, still the focus of the entire women’s division has been squarely on the Raw brand with its champion, Lynch. WWE creative may have struck gold here.

On SmackDown Live Bayley was met with a chorus of boos and chants for Becky by the fans. Her defense was the title around her shoulder, citing that she believes it should mean more to the WWE Universe and that she is fighting to make the SmackDown title the center of attention. Bayley also stated the obvious, that she would take her best friend’s side through thick and thin. Now when you look at things through that type of lens, then nothing really changed with Bayley.

Which leads to her upcoming match at Clash of Champions with Charlotte Flair. Flair has long been a top character to loathe on the entire roster, drawing ire of the fans as though she was the female version of Roman Reigns. Flair has received opportunities time and time again and her multiple title reigns cast a black cloud over the women’s division. There’s no way Flair could ever be a sympathetic figure, right?

Then Flair was attacked by the Boss ‘n’ Hug Connection in similar fashion to Lynch the night before. The two best friends stood tall both nights and their motive became clear. Banks and Bayley are both members of the Four Horsewomen. However these are the two members who have not been in the spotlight for the past year.

Of course Banks and Bayley can hold onto being the first ever WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, though we’ve seen how little those titles have meant since WrestleMania. Meanwhile, Flair and Lynch (along with Ronda Rousey) became the first women to main event a WrestleMania pay-per-view. The angle is simple: animosity and jealousy. All four women are cut from the same cloth yet two from the group have been featured more prominently.

Bayley has never had a heel run in WWE and this is the perfect way to ease her character in. It certainly surprised WWE fans. Giving Bayley some edge as SmackDown Women’s champion and added muscle in Banks will give her a boost. Banks can play up Bayley’s confidence to take every opportunity moving forward. It’s been a long time coming to ditch the hugs and get serious. Corey Graves would say this was part of Banks’ plan all along.

Placing your top four women in the centerpiece of the division is an excellent move as well, with the absence of Rousey. This could ultimately lead to a fatal four way for both titles at the next Evolution pay-per-view, should there be one. There’s really no wrong move and Bayley can slowly transcend her character the more she gets overlooked. Move over Daniel Bryan, you’re not the only “new” persona in town.