Bayley’s impact on the WWE women’s division has been profound, and her captivating career trajectory continues to captivate fans.
Bayley’s journey into professional wrestling began at a young age. She signed with WWE in December 2012 and made her debut in the developmental division, WWE NXT, where she achieved significant success and popularity, including winning the NXT Women’s Championship. When she first joined WWE, the company had not yet undergone its ‘Diva’s Revolution’ and was seemingly more focused on hiring models and transforming them into Divas; placing greater emphasis on looks rather than wrestling ability.
Bayley, like many others, felt the impact of this approach and admitted that she wasn’t true to herself when she was first asked to develop her look and persona. Speaking on The New Day: Feel the Power, she discussed the challenges she faced when she initially joined WWE and the pressures to conform to a specific image.
“I would say the main thing I realized throughout the years was to be comfortable in your skin and just realising I didn’t have to be this big old diva or model, which was what I was really scared of.”
She recalled her three-day try-out at the then-WWE developmental company, FCW.
“(The writers) said, ‘Wear something presentable’ and I bought this dress that I thought was going to get me noticed. They made me go change because I was showing way too much cleavage. I was not me at all. I just thought that’s what they wanted.”
To Bayley, this reaction was unexpected, to say the least.
“I remember them pulling me aside and they’re like, ‘You need to change. What you’re wearing is unacceptable.’ I’m like, ‘What do you guys want from me?!’ I was so unsure of where I was going to fit and how it was going to happen. I was pretty sure I was going to get fired.”
Obviously this didn’t happen and Bayley “found herself” as a wholesome fan favourite who insisted on hugging fellow supporters. Since then, her character has changed and evolved with time up to winning the WWE Women’s Championship at WrestleMania XL.
Best Friend’s Support Of Bayley In WrestleMania 40 Match
Going back to her time in WWE and NXT as Sasha Banks, Bayley’s biggest supporter has always stood by her. Mercedes Mone demonstrated unwavering support for her friend, encouraging Bayley to shine at the “showcase of the immortal”. Together, they played a pivotal role in reshaping women’s wrestling in WWE for future generations of female performers.
H/t to WrestlingInc.com