Regardless of where WrestleMania takes Bayley, there are plenty of options to keep her busy on her quest to make a stand on the flagship show.
If there was a picture in the dictionary for the word “underdog”, perhaps Bayley’s picture would be on full display. In a time where the women’s division is at its highest peak, Bayley can easily be overlooked especially on Raw where Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair have taken the division and turned it around with their historic feud for the Raw Women’s Division.
But she prevailed and now the current Raw Women’s Champion not only dethroned Flair, but has been able to keep a hold of the championship past the PPV. She overcame the dreaded PPV streak Flair, possessed at Fastlane this past Sunday night. Even though Banks had a hand in helping her out, it doesn’t — matter what’s done is done. Call it good luck or something deeper, but Bayley is heading into WrestleMania on top of her division.
Of course, seeds are being planted for her future and the fact that they’re alluding to Bayley not being able to handle being a defending champion on her own sets up for something more for the summer perhaps. Seeing Bayley prove those such as Flair wrong day in and day out only adds to the story and her babyface allure. Bayley’s growth on the main roster is important and I think it could be a slow burn in that department.
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The feud between her and Flair focused on Bayley being outsmarted by the Queen but in turn, Bayley was able to defy the odds. Banks and Dana Brooke are supporting factors in it too, which makes this story even deeper. Brooke’s in and out of the picture has been confusing, to say the least, but now that she’s back in the fold there has to be more of a focus as this story continues to play out.
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Even though it will be a triple threat match at WrestleMania between her, Flair, and Banks don’t count the Hugger out just yet. Fans love seeing the underdog succeed regardless, and Bayley has her work cut out for her. NXT followers know what Bayley can do and it is only right that she is able to put on her best performance in Orlando. Whether she walks out as Women’s Champion in a matter of weeks has yet to be determined but even if her reign ends there is still plenty of work to do in the Raw Women’s Division.
It is known after WrestleMania there will be call-ups from NXT from the day after the event to this summer’s WWE Draft. That certainly factors into the future and with Stephanie McMahon building tension with her emasculating attitude, well there is potential for that too. Other factors can include those such as Nia Jax, who wants a shot at the championship. Either way, WrestleMania could be Bayley’s turning point on the main roster.
Here are three opponents that could tangle with the Hugger in the future.
Credit: WWE.com
3. Sasha Banks
This is pretty much a guarantee with the WrestleMania buildup. Expected. Inevitable. Necessary. Inescapable. As noted, Flair has planted the seeds for this on this past Raw. However, when the Boss will strike against her best friend has yet to be determined. It will be before, during, or after WrestleMania has conceded. Either way with the heavy concentration on Bayley and Banks, this will more than likely be a feud that will build towards SummerSlam.
Those familiar with their feud in NXT already know what these two women can do in the ring. These are the same two women who were in one of the greatest WWE Women’s matches in history, which was the NXT Women’s Championship match at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn in 2015. They also continued their historic rivalry past that, culminating in the first Women’s Iron Man Match at NXT Takeover: Respect two months later. Bayley was the victor in those two matches, which capped off her run as NXT Women’s Champion for almost eight months.
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History could very well repeat itself with Banks and Bayley. However, with the Banks and Flair feud last year, the Raw team will have to think outside the box and find ways to create magic once more with the ladies on the main roster. It’s only right for these two, who were able to start breaking the glass ceilings in NXT during the Four Horsewomen days. Anything less is an injustice.
WWE.com
2. Stephanie McMahon
McMahon always seems to feel that she has to insert herself into the equation when it comes to the Women’s Division. Even before the new brand split, she was dealing the cards at the table. Lately, her emasculation and intimidation persona has really been highlighted and has caused the women to get annoyed judging by the looks on their faces.
With the strongest group of women the company has seen, it won’t be long before someone gets tired of her ways. Bayley has always been the one to fight the good fight and present her case to McMahon (even though there is more potential for Banks, but Bayley can’t be ruled out). All the women are powerful in their own right, and with Bayley having even the smallest of fans behind her, I could definitely see this potential feud being a classic good vs. evil battle. McMahon knows how to make the fans hate her, and this case would be no exception.
WWE.com
1. Asuka
Whether she makes her way to the main roster is on time or later, the current NXT Women’s Champion can’t be ruled out when it comes to potential opponents for Bayley. Asuka and Bayley have tangled before at NXT Takeover: Dallas in a hard fought battle. Asuka was the one who dethroned Bayley and is still undefeated down at Full Sail.
The company isn’t shy about revisiting feuds, and if anything else this rematch could be a showcase for Asuka upon her debut in the company. I’m sure they will possibly continue Asuka’s dominance on the main roster, but how they handle the Empress of Tomorrow is very crucial once she makes it to the main roster. Consistency is key when it comes to her, this could happen if Bayley loses the championship at WrestleMania.
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Or perhaps Asuka will follow in the footsteps of Gail Kim and Paige, winning the championship on their first night on Raw. Either way, Asuka is potentially going over, but not before Bayley giving the Empress a run for her money. Their match last year took both of them to their limits, and I don’t expect less if they do tangle again.