Bayley Restarting WWE Main Roster Career vs. Sasha Banks

Bayley and Sasha Banks finally came to blows on the March 26 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw. The best friends have been at odds since The Elimination Chamber and now it seems they are officially on the outs.

This is just another day at the office for Banks. The Boss proved herself many times over against Charlotte Flair, who also claimed to be her friend. Their feud defined Banks as a character and legitimized her as a competitor.

But now Banks can help Bayley. It’s no secret that The Hugger has had her issues since debuting on the main roster. Her gimmick worked for her in NXT but that has not always translated to the Monday Night Raw stage.

She has put the work in. In fact her ability in the ring has not really been under fire. Fans know that Bayley brings everything she has every time she’s in the ring. They can see her heart and dedication. It’s obvious that Bayley wants this life and she shows it between the ropes.

However it’s her personality that’s always been in doubt. She’s always been a white meat babyface, a protagonist beyond reproach. Despite how many times she was pushed or how many times she was beat down, Bayley always got back up with a smile on her face.

Being a role model is important to her. She has always felt a responsibility to her younger fans. If the moment came when she did show her teeth or heel out in any way, her character would immediately change.

The problem is that the squeaky clean babyface is not over and hasn’t been in years. Fans can respect Bayley’s ability but hate her gimmick. She’s just simply unbelievable. No one is that good all the time. The same issue plagued John Cena for the bulk of his WWE career and he never managed to sway the majority of fans to his side.

But the biggest difference between Cena and Bayley is that WWE’s efforts to restart Bayley’s babyface career seem to be working. As the problems between her and Banks have become apparent over the past several weeks, the crowd has begun to sympathize with Bayley.

Banks has defended her actions in The Elimination Chamber and she has from day one. She claimed that she was only trying to win the match and nothing more. But Bayley saw through her and so did the fans. Banks has a vicious side and it tends to come out whenever she gets frustrated.

Her frustration now stems from the fact that Bayley perhaps has her number. It’s clear that even though Bayley has not always connected with the WWE faithful, that has not been a direct statement on her ability. Banks is a heel at heart and heels operate out of selfishness, suspicion and jealousy.

Banks’ inner antagonist believes everyone is out to get her. She thinks that she is the best and all others pale in comparison. She doesn’t need anyone and she doesn’t trust anyone. Fans knew this about her when she was a heel; they are being reminded of it now.

Banks’ mean streak is directly affecting Bayley’s character. Instead of siding with The Boss, fans are feeling bad for Bayley. They see the pain on her face when she speaks to the woman that was supposed to be her best friend.

They feel it. It’s very real. Bayley has done an amazing job of conveying emotion every time she’s confronted by Banks. Bayley is the good person in this story. Her heart was in the right place and it still is. She was once criticized for being too pure. Now fans see her heart and realize she’s perfect for WWE.

She was a fan as a child. She did want this life more than anything else in the world and she did achieve her dreams. Bayley did it her way and she did it without stepping on anyone she cared about. That is the truth fans see now and they respect her for it. More importantly, they agree with her. Now that Banks has shown her true colors, it’s obvious that Bayley has never been in a better spot.

Both women are booked in the Women’s Battle Royal at WrestleMania 34. However after their altercation on Raw, that will likely change. Bayley and Banks could face off in a one-on-one grudge match on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

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If that happens, they won’t need a title. They also won’t need a gimmick. The storyline between them is enough to carry them to Mania and beyond. It’s deep. It’s emotional and it’s heartbreaking. A friendship is coming to an end. But a star is born in Bayley.