Credit: WWE.com
To many, the beat down that Bayley gave Sasha Banks was long overdue. Looking back through time, here are three moments that led to Bayley having enough of her former friend.
Friendships in professional wrestling are so fleeting. At one moment, two wrestlers are the best of friends; tagging together, winning titles together and watching each other’s back. Then a few short weeks or months past, and they are beating the living crap out of one another. To use that idea to describe Bayley and Sasha Banks would be quite the understatement.
It’s clear that Banks and Bayley are two of the best; if not the best that the WWE has to offer. They have put on matches that steal the show time after time. When given the time and the breadth of creativity that they need, Bayley versus Banks is a match that easily rivals anything that the men can put together. This is why there’s so much intrigue around the developing storyline between them today. Wrestling fans have questioned whether or not WWE Creative would pull the trigger on this match; many hoped that it would occur at WrestleMania 34. In a time in which the WWE doesn’t seem too interested in long-term storytelling, the idea of Banks and Bayley fighting has been at least one year in development; with even more time on the rise.
The excitement around a long-term feud between Bayley and Bank is palpable. It seems like Bayley is headed down the road of the “heel” even though it has been Banks that has committed underhanded act after underhanded act. Looking back over the time since Bayley was called up to the main roster; these are three moments that led to Bayley having enough of her former friend.
Credit: WWE.com
Sasha forces her way into Bayley’s WrestleMania moment at WM 33
Every professional wrestler dreams of an opportunity to have a WrestleMania moment. With thousands upon thousands watching the arena, and millions watching around the world, this is a breath taking moment in wrestling history. There’s nothing more amazing about defending said title during WrestleMania and that is just what Bayley was preparing to do before WrestleMania 33. She was the Women’s champion and expected to defend her belt against Charlotte in what was thought to be a one on one match. After helping Bayley win and retain the title, she felt obligated to challenge the champion at the “Granddaddy of them all.” Unfortunately for The Boss, that would not be the case.
Multiple hurdles were placed in Banks’s way to get another shot at the title. Both Charlotte and Nia Jax were added to the match and Banks had to defeat Bayley in one on one competition – which she did. In what could have been a one on one match that would have stolen the show; Banks chances at a title opportunity dropped to just 25 percent. At the same time, Banks interference opened up the door for things to become more difficult for Bayley as the champion as she now had to defend the title against three women; a situation that she couldn’t have appreciated being placed in.
Even though Bayley walked out of WrestleMania 33 as the champion, this was yet another moment in which Banks’s interference nearly cost her the title which she worked so hard to obtain.
Credit: WWE.com
Sasha Banks eliminates Bayley from Women’s Rumble
There has been a lot of history made in women’s wrestling in the past few years. A good amount of it has been shared by Bayley and Banks. Take for example, their Iron Man match which headlined NXT TakeOver: Respect. This was the first time that two female wrestlers were pit against each other in a match with the Iron Man stipulation. Bayley would go on to win that match, three falls to two.
But in 2018, there was another historical moment for the ladies when they put on the Women’s Royal Rumble. Thirty women would step into the ring for a shot to challenge either Charlotte or Alexa Bliss for their title at the upcoming WrestleMania 34. Asuka would go on to win that match, but before she saw her hand raised there was yet another occurrence in which Banks would commit an action that inevitably harmed her friendship with Bayley.
Banks entered the Women’s Rumble at number one; widely considered the MVP of the match as she lasted nearly an hour in the match. But the issue would come up with Bayley entered in at number 29. In such a prime slot, Bayley had to be a favorite to win the match. But in less than six minutes, Banks found the way to get the upper hand on her supposed friend; throwing her over the top rope to add yet another elimination to her stellar night. The look on Bayley’s face said it all as Banks had once again stole a moment from her that could have led to a championship opportunity.
Banks kicks Bayley off of the Elimination Chamber
Even though neither Bayley nor Banks would come out on top to win the Women’s Royal Rumble, their opportunities to compete at WrestleMania for the title didn’t end there. A few weeks later, the ladies were a part of the first-ever Women’s Elimination Chamber match. Another historical moment in women’s wrestling that involved arguably two of the best ladies in the game today. Alas, this would be another opportunity for Banks to literally kick Bayley while she’s down in an attempt to get her hand raised and secure what she really wants: the WWE Raw Women’s Championship.
Throughout this match, Bayley and Banks worked very well together; not necessarily protecting one another, but doing enough to ensure that they had an alley in the ring when needed. Things would come down to Bayley, Banks and Bliss as the last three competitors in the match. Banks and Bayley would surround Bliss in an apparent attempt to double-team the champion. Bliss looked to climb to the top of a pod to delay the attack but Banks found a way to catch her up there. Just as when it seemed that Bayley would join her atop the pod; Banks would kick her off, sending her crashing back to the mat.
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From there the partnership between Bayley and Banks would devolve into yet another fight, creating the exact opportunity for Bliss to divide and conquer; winning the match and sending both ladies home empty handed.