WWE MITB: Bayley steps out of Sasha Banks’ shadow to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship
By Tom Colohue
Bayley has been on the WWE main roster for three years. Three years.
In that time she has been almost entirely defined by Sasha Banks. Bayley won her first Raw Women’s Championship because of interference from Sasha Banks and continued to hold it due to Banks. She won the tag titles in a team with Banks. She had therapy with Banks. She debuted with Banks. Banks Banks Banks.
The news came with the latest Superstar Shake-Up that Bayley and Sasha Banks were splitting up. Since then, we haven’t seen Sasha Banks and that’s been all everybody has spoken about. Where is Sasha? When is she coming back?
Meanwhile, Bayley turned up on SmackDown Live to a reception best described as “awkward”. Her arrival, alongside Ember Moon, Mickie James and Liv Morgan, received boos. She went on to lose a match clean to Charlotte Flair. This was followed up by a clean loss to Becky Lynch. Things looked bad for Bayley and people still weren’t even talking about her.
What a Money in the Bank she has had.
The least successful Horsewoman walked into Money in the Bank was the favorite for many, but not the favorite for a betting man. In fact, Mandy Rose was the technical favorite. Instead, she would climb the ladder to a rapturous reception and claim the briefcase; her first briefcase and the biggest moment of her career in two years.
It’s been a rough two years. Alexa Bliss came to Raw and instantly took the Raw Women’s Championship. This was followed by a literal burial involving a kendo stick in which Bayley never looked even remotely threatening. It was an embarrassment for Bayley and for the WWE.
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Tonight, she not only won the briefcase but followed it up by defending her friend Becky Lynch against her long time past and now future rival Charlotte Flair. She didn’t take the title from Becky, she protected her. She took down Charlotte Flair, took her title and now owns the SmackDown women’s division. In the absence of Becky Lynch, Bayley is the top woman on SmackDown.
What a night for Bayley.