WrestleMania: Bayley deserves a prime spot on the show

WrestleMania season is in full swing. NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver did just that during the week and now the focus turns to the main roster with their grand show on Saturday and Sunday. There is something missing though. Bayley does not have a feature match heading into WrestleMania. When looking at what Bayley pulled off throughout 2020, it is an unfortunate oversight to keep one of the most entertaining performers off the show.

Heading into the final SmackDown before WrestleMania, Bayley still does not have a singles match or some involvement in the showcase. This is coming off a 380-day reign as WWE SmackDown women’s champion and a 96-day reign as WWE Women’s tag team champion with Sasha Banks.

Bayley was involved in some of the most important moments of WWE television. When she and Banks ventured back to NXT to feud with Io Shirai or defend the tag team titles, those were some of the biggest nights rating-wise for the brand. Even boosting them to momentary “wins” over All Elite Wrestling. Then, her split with Banks was the highest-rated wrestling television segment of the year, regardless of promotion.

Even without the title, Bayley is still one of the most entertaining components of WWE television. Her “Ding-Dong, Hello” segments are hilarious, allowing her character to flow through. Watching Bayley take the heel character that was pushed onto her, and mold it into what it has become today has been enjoyable to watch.

Fans want to see Bayley involved in some fashion. Initially, there was a push for her to be featured as the host of WrestleMania, but that went to Titus O’Neil and Hulk Hogan. How about a match? If Seth Rollins and Cesaro can have a singles match or Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens can have a match, then there’s space for Bayley to be involved as well. Women such as Mickie James, Chelsea Green, Billie Kay all have nothing to do currently. Imagine a feature match between Bayley and Sonya Deville or Io Shirai – each of those would excite the fans for that moment in an instant. Still, nothing seems to be planned for one of the most important members of the roster in recent memory.

Bayley deserves to be a part of WrestleMania in some way. After a year of being a central part of WWE as it struggled to develop compelling content during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unfortunate to see her pushed to the back burner so quickly. Sadly, this is a testament to the shotty booking and storytelling within the WWE, especially when it comes to women’s wrestling.