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Former WWE Women's Champion Bayley is one of the most important superstars of the last decade. She has been a reliable performer who has fit in anywhere on the card.
The Role Model's spot as one of The Four Horsewomen of NXT helped her grow to become one of the most successful female superstars in WWE history. Bayley is a Grand Slam Champion and has won the Royal Rumble, Money in the Bank, WWE Women's Tag Team Championship, and several singles championships.
Despite winning the Royal Rumble and the WWE Women's Championship, the 35-year-old star has still endured some unfortunate treatment in 2024. Let's take a look at five ways the Stamford-based company has disrespected Bayley this year.
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#5. The placement of her first title defense at Backlash France
Backlash France consisted of five matches in total. It was Bayley's first premium live event defending the WWE Women's Championship against Tiffany Stratton and Naomi in a Triple Threat Match.
Despite being a singles champion, The Role Model's match went on second. The Women's Tag Team Championship contest pitting Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair against The Kabuki Warriors was slotted in as the co-main event of the night. The Triple Threat Match was also four minutes shorter than the tag team contest.
The tag team belts have long had an inconsistent booking and that has continued this year. Bayley had just won the title and should have at least had the co-main event spot on the card. Her triumph over Damage CTRL was much more emotional and effective than a random bout for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship.
#4. Damage CTRL insulting Bayley behind her back
This disrespect was more via storyline rather than in treatment out of her control. The main rift within Damage CTRL was that Asuka, Kairi Sane, IYO SKY, and Dakota Kai were talking trash behind Bayley's back.
They insulted her in Japanese, thinking that their leader had no clue. When The Role Model made her choice for her WrestleMania XL opponent, she revealed that she knew what they were saying all along.
Groups passively turning against one member is usually a profitable storyline in pro wrestling. Damage CTRL's antics, overconfidence, and disregard for Bayley foretold its eventual downfall.
#3. Bayley is left off WrestleMania XL Kickoff Show
One staple of Triple H's new era is kickoff shows right before PLEs. It provides fans with one more stop before a heated card full of matches. The events also highlight the feuds outside of the ring.
WrestleMania XL was consistently referred to as the biggest edition of The Show of Shows ever, so it deserved a Kickoff Show to equal that statement. Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, The Rock, Rhea Ripley, and Becky Lynch all appeared to hype their matches.
One huge omission from the event was Bayley. She had won the 2024 Women's Royal Rumble Match and was in one of the featured women's title matches in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. If the 35-year-old star had scheduling issues, it would have made sense why she was not included.
WWE had Bianca Belair randomly show up instead. If it was supposed to be the biggest WrestleMania of all time, why was not one of the other top title matches promoted?
#2. Not getting to main event WrestleMania after winning the Royal Rumble
Unfortunately, this happens too often. Before WrestleMania went to two nights, only two stars traditionally received the honor of main-eventing The Show of Shows. Over the last seven years, WWE constantly handed that spot to Roman Reigns.
Once the card was split over two days, it allowed another match the opportunity to close the show. The female stars have not had nearly as many opportunities to go on last but were awarded the honor in 2019 (Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey) and in 2021 (Sasha Banks vs. Bianca Belair).
The Rock's involvement was a success for the company, but it also took the main-event slot away from a different feud. WWE always posits that the winners of the Royal Rumble matches get to main event WrestleMania. Bayley won but did not get that honor.
#1. Constantly being omitted from WWE posters and promotional videos
One huge trend in 2024 is how Bayley was consistently left off promotional material for numerous PLEs. While she had a match at both Clash at the Castle and Backlash France, WWE did not include her on event posters.
It just happened that Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill were both included on posters for those shows. The EST is obviously one of the company's top stars but was in a tag team match. Bayley was the Women's Champion and atop the division at that time.
In the promotional video hyping SmackDown's move to the USA Network, several women from the blue brand are featured. Tiffany Stratton, Nia Jax, Belair, and Naomi all appear in quick shots. Bayley does not.
For someone who has been vital to the women's division for the last decade, it is odd that The Role Model has not been used in promotional material this year.
