WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event from Madison Square Garden delivered a brutal blow to Bayley, both physically and to her WWE future. Lyra Valkyria didn’t just win their singles match cleanly this past weekend, she utterly obliterated Bayley afterwards. Then, just last night on WWE Raw, Lyra twisted the knife even harder during an interview segment, claiming she “ran Bayley out of here.” This beatdown and Lyra’s bold statement are turning the volume up to eleven on the inescapable rumors that Pamela Martinez, aka Bayley, is ready to exit WWE.
The WrestleMania Snubs and a Contract on Borrowed Time
This whole situation feels like it’s been building for ages, right? Bayley has felt like she was on borrowed time in WWE ever since she was left off WrestleMania 41. She was advertised, then pulled at the last minute for a returning Becky Lynch. “The day they took me out of WrestleMania? It was the day before,” Bayley said on “Six Feet Under,” calling it “rough.” She even talked to CM Punk about it! She was frustrated then, stating in an “Insight” podcast interview last year, “I’m f***ing Bayley, like, why would I do that?” The exclusion from WrestleMania 42’s famed poker table photo was another gut punch, though WWE thankfully ended up booking her in a Fatal 4-Way for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with Lyra Valkyria, which they didn’t win. Bayley’s contract is reportedly due in a few months, and while contract analysis is tricky due to things like injury time, it sure looks like her time might genuinely be running out. Bryan Alvarez from “Wrestling Observer Radio” put it bluntly: “[Bayley’s] either gone, or they want you to think she’s gone.”
Mercedes Mone’s Bold Recruitment and WWE’s Shifting Landscape
If Bayley leaving wasn’t already looking like the most likely scenario, her best friend Mercedes Mone is practically screaming it from the rooftops. Mone has been dropping massive hints about a possible AEW debut for Bayley. Three weeks ago, she posted an Instagram graphic of herself and Bayley in a “WrestleDream 2026” matchup. Then, on July 13, Mone hit Twitter with an hourglass GIF, maybe suggesting Bayley’s WWE exit is just a matter of time. Whether Mone is legitimately recruiting or just trying to help Bayley get a better deal with WWE, it doesn’t really matter. The situation for veterans in WWE is already changing fast. The company cut ties with several mainstays in 2026, including “WWE lifers” like The New Day and Sheamus, as WWE and TKO aim to build out a cheaper roster with younger talent. Bayley’s booking troubles, her expiring contract, and Mone’s persistent teases all point to one thing: a massive change is coming, and it’s going to be wild to see where Bayley lands next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply