ORLANDO, Fla. — Hours before defending the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania, Bayley tweeted that she watched The Show of Shows as a child and felt like it was on another planet. At 2017’s edition of WrestleMania, Bayley was the center of the WWE Universe, and a childhood dream became reality as she successfully defended her title in a grueling Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match, defeating Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Nia Jax.
Raw Women's Champion Bayley defends her title against Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax: Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.
The Hugger Section was out in full force as the champion entered the arena, draped in a cape covered in fringe reminiscent of “Macho Man” Randy Savage and blowing in the Orlando air, along with her wacky, waving, inflatable Bayley Buddies.
Charlotte Flair, who paid homage to the entrance made by her legendary father, Ric Flair, in the final match of his career at WrestleMania XXIV, joined the champion and Banks in ganging up on Nia Jax. However, the monstrous Superstar fought them all off before crushing Bayley and hurling Flair onto Banks and Bayley at ringside. Despite the differences between them over years of rivalry and friendship, Charlotte, Banks and Bayley joined forces to fell the towering Jax with a triple powerbomb to eliminate her from the bout.
See photos of the epic Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match for the Raw Women's Championship between Bayley, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Nia Jax at WrestleMania 33.
After Jax’s ouster, however, any teamwork that had existed went out the window, with Flair exiting the ring and forcing Bayley and Banks to battle each other. The epic struggle quickly spilled to the outside, where The Boss flattened Bayley and Charlotte dazzled the sold-out Orlando Citrus Bowl with a picture-perfect twisting moonsault from the top turnbuckle.
Back in the ring, Charlotte turned the tables in her favor by exposing the middle turnbuckle, which she later sent The Boss into face-first, and thereby put an end to Banks’ hopes of regaining the Raw Women’s Championship.
The Queen returned to the top rope, but crashed onto the canvas as Bayley evaded a moonsault. However, Flair quickly recovered and trapped the champion in the Figure-Four Leg Lock. Charlotte focused her offense on Bayley’s left knee, hoping to lock the Figure Eight on the weakened champion and begin her fifth reign with the title.
Following her major victory over Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Nia Jax to defend her Raw Women's Championship at WrestleMania, Bayley speaks candidly on the win and her WrestleMania experience.
However, there would be no stopping Bayley from realizing her lifelong dream at The Ultimate Thrill Ride. The champion untangled herself from the ropes, climbed up to the top and took a leap of faith. Just like Randy Savage, Bayley connected with an Elbow Drop to retain her title.
WrestleMania is the platform on which the biggest dreams come true. For Bayley, though, there’s no time to rest on her laurels. The rest of the Raw Women’s division will surely be targeting her and her title. Can she ride the high of WrestleMania glory to bigger and better things?
ORLANDO, Fla. — Hours before defending the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania, Bayley tweeted that she watched The Show of Shows as a child and felt like it was on another planet. At 2017’s edition of WrestleMania, Bayley was the center of the WWE Universe, and a childhood dream became reality as she successfully defended her title in a grueling Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match, defeating Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Nia Jax.
Raw Women's Champion Bayley defends her title against Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax: Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.
The Hugger Section was out in full force as the champion entered the arena, draped in a cape covered in fringe reminiscent of “Macho Man” Randy Savage and blowing in the Orlando air, along with her wacky, waving, inflatable Bayley Buddies.
Charlotte Flair, who paid homage to the entrance made by her legendary father, Ric Flair, in the final match of his career at WrestleMania XXIV, joined the champion and Banks in ganging up on Nia Jax. However, the monstrous Superstar fought them all off before crushing Bayley and hurling Flair onto Banks and Bayley at ringside. Despite the differences between them over years of rivalry and friendship, Charlotte, Banks and Bayley joined forces to fell the towering Jax with a triple powerbomb to eliminate her from the bout.
See photos of the epic Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match for the Raw Women's Championship between Bayley, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Nia Jax at WrestleMania 33.
After Jax’s ouster, however, any teamwork that had existed went out the window, with Flair exiting the ring and forcing Bayley and Banks to battle each other. The epic struggle quickly spilled to the outside, where The Boss flattened Bayley and Charlotte dazzled the sold-out Orlando Citrus Bowl with a picture-perfect twisting moonsault from the top turnbuckle.
Back in the ring, Charlotte turned the tables in her favor by exposing the middle turnbuckle, which she later sent The Boss into face-first, and thereby put an end to Banks’ hopes of regaining the Raw Women’s Championship.
The Queen returned to the top rope, but crashed onto the canvas as Bayley evaded a moonsault. However, Flair quickly recovered and trapped the champion in the Figure-Four Leg Lock. Charlotte focused her offense on Bayley’s left knee, hoping to lock the Figure Eight on the weakened champion and begin her fifth reign with the title.
Following her major victory over Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Nia Jax to defend her Raw Women's Championship at WrestleMania, Bayley speaks candidly on the win and her WrestleMania experience.
However, there would be no stopping Bayley from realizing her lifelong dream at The Ultimate Thrill Ride. The champion untangled herself from the ropes, climbed up to the top and took a leap of faith. Just like Randy Savage, Bayley connected with an Elbow Drop to retain her title.
WrestleMania is the platform on which the biggest dreams come true. For Bayley, though, there’s no time to rest on her laurels. The rest of the Raw Women’s division will surely be targeting her and her title. Can she ride the high of WrestleMania glory to bigger and better things?
