Pamela Rose Martinez (June 15, 1989) is an American female professional wrestler who is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Bayley. She is a two-time WWE SmackDown Women's Champion, a one-time NXT Women's Champion, one-time WWE Raw Women's Champion and one half of the inaugural WWE Women's Tag Team Champions with Sasha Banks.
Early life
Martinez states she has been a fan of professional wrestling since the age of eleven. Drawn to athletics, Martinez has competed in track, basketball and martial arts and has even done juggling and pogo sticking. At age 18, she began seriously training for professional wrestling.
Professional wrestling career
Independent circuit (2008–2012)
Martinez had been attending shows by Big Time Wrestling, a professional wrestling promotion in Northern California, since she was 11. She started her professional wrestling career at the age of 18 in April 2008 by attending Big Time Wrestling's training classes by her head trainer Jason Styles, which was one of the reasons why Martinez considered Big Time Wrestling as her home promotion. She had her first match in September 2008. On the American independent circuit, Martinez wrestled under the ring name Davina Rose. From 2011 to 2012, Rose branched out to wrestle for other promotions like NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood and Shine Wrestling.
Rose first met her mentor Serena in October 2010 when they teamed together for a tag team match. When Rose made her debut for Shimmer Women Athletes in October 2011 at the tapings of Shimmer Volume 41-44; she became embroiled in Serena's feud with the Canadian Ninjas (Portia Perez & Nicole Matthews). At the tapings, Rose lost all four matches wrestled including her debut match to Mercedes Martinez. Rose continued to wrestle for Shimmer in 2012 and she received her first victory on Volume 48 as she teamed with Mia Yim to defeat Melanie Cruise and Mena Libra; on Volumes 51 and 52, Rose picked up her first two singles victories in Shimmer with wins over Cherry Bomb and Rhia O'Reilly.
World Wrestling Entertainment
NXT (2012–2016)
Martinez joined World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in early 2013, appearing on NXT under the ring name of Bayley. She wrestled her first match on the February 21 edition of WWE NXT, losing to Paige. Bayley competed in the first round of the NXT Women's Championship Tournament on June 12, losing to Alicia Fox. She competed in her first title match in WWE, facing the reigning champion AJ Lee on the August 21 edition of NXT. On the September 4 edition of NXT, Bayley teamed with Charlotte against Aksana and Alicia Fox in a winning effort for her first win in WWE. On the September 25 edition of NXT, Bayley was defeated by the heel-turned Sasha Banks. On November 6, Bayley was targeted by the BFFs (Sasha Banks and Summer Rae), which led to Charlotte coming to her defense, despite being annoyed by Bayley's persona. On the following edition of NXT, Bayley and Charlotte competed in a losing effort against Banks and Rae, with the loss coming after Bayley was attacked by Charlotte during the match. On the December 11 edition of NXT, Bayley teamed with Natalya in a losing effort to Banks and Rae, but she would defeat Rae in singles action on the January 8, 2014 edition of NXT. Three weeks later, Bayley defeated Banks in singles action. Bayley would defeat Banks again on the March 20 edition of NXT.
On the May 1 episode of NXT, Bayley failed to advance in the tournament for the vacant NXT Women's Championship after losing to Banks in the first round. On the June 12th episode of NXT, Bayley scored the victory over the new NXT Women's Champion Charlotte in a six-Diva tag team match. On the August 7 episode of NXT, Bayley defeated Eva Marie. On the August 14 episode of NXT, Bayley defeated Sasha Banks to become the #1 Contender to the NXT Women's Championship. She repeated the feat on August 28 when Banks challenged her to a rematch. At NXT Takeover: Fatal 4 Way, Bayley was unsuccessful in capturing the championship from Charlotte.
On the September 25 edition of NXT, Bayley defeated Alexa Bliss in singles action, and later challenged Charlotte to a rematch for the NXT Women's Championship, which she lost on the following week. She was later attacked by Sasha Banks in a backstage interview segment, which led to a match on the October 23 edition of NXT, which Bayley lost via submission. She was later attacked by Banks after the match until Becky Lynch saved her; however, Lynch would undergo a villainous turn and attack Bayley in the ring. Later, Bayley formed an alliance with former rival Charlotte to feud with Banks and Lynch throughout the following several weeks. On November 27, Bayley was attacked by Banks and Lynch, injuring her knee in the storyline. She returned on January 21, 2015, saving Charlotte from an attack by Banks and Lynch. At NXT Takeover: Rival, Bayley competed in a Fatal 4-Way match for the NXT Women's Championship, but she was defeated by Sasha Banks. Bayley was again defeated by Becky Lynch on the February 25 edition of NXT.
Bayley began an angle with Emma on the March 4 episode of NXT, where Emma began mocking Bayley's niceness and stating that it kept her from winning the NXT Women's Championship, leaving Emma in the process of turning heel. Bayley was again confronted by Emma on the March 25 episode of NXT, and later argued against Emma's statements and said that the fans made her #1 Contender for the NXT Women's Championship twice. In response, Emma delivered a slap to Bayley to solidify her heel turn. Bayley defeated Emma on the April 1 edition of NXT.On the April 29 episode of NXT, Bayley was defeated by Dana Brooke after a distraction by Emma. Bayley would gain revenge on Emma the following week, where she would attack her after Emma's loss to Charlotte in a match. At NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable on May 20, Bayley teamed up with Charlotte to defeat Emma and Dana Brooke. On the May 27 episode of NXT, Bayley was defeated by Emma via submission, and after the match, she and Charlotte were attacked by Emma and Dana Brooke.
After some hiatus due to a broken hand, Bayley returned on the July 22 episode of NXT, where she defeated Emma and announced her goal to become the next NXT Women's Champion. Bayley would then challenge Charlotte to a match, which Bayley won, on the August 5 episode of NXT. On the August 12 episode of NXT, Bayley defeated Becky Lynch in a Number One Contender's Match to earn a shot at the NXT Women's Championship against Sasha Banks at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn. At the event, Bayley defeated Banks to capture the NXT Women's Championship. After the match, Bayley celebrated with Banks, Becky Lynch and Charlotte. Bayley successfully defended it against Banks at NXT Takeover: Respect in a 30-minute Iron Man Match. Bayley would continue to defend it against the likes of Nia Jax, Eva Marie, Carmella and Alexa Bliss, until Asuka unseated her at Takeover: Dallas, by passing out to the Asuka Lock.
On July 24 at Battleground, Bayley made her WWE main roster and pay-per-view debut in a one-off appearance as Sasha Banks's mystery tag team partner, defeating Charlotte and Dana Brooke. On the July 27 episode of NXT, Bayley asked NXT's general manager William Regal a rematch against Asuka for the NXT Women's Championship at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II, which he granted. Two weeks later on the August 10 episode of NXT, a contract signing was held between both women, which they would signed and subsequently accept. At the event on August 20, Bayley failed to regain the title.
Raw (2016–2019)
On July 24, 2016, at Battleground, Bayley made her WWE main roster and pay-per-view debut in a one-off appearance as Sasha Banks's mystery tag team partner, defeating Charlotte and Dana Brooke.
On the August 22 episode of Raw, Bayley made her official main roster debut after being established as part of the brand by Raw general manager Mick Foley, where she confronted and challenged the Raw Women's Champion Charlotte to a title match, which Charlotte refused and instead forced protégé Brooke to face her, whom Bayley defeated. At Clash of Champions, Bayley was unsuccessful in winning the championship from Charlotte in a triple threat match, which also included Banks. Throughout this time, she entered a feud with Brooke, and the two brawled and traded victories in matches. This culminated in a match at Hell in a Cell on October 30, which Bayley won.
At Survivor Series on November 17, Bayley survived alongside Charlotte Flair as members of Team Raw; after the match, she was attacked by Flair. On January 2, 2017, Bayley defeated Nia Jax to become the number one contender for Flair's Raw Women's Championship. She challenged Flair at the Royal Rumble but was unsuccessful in capturing the title. She earned a rematch after she, Cesaro and Sheamus defeated Flair, Gallows and Anderson the next night on Raw, with Bayley pinning Flair. Two weeks later on the February 13 episode, after an assist from Sasha Banks, Bayley defeated Flair in the main event to win the Raw Women's Championship. At Fastlane, thanks to a distraction from Banks, she retained the title against Charlotte, and in turn gave Charlotte her first pay-per-view loss. At WrestleMania 33, in Bayley's WrestleMania debut, she retained the title against Charlotte, Banks and Nia Jax in a fatal four-way elimination match. On April 30, Bayley dropped the title to Alexa Bliss at Payback, ending her reign at 76 days. She failed to regain the title in a kendo stick on a pole match at Extreme Rules. In late July, Bayley again became the number one contender for the championship and was slated to face Bliss at SummerSlam in August, but she suffered a separated shoulder injury which left her unable to perform.
Bayley returned from her injury on the September 18, 2017, episode of Raw to help Sasha Banks fend off Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss. At No Mercy the next week, she lost a Fatal-5 Way match by being pinned by the defending Raw Women's Champion, Bliss. Bayley defeated Mickie James and Dana Brooke in a triple threat match to become the final member of Team Raw for a traditional five-on-five elimination tag team match at Survivor Series. Bayley was the first member of Team Raw to be eliminated during the match, but her team eventually won. On the January 1st Bayley announced that she is entering the women's Royal Rumble match. On Raw 25th anniversary Asuka, Sasha Banks, Bayley and Mickie James defeated Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, Nia Jax and Alicia Fox with Sasha Banks making Alicia Fox tap out with the Banks Statement.
At the Royal Rumble 2018 Event, Bayley entered at Number 29 where she eliminated Nia Jax before getting eliminated by her best friend Sasha Banks. On the February 5th episode of Raw, Raw General Manager Kurt Angle announced Bayley as one of the participants of the first ever women's Elimination Chamber Match. At Elimination Chamber Alexa Bliss eliminated Bayley then eliminated Sasha Banks to retain her WWE Raw Women's Championship. On the March 5th episode of RAW, Bayley defeated Mandy Rose after the match, Absolution attacked Bayley, but then Sasha Banks came for an aid for Bayley, but Bayley pushed Sasha Banks away. On March 12, 2018 episode of RAW, after Banks defeated Sonya Deville, Bayley walked away from Banks, leaving Banks confused, showing signs of a heel turn.
During the following week, on the March 19 episode of RAW, Bayley and Banks seemed to reconcile their recent differences and took to the ring to meet members of team Absolution (Mandy Rose & Sonya Deville). Their match concluded with Banks and Bayley confronting each other before Deville shoved Bayley into Banks from behind, sending Banks out of the ring before Bayley was kicked upside the head, securing a pin fall victory for Absolution.
The following month, Bayley returned during the April 2 episode of RAW, intending to extract a measure of revenge from Sonya Deville who was responsible for Absolution's victory over Banks and Bayley during the previous month. Bayley however, successfully defeated Deville in their singles encounter. During the WrestleMania 34 Kickoff on April 8, Bayley competed in the WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal that was eventually won by Naomi. On the night after WrestleMania, during the April 16 episode of RAW, Bayley and Sasha Banks competed against each other in a singles match that ended in a No Contest finish. She made her final televised appearance of the month during the April 23 episode of RAW, teaming with Sasha Banks]], Ember Moon, Natalya and Nia Jax in a tag match lost to Alexa Bliss, Mickie James & The Riott Squad (Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott & Sarah Logan). She returned the following month on the May 14 episode of RAW during which Bayley competed in a Triple Threat Money In The Bank Qualifying match against Alexa Bliss and Mickie James, ending with Bliss winning the match. Despite losing the previous match qualifier, Bayley had a second opportunity during the May 28 episode of RAW competing in a Gauntlet Money in the Bank Qualifier, against Sasha Banks, Dana Brooke, Liv Morgan, Mickie James, Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan. Once more however, Bayley did not succeed in qualifying to compete for the Money in the Bank match as her longtime teammate and friend Sasha Banks won the gauntlet on that occasion. During the month of June, Bayley returned to her previous grievance with the Riott Squad, engaging in tag team matches during the June 11, June 18 and June 25 episodes of RAW, all resulting in victories for the Riott Squad. Bayley returned the following month during the July 16 episode of RAW, where Bayley and Sasha Banks were teamed by General Manager Kurt Angle in hope of mending the friendship between the two or risk trading one member of the team to SmackDown. A tag match was ordered that night against Alicia Fox & Dana Brooke, ending with a disqualification against Bayley and Banks. During the following week on the July 23 episode of RAW, Bayley and Sasha Banks successfully defeated local wrestlers Karen Lundy & Samantha Simon. On the July 30 episode of RAW, Bayley and Banks avenged their past losses against the Riott Squad, defeating members Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan.
Bayley and Banks' feud against the Riott Squad continued during the following month on the August 6 episode of RAW, losing to Liv Morgan & Sarah Logan in a rematch. Returning on the August 20 episode of RAW, Bayley and Banks teamed with Ember Moon to meet the full-strength of Riott Squad, including its third and leading member Ruby Riott. Their six-woman tag match ended in a victory for the Riott Squad. Returning on the September 3 episode of RAW, Bayley and Sasha Banks began their month together in a successful tag match defeating Dana Brooke & Ember Moon. Bayley ended the month appearing on the September 17 episode of RAW, in a match defeating Dana Brooke. The following month, Bayley returned on the October 1 episode of RAW, during which she defeated Alicia Fox. The next week on the October 8 episode of RAW, Bayley teamed with Finn Balor in defeating Alicia Fox & Jinder Mahal in a mixed tag match. On October 28, Bayley took part in WWE's first all-female pay-per-view Evolution, where she teamed with Natalya & Sasha Banks in a six-woman tag match defeating The Riott Squad. The night after Evolution, Bayley finished the month with an appearance during the October 29 episode of RAW, teaming with Sasha Banks, Natalya, and WWE Hall of Famers Trish Stratus & Lita in a ten-woman tag match defeating Alicia Fox, Mickie James the Riott Squad. The following month, Bayley returned during the November 5 episode of RAW, teaming once more with Sasha Banks & Natalya in defeating The Riott Squad. The following week during the November 5 episode of RAW, Bayley and her teammates Natalya and Sasha Banks faced The Riott Squad in a rematch, ending in a No Contest finish. As Survivor Series drew near, Bayley competed against Sasha Banks in a Survivor Series Team Qualifying match, during the November 12 episode of RAW resulting in a No Contest finish. At the Survivor Series pay-per-view, Bayley and Banks both secured places on Team RAW with Mickie James, Nia Jax & Tamina and defeated Team SmackDown LIVE members Asuka, Carmella, Mandy Rose, Naomi & Sonya Deville. During the November 19 episode of RAW, Bayley & Sasha Banks lost a rematch against members of Survivor Series Team SmackDown Nia Jax & Tamina. During the November 26 episode of RAW, Bayley teamed with Sasha Banks, Ember Moon, Natalya & Ronda Rousey in a dark tag match defeating Nia Jax, Tamina & The Riott Squad.
The following month, Bayley returned for the December 3 episode of RAW, teaming with Sasha Banks in defeating Alicia Fox & Mickie James. Following her friend Sasha Banks earning a title shot against RAW Women's Champion Ronda Rousey on the January 7th episode of Raw, Bayley aided her friend Sasha Banks in defeating Ronda Rousey & Natalya in a tag team match on the January 21st episode of Raw, which marked the first defeat in Ronda Rousey's career. At the Royal Rumble 2019, Bayley appeared in the match entering at Number 27 where she eliminated Ruby Riott, Rhea Ripley & Alexa Bliss before being eliminated by Charlotte Flair & Nia Jax. On the post-Royal Rumble 2019 episode of Raw Bayley was defeated by Ronda Rousey after accepting her open challenge match for the WWE Raw Women's Championship.
Following the announcement of the creation of the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship on the December 24th episode of RAW, Bayley and her tag team partner Sasha Banks qualified for the Elimination Chamber Match on the February 4th edition of RAW. At the Elimination Chamber 2019, Bayley & Sasha Banks won the Elimination Chamber Match to become the inaugural WWE Women's Tag Team Champions. Bayley & Sasha lost the Women's Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 35 in a Fatal Four Way tag team match won by The IIconics (Billie Kay and Peyton Royce).
Smackdown (2019–2022)
On April 16, 2019 Bayley moved to Smackdown as part of the 2019 WWE Superstar Shake-up. At Money in the Bank 2019 Bayley won the Money in the Bank contract in a Money in the Bank ladder match by defeating Natalya, Dana Brooke, Naomi, Nikki Cross, Mandy Rose, Ember Moon and Carmella. That same night Bayley cashed in her Money in the Bank contract and defeated Charlotte Flair to win the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship.
On the June 4 episode of SmackDown, Bayley entered a feud with Alexa Bliss which began when she was a guest on Bliss’ talk show segment A Moment of Bliss. After several interruptions, a Triple Threat match was booked that same night between Bliss, Carmella & Charlotte Flair, with the winner to face Bayley at Stomping Grounds. Bliss would win the match. On the June 17 episode of RAW, Bayley was ringside for a Women’s Tag Team Championship match that had Bliss and her partner Nikki Cross challenging defending champions The IIconics. Bayley’s presence caused Bliss & Cross to lose. The following night on the June 18 episode of SmackDown, Bayley was again a guest on A Moment of a Bliss. A heated exchange between champion and challenger had Bliss claim Bayley mistreated her back in NXT and that Bayley wasn’t the good person the fans believe her to be. On June 23, at Stomping Grounds 2019, Cross inadvertently distracted Bliss, which allowed Bayley to hit the Bayley-to-Belly and retain the SmackDown Women’s Championship.
On the June 25 episode of SmackDown, Nikki Cross defeated Bayley to earn Alexa Bliss another shot at Bayley’s title at Extreme Rules. On the July 2 episode of SmackDown, Bliss had Cross host A Moment of Bliss in her place with Bayley the guest once again. Bayley attempted to convince Cross that it should be Cross getting the title shot instead of Bliss and that Bliss was just using Cross but Cross was upset with Bayley’s accusations which led to an impromptu match between the two which Bayley won. On the July 8 episode of RAW, Bayley & Cross competed in a Beat the Clock Challenge. Whichever wrestler defeated their opponent in a shorter time would get to choose the stipulation for the title match at Extreme Rules. Bayley defeated Sarah Logan in 4:32. Cross would defeat Dana Brooke in 2:42. Cross would then cut a promo telling Bayley that she has chosen a Handicap match and that Cross herself will be Bliss’ partner at Extreme Rules. The match was made official the following night on the July 9 episode of SmackDown during a contract signing. On July 14 at Extreme Rules 2019, Bayley would retain by pinning Cross, ending the feud.
On the July 16 episode of SmackDown, Bayley was revealed to be Ember Moon’s mystery partner for a tag team match against Fire and Desire, a match won by Moon & Bayley. Post-match, Bayley was interviewed about who she would like to defend her title against at SummerSlam and she implied Ember Moon, which was later made official. On August 11, at SummerSlam 2019, Bayley would retain in a respectful match between the two babyfaces.
On the August 20 episode of SmackDown, Charlotte Flair was a guest on A Moment of Bliss. Flair questioned the credentials of Bayley as champion, prompting Bayley to interrupt and shove Flair off of her chair, setting up a feud between the two. Meanwhile, Bayley’s friend Sasha Banks had returned after a four-month hiatus with a new heel persona to feud RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch. Bayley remained largely quiet on the issue until the September 2 episode of RAW. The main event of the evening was a "Champions Showcase", which had the 2 singles champions, Lynch & Bayley, face the Women’s Tag Team Champions Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross. Banks would run-interference, attacking Lynch with a steel chair until Bayley took the chair from Banks. The Bayley character would then turn heel for the first time, using the chair herself to assault Lynch. The following night, on the September 3 episode of SmackDown, Bayley was portrayed as a self-righteous heel, insisting she was still a role model to the younger fans. Bayley justified her attack on Lynch as a demonstration of loyalty towards Sasha Banks. Charlotte Flair would confront Bayley but Banks would also appear and join Bayley in a two-on-one beatdown of Flair. Bayley & Banks’ alliance would force long-time rivals Flair & Lynch to unite to combat a common enemy. On the September 9 edition of RAW from Madison Square Garden, Bayley & Banks would lose to Flair & Lynch in a tag team match. At Clash of Champions 2019 on September 15, Bayley would resort to nefarious tactics to retain over Flair by removing a pad from the turnbuckle. On October 4, Bayley & Banks would lose another tag team match to Flair & Lynch on the premiere episode of SmackDown on the FOX Network. Two days later at Hell in Cell 2019 on October 6, Bayley would lose the SmackDown Women’s Championship to Charlotte Flair, being defeated by submission. Bayley would suffer a meltdown post-match.
In the main event of the October 11 episode of SmackDown, Bayley would get a rematch for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. She entered in a hooded jacket before revealing a new short haircut. She proceeded to destroy the inflatable tube men, known as the “Bayley Buddies”, which had been a hallmark of her entrance since her time in NXT. Bayley would defeat Flair to win the SmackDown Women’s Championship for a second time. On the October 18 edition of SmackDown, Bayley, along with Sasha Banks, was a guest on The Miz’s talk show Miz TV. The Miz attempted to get an answer out of Bayley. Bayley summed up her change with the phrase: “Life sucks and then you die”. Later that same night, Bayley was ringside for a #1 Contender’s 6-Pack Challenge won by Nikki Cross. Bayley would successfully defend against Cross on the November 1 episode of SmackDown, winning with an Arm-Trap Headlock Driver, formerly known as the Rose Plant, Martinez’s finisher under her former persona Davina Rose. NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler would attack Bayley, Banks & Cross post-match as an NXT invasion had been the theme of the night. In the weeks that followed, Bayley, Baszler and RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch would appear on all three brands, jumping each other, in an attempt to gain an advantage for their Triple Threat match at Survivor Series. On November 24, at Survivor Series 2019, the women’s Triple Threat match was the main event. Baszler won by submitting Bayley.
On the November 29 episode of SmackDown, Bayley and Sasha Banks blamed the other women of SmackDown for their respective defeats at Survivor Series. Lacey Evans took exception to this and attacked Banks, turning Evans face in the process. On the December 20 edition of SmackDown, Banks incensed Evans by getting in the face of Evans’ daughter, Summer, who was seated at ringside. In the weeks that followed, both Banks & Bayley would taunt Evans by mentioning her daughter in promos. On the January 17 2020 episode of SmackDown, an angle was written in which Evans had attacked Banks backstage, leaving Bayley to face Evans at the Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View alone. On January 26, at Royal Rumble 2020, Bayley successfully retained over Evans with daughter Summer once again ringside.
On the January 31 episode of SmackDown, Bayley cut a promo gloating over her recent title defense when she was interrupted by Naomi. On the following episode of SmackDown, Naomi competed in a Fatal Four Way to determine Bayley’s next challenger. Bayley was ringside and appeared nervous whenever Naomi was on offense. Carmella ultimately won the match and Bayley promptly attacked Carmella as soon as the final bell rang. The next week on the February 14 edition of SmackDown, Carmella was a guest on A Moment of Bliss, giving a brief description on the history of Baymella. Carmella blamed Sasha Banks for Bayley’s change in attitude. Bayley would retain in the title match which took place that same night. On the February 21 episode of SmackDown, Naomi defeated Carmella for the right to challenge Bayley next. On February 27, at Super ShowDown 2020, Bayley retained over Naomi in the first-ever Women’s Championship match to be held in Saudi Arabia.
Bayley's ally Sasha Banks returned on the February 28 edition of SmackDown, Bayley teamed with her in a losing effort to Naomi & Lacey Evans with Naomi pinning Bayley, gaining Naomi a measure of revenge for the result at Super ShowDown. On the March 20 edition of SmackDown, former General Manager Paige appeared via satellite. Paige revealed the FOX Network granted her permission to book the SmackDown Women’s Championship match for WrestleMania 36. Paige informed Bayley she would be defending against 5 different women, including Banks, in an Elimination 6-Pack Challenge. Bayley was upset but Banks looked quietly pleased. The match would later become a 5-Pack Challenge after Dana Brooke was pulled due to complications with COVID-19. On April 5, on Night 2 of WrestleMania 36, Bayley successfully defended her SmackDown Women’s Championship against Lacey Evans, Naomi, Sasha Banks & Tamina. During the match, Bayley had a chance to prevent Banks from being eliminated by Evans but chose not to save her friend. Nonetheless, Banks got involved in the finish and ultimately helped Bayley eliminate Evans.
On the April 10 episode of SmackDown, Tamina demanded a title shot from Bayely, citing it took all of the other competitors to eliminate her at WrestleMania. Bayley accepted on the condition Tamina first defeat Sasha Banks. Banks did not appear pleased that Bayley volunteered her for a match, something Bayley would continue to do in the coming months. The following week on April 17, Bayley provided commentary for the match in which Tamina defeated Banks. Tamina would receive her match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at Money in the Bank 2020 on May 10, a match which Bayley won with Banks still in her corner.
On the May 15 episode of SmackDown, RAW Superstar and NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair appeared as part of a concept known as the "Superstar Invitational". Bayley & Sasha Banks interrupted Flair and the Queen attempted to drive a wedge between Bayley & Banks. A match between Bayley and Flair was booked for next week. In the Champion vs. Champion contest on the May 22 episode of SmackDown, Bayley was victorious. Prior to the match, Bayley asked Banks to stay in the back so she could prove to Charlotte that she can win without Sasha’s help. On the May 29 episode of SmackDown, Bayley & Banks interrupted A Moment of Bliss segment in which SmackDown Tag Team Champions The New Day were Alexa Bliss’ guests. In response to the interruption, Bliss, who was Women’s Tag Team Champion alongside Nikki Cross, remarked that of the 6 people in the ring, Banks was the only one without a championship. Bothered by the insult towards her friend, Bayley again volunteered Banks for a match. Despite not having her proper wrestling gear, Banks defeated Bliss. As a result, Bayley & Banks earned a Women’s Tag Team Championship match for the next week’s SmackDown which aired on June 5. Throughout the match, a few miscommunications occurred between Bayley & Banks, however, they still managed to defeat Bliss & Cross to become two-time tag team champions. This victory also meant Bayley became the first woman to hold both the SmackDown Women’s Championship and WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship simultaneously. As a play on Becky Lynch’s nickname “Becky 2 Belts”, Bayley began referring to herself as “Bayley Dos Straps”.
Due to the rule that allows the Women’s Tag Team Champions to compete across all three brands, Bayley & Banks would begin to appear on RAW weekly. At the Backlash 2020 Pay-Per-View that took place on June 14, Bayley & Banks retained the Tag Team Championship in a Triple Threat match against Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross and The IIconics (Billie Kay & Peyton Royce). It was at this time Michael Cole unofficially dubbed Bayley & Banks “The Golden Role Models”. The next night on the June 15 episode of RAW, Bayley & Banks had an in-ring promo celebrating Bayley’s birthday. The IIconics interrupted feeling disrespected Bayley & Banks ignored a challenge The IIconics had made earlier in the night. An exchange of words led to Royce slapping Banks. An irate Bayley once again accepted a match on Sasha’s behalf: a title defense against The IIconics next week. Before then, Bayley & Banks had a success title defense on the June 17 edition of NXT against the team of Shotzi Blackheart & Tegan Nox. On the June 22 episode of RAW, Banks & Bayley successfully retained the Tag Team Championship over The IIconics. Post-match, Banks cut a promo in which she admitted jealously towards Bayley. She expressed a desire to hold two titles herself and verbally challenged Asuka for the RAW Women’s Championship. On the July 3 episode of SmackDown, Bayley & Banks hosted a tribute video to themselves. Bliss & Cross would interrupt and in a case of role reversal, Banks volunteered Bayley (who wasn’t dressed to compete) to wrestle Alexa Bliss, a match that ended in disqualification after interference from Cross. On the July 6 episode of RAW, Bayley lost a Champion vs. Champion match against Asuka, earning the Kabuki Warriors a tag team title shot that took place on the July 13 episode of RAW. It was another successful defense for Bayley & Banks. On July 19, at Extreme Rules 2020, Bayley successfully retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Nikki Cross by using Banks’ hand ring to strike Cross in the ribs without the referee’s knowledge. Later that night, Bayley was in Sasha’s corner for her RAW Women’s Championship match against Asuka. Late in the match, Asuka attempted to spit green-mist in the eyes of Banks but Banks ducked and the referee was inadvertently blinded instead. Bayley would strike Asuka with the tag team championship belt, pull the shirt off the referee’s back, put it on herself, and make the three-count. Bayley & Banks quickly left the arena in possession of the RAW Women’s Championship belt.
On the July 20 episode of RAW, Bayley & Sasha Banks proclaimed that Banks’ dubious win the previous night was official. Stephanie McMahon would appear via satellite and inform them that Banks is not the RAW Women’s Champion. However, she booked Banks & Asuka in a title match for the next week and if Bayley got involved, Banks would be disqualified. On the July 27 episode of RAW, Bayley initially accompanied Banks to the ring for the title match but Asuka’s tag team partner Kairi Sane chased Bayley to the back. It appeared as though Asuka was about to defeat Banks when backstage footage appeared on the TitanTron of Bayley beating down Sane. Noticing this, Asuka chose to abandon the match and run to the back to help her friend. As a result, Asuka was counted-out and due to the unique stipulations of the match that allowed a title to change hands on a count-out, Banks was crowned the new RAW Women’s Champion meaning Bayley & Banks now held all 3 women’s titles on the main roster. The beatdown of Sane was a way of writing Sane off TV as, off-camera, she wished to return home to Japan to spend more time with her family. In character, Asuka swore revenge on Bayley & Banks for ending Kairi’s career. Meanwhile on SmackDown, Nikki Cross had earned another shot at Bayley’s SmackDown Women’s Championship. Bayley successfully defended against Cross in the main event of the July 31 episode of SmackDown. On the August 10 episode of RAW, Bayley lost a singles match to Asuka which was suggested by Banks. As a result, Asuka earned the right to face Banks for the RAW Women’s Championship at SummerSlam. Later that week on the August 14 episode of SmackDown, Asuka won a Tri-Branded #1 Contender’s Battle Royal to challenge for Bayley’s SmackDown Women’s title also at SummerSlam. Asuka now had all the momentum and tensions appeared to be rising between the Tag Team Champions. On the August 21 episode of SmackDown, long-time sceptic of the Bayley/Sasha friendship, color commentator Corey Graves, conducted an in-ring interview in which he tried to stir up trouble between the two. The segment led to Banks & Bayley facing Naomi in consecutive Beat the Clock Challenge matches. Whoever won in a shorter time would face Asuka second at SummerSlam. Banks won but Bayley was defeated by Naomi. At SummerSlam 2020 on August 23, as per the agreement, Bayley wrestled Asuka first and successfully retained the SmackDown Women’s Championship due to a distraction caused by Banks when Sasha took a Hip Attack from Asuka from the apron. Later that night, Asuka defeated Banks to reclaim the RAW Women’s title. The story was that Bayley side-stepped the Hip Attack and didn’t “take the bullet” for Banks as Banks did for her.
One week after SummerSlam, on August 30 at the Payback 2020 Pay-Per-View, the unlikely team of Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler defeated Bayley & Sasha Banks for the Women’s Tag Team Championship. A rematch would take place 5 days later on the September 4 edition of SmackDown with Bayley & Banks losing once again. During the match, Banks injured her knee in kayfabe. As Bayley appeared to be helping her to the back, she suddenly turned-on Banks by kicking her in the head as Banks sat helplessly on the apron. Bayley would utilize a steel chair in her vicious assault, locking Banks’ neck within the chair like a vice before stomping on the chair from the second rope. On the September 11 episode of SmackDown, Bayley explained her actions. She stated that she believed that Banks had been using her the whole time to achieve success. Bayley then admitted that she had been doing the exact same thing: using Banks. Bayley claimed to have never really been Banks’ friend. She knew Banks was waiting to stab her in the back so she beat Banks to the punch and turned on her first. On the September 18 episode of SmackDown, Michael Cole interviewed Sasha Banks who appeared via satellite from the Performance Center. Banks, who was in a neck-collar, expressed the emotional pain of Bayley’s betrayal until Bayley attacked her from behind with same steel chair she had used two weeks earlier. Bayley attempted to break Banks’ neck until officials intervened. On September 27 at Clash of Champions 2020, Bayley was scheduled to defend the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Nikki Cross. However, Cross was pulled due to complications with COVID-19. RAW Women’s Champion Asuka answered Bayley’s open challenge but Bayley would get intentionally disqualified, thus retaining her title. Banks would make her return post-match and assault Bayley with a steel chair of her own. On the October 9 episode of SmackDown, Banks faced Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship but Bayley again got herself disqualified ensuring her title reign eclipsed an entire year. Later that night, tired of Bayley’s cowardly tactics, Banks laid down the challenge for a Hell in a Cell match. The next week on the October 16 episode of SmackDown, a contract signing was held. Bayley, however, refused to sign the contract and walked-out on Banks. Banks promised Bayley would sign the contract “one way or another”. Two days before the Hell in a Cell Pay-Per-View, on the October 23 episode of SmackDown, Bayley’s in-ring promo was interrupted by Banks who brought the contract down to the ring. Bayley continued to refuse to sign the document and a scuffle ensued. Banks would get on top and apply a modified Bank Statement with Bayley trapped within the steel chair. With no other option, Bayley (still locked in the hold) frantically signed the contract. On October 25, at Hell in a Cell 2020, the former best friends wrestled inside Hell in a Cell. Banks would win the match, again using the Bank Statement with the assistance of the steel chair to force Bayley to submit, ending Bayley’s SmackDown Women’s Championship reign at 380 days, a record for that title. 12 days later on the November 6 episode of SmackDown, Bayley would have a rematch for the SmackDown Women’s title. Bayley was confident heading in as Banks had never successfully defended a singles title on the main roster. However, it was Sasha Banks who emerged victorious, submitting Bayley with the Bank Statement to end their feud.
On the November 20 episode of SmackDown, Bayley was announced for the SmackDown Women’s Survivor Series team. Bayley proclaimed herself to be the captain. On November 23, at Survivor Series 2020, in a Traditional Survivor Series Elimination Tag Team match, Team SmackDown (Bayley, Bianca Belair, Natalya, Liv Morgan & Ruby Riott) lost to Team RAW (Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler, Lacey Evans, Peyton Royce & Lana). Bayley was the first eliminated being pinned by Royce after receiving Royce’s finisher: Deja Vu. Following Survivor Series, Bayley would continue to wear an armband and still refer to herself as a captain. Bayley began a feud with Belair when Bayley blamed Belair for the Survivor Series defeat as Belair was the last member of Team SmackDown eliminated, tying with Jax in a double count-out, which allowed Lana to become the sole survivor. On the December 18 episode of SmackDown, Bayley defeated Belair in a singles match after raking the eyes of Belair to gain an unfair advantage. This made Bayley the first woman to defeat Belair since Belair was called-up to the main roster eight months earlier. On the December 25 episode of SmackDown, Bayley teamed with Carmella to unsuccessfully challenge Asuka & Charlotte Flair for the Women’s Tag Team Championship in a Triple Threat Elimination Tag Team match which also involved Belair & Sasha Banks. On the January 8 2021 episode of SmackDown, both Bayley & Belair declared their entry into the Royal Rumble match. The following week on January 15, Bayley debuted her new in-ring interview segment: the Ding Dong! Hello Show. Belair was the first guest and the segment led to Bayley challenging Belair to an obstacle course challenge for next week, something that should favor the athletically gifted Belair. However, on the January 22 SmackDown, it became clear that Bayley never intended for the challenge to be fair. Belair had to flip a larger tire than Bayley as well as carry the super-heavyweight Otis on her shoulders. Despite this, Belair still beat Bayley’s time. Enraged, Bayley attacked Belair. The next week, two days before the Rumble, Bayley lost a singles match to Belair. The 2021 Royal Rumble event took place on January 31, Bayley would enter the Women’s match at #1; Bayley lasted 29 minutes and 8 seconds before being eliminated by Belair.
Following the Rumble, Bayley defeated Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan in back-to-back weeks on SmackDown while also rejecting Billie Kay’s advances to form a tag team. On the February 19 episode of SmackDown, Bayley hosted a Ding Dong! Hello with the Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler. Sasha Banks, Bianca Belair & Reginald would all get involved leading to a six-person intergender tag team match, Bayley teamed with the tag team champions in a losing effort when Jax was pinned by Reginald. Outside of a cameo on the March 5 episode of SmackDown, Bayley disappeared until Night 1 of WrestleMania 37 in which she unofficially proclaimed herself as a co-host alongside Hulk Hogan & Titus O’Neil. This culminated on Night 2 when newly inducted Hall of Famers the Bella Twins threw Bayley down the entrance ramp in embarrassing fashion.
Following WrestleMania, Bayley reignited her feud with Bianca Belair, who was then SmackDown Women’s Champion after defeating Sasha Banks. Bayley informally made her intentions for the title known on the April 16 episode of SmackDown. The next week, Bayley again badmouthed Belair but this time in the presence of the Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford). Ford, the husband of Belair, sent a text to Belair, informing Belair of Bayley’s claims and to see if Bayley had the guts to say it to Belair’s face. When Belair arrived, Bayley initially had some respectful words before breaking out into hysterics. This led to a 6-person Mixed Tag Match on the April 30 edition of SmackDown, Bayley teamed with Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode but it was the Street Profits & Belair who won the match. The May 7 episode of SmackDown was branded as a “throwback”, which celebrated the past of WWE. Bayley had an in-ring segment highlighting women’s champions that came before her. Bayley was adamant that Belair was just a flash in the pan and would not achieve greatness like herself. A scuffle ensued with Bayley ending out on top after hitting the Rose Plant. One week later on May 14, Bayley appeared via satellite and informed Belair that Belair reminds her a lot of her former self. Bayley stated that she knows from experience that the story doesn’t have a happy ending. On May 16 at Backlash 2021, in a singles match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, Bayley attempted to use Belair’s own braid against her, but Belair turned the tables on Bayley, using the braid to trap Bayley in a pinning combination for a 3-count. The May 21 episode of SmackDown opened with a “Parade of Champions” in which WWE Official Sonya Deville wished to acknowledge the great champions of SmackDown. Bayley interrupted the segment, claiming Belair cheated to beat her at Backlash. Things broke down into a 6-woman tag team match that paired Bayley with Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler to face the team of Belair and new Women’s Tag Team Champions Natalya & Tamina. Bayley’s team won when Baszler submitted Natalya. On the May 28 SmackDown, Bayley joined commentary for Belair’s singles victory over Carmella. Post-match, Bayley stood on the announce desk and laughed at Belair. Seven days later, Belair cut an in-ring promo stating that people like Bayley have been laughing at her for her entire life and she won’t let Bayley break her. Belair issued a challenge of defending her title in a singles match at Hell in a Cell. Bayley appeared via satellite and accepted the match. She then stated that after Hell in a Cell, she (Bayley) wouldn’t be the only one laughing. All of the virtual fans inside the ThunderDome were then replaced with Bayley’s image as she continued to laugh at Belair. On the June 11 SmackDown, Bayley hosted another episode of Ding Dong! Hello. This time, her guest was Seth Rollins who was embroiled in a feud with Cesaro. Bayley and Rollins mutually mocked their opponents until their was a ring of the doorbell. Rollins answered it, only for Cesaro to be waiting behind the door. Cesaro proceeded to attack Rollins and destroy the Ding Dong! Hello set in the process. As a despondent Bayley held the wreckage in her hands, Belair appeared on stage and mockingly laughed at Bayley as Bayley had done to her for the last two months. On the June 18 episode of SmackDown, Belair stated she was fed up with Bayley and wanted to have their match at Hell in a Cell take place inside Hell in a Cell. Bayley came down to the ring and won a physical altercation, raising the belt above her head, seemingly accepting. On June 20, at the Hell in a Cell Pay-Per-View, Bayley was defeated by Belair inside the structure after Belair hit Bayley with the KOD onto a ladder. On the June 25 episode of SmackDown, as a result of the Ding Dong! Hello segment from two weeks prior, Bayley teamed with Rollins against Belair & Cesaro. Bayley would pin Belair following a Rose Plant, giving Bayley credibility for another title match. On the July 2 episode of SmackDown, Bayley was in the ring boasting that her Mixed Tag victory last week proves that Belair’s Hell in a Cell win was just a fluke. Belair interrupted and both women agreed that they are sick of the other. Bayley’s proposed solution is an "I Quit" match. Belair accepts and says she can’t wait to her Bayley say “I Quit”. However, at some point over the next week, Bayley suffered a legitimate ACL injury while training at the WWE Performance Center. On July 9, Bayley appeared in a YouTube video which was also shown on that night’s SmackDown, in it, Bayley blamed the fans for her injury. Belair appeared later in the show and stated, while she doesn’t like Bayley, she respects her and looks forward to settling their issues upon Bayley’s return.
Personal life
Martinez cites Randy Savage, The Rock, The Hardy Boyz, Lita, Ivory, Victoria and Triple H as her influences in wrestling. She enjoys juggling, pogo sticking and playing basketball.
In wrestling
- Finishers
- As Bayley
- Bayley to Belly / HugPlex
- Diving elbow drop
- Scissored armbar – 2015
- Rose Plant 2019 - present
- As Davina Rose
- As Bayley
- Signature moves
- Bayleycanrana (Super frankensteiner, sometimes inverted)
- Diving back elbow, sometimes while performing a corkscrew
- Running back elbow to a cornered opponent, often preceded by a running turnbuckle thrust with theatrics
- Tag teams and stables
- Entrance music
- "Boyfriend" (Instrumental) by Hollywood Music (NXT; June 12, 2013 - September 4, 2014)
- "Turn It Up" by CFO$ (NXT; September 11, 2014 – 2019)
- Deliverance by Def Rebel ( formerly called Strike You Down, 2019-Present)
Championships and accomplishments
- NXT
- NXT Women's Championship (1 time)
- NXT Year-End Award (2 times)
- Female Competitor of the Year (2015)
- Match of the Year (2015)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Match of the Year (2015) vs. Sasha Banks at NXT TakeOver: Respect
- PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (2016)
- PWI ranked her #47 in the 2013 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #19 in the 2014 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #11 in the 2015 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #5 in the 2016 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #5 in the 2017 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #17 in the 2018 PWI Top 100 Females
- PWI ranked her #6 in the 2019 PWI Top 100 Females
- PWI ranked her #21 in the 2021 PWI Top 150 Females
- PWI ranked her #41 in the 2023 PWI Top 250 Females
See also
External links
2015 PWI Top 50 Females |
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Nikki Bella • Paige • Sasha Banks • Santana Garrett • Gail Kim • Charlotte • Naomi • Cherry Bomb • Courtney Rush • Taryn Terrell • Bayley • Brie Bella • Sexy Star • Cheerleader Melissa • Lufisto • Nicole Matthews • Becky Lynch • Kimber Lee • Natalya • Jessicka Havok • Awesome Kong • Candice LeRae • Brooke • Athena • Ivelisse • Jade • Madison Rayne • Leva Bates • Barbi Hayden • Angelina Love • Emma • Saraya Knight • Veda Scott • Velvet Sky • Madison Eagles • Kay Lee Ray • Marti Belle • Kellie Skater • Nikki Storm • Evie • Heidi Lovelace • Tessa Blanchard • Portia Perez • Alicia Fox • Cat Power • Crazy Mary Dobson • Xandra Bale • La Rosa Negra • Malia Hosaka • Vanessa Kraven |
2016 PWI Top 50 Females |
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Charlotte Flair • Sasha Banks • Asuka • Becky Lynch • Bayley • Jade • Natalya • Gail Kim • Sexy Star • Sienna • Ivelisse • Madison Eagles • Nicole Savoy • Rosemary • Allie • Nicole Matthews • Kimber Lee • Candice LeRae • Paige • Heidi Lovelace • Evie • Cheerleader Melissa • Nia Jax • Santana Garrett • Naomi • Dana Brooke • Madison Rayne • Kay Lee Ray • Alexa Bliss • Lufisto • Amber Gallows • Marti Belle • Emma • Taylor Made • Vanessa Kraven • Su Yung • Ember Moon • Tessa Blanchard • Jessicka Havok • Shayna Baszler • Crazy Mary Dobson • Malia Hosaka • Thunder Rosa • Carmella • KC Spinelli • Veda Scott • Jessica James • Xandra Bale • Kaitlin Diemond • Eva Marie |
2017 PWI Top 50 Females |
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Asuka • Charlotte Flair • Alexa Bliss • Sasha Banks • Bayley • Io Shirai • Natalya • Sienna • Naomi • Kairi Sane • Mercedes Martinez • Shayna Baszler • Rosemary • LuFisto • Mayu Iwantani • Mia Yim • Allie • Ember Moon • Becky Lynch • Madison Eagles • Nicole Savoy • Nia Jax • Candice LeRae • Toni Storm • Hiroyo Matsumoto • Chelsea Green • Saraya Knight • Shazza McKenzie • Kay Lee Ray • Mickie James • Dakota Kai • Nicole Matthews • Alex Windsor • Deonna Purrazzo • Abbey Laith • Risa Sera • Viper • Carmella • Ruby Riot • Nikki Cross • Vanessa Kraven • Santana Garrett • Tessa Blanchard • Arisa Nakajima • Lady Lory • Shotzi Blackheart • Veda Scott • Alpha Female • Marti Belle • Zoey Skye |