Bayley’s Brutal Beatdown In WWE Sparks AEW Rumors

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 18: <> during Saturday Night’s Main Event at Madison Square Garden on July 18, 2026 in New York, United States. (Photo by WWE)

WWEWWE Saturday Night’s Main Event from Madison Square Garden may have been Bayley’s farewell.

>Or at least somebody wants you to think that.

>Whether it’s WWE finessing the gossipy wrestling tabloids or AEW top star Mercedes Mone teasing her best friend’s imminent debut, Bayley’s recent angle with Lyra Valkyria this past Saturday sparked inescapable rumors of Pamela Martinez’s exit.

Bayley’s Booking Fuels WWE Exit Rumors “[Bayley’s] either gone, or they want you to think she’s gone,” said Bryan Alvarez of “Wrestling Observer Radio.”

>Bayley’s contract is reportedly due in a few months, but due to unforeseen circumstances—such as injury time added—contract analysis is among the biggest inexact sciences in wrestling. Still, Bayley has felt like she was on borrowed time in WWE dating back to her exclusion from WrestleMania 41, a snub that Bayley herself has addressed in out-of-character interviews. Bayley was advertised for the event until a last-minute decision to book a returning Becky Lynch as a replacement.

>“The day they took me out of WrestleMania? It was the day before [WrestleMania 41.] It was rough," said Bayley on the Undertaker and Michelle McCool’s “Six Feet Under” podcast. "I had a long conversation with [CM] Punk about it. A lot of people that were reaching out were like, ‘Everyone’s been in these positions.’”

>"Sometimes I think that is what keeps me here. It is because I don’t go freaking kick the door down and be like, I’m not doing that. Why would I do that? I’m f***ing Bayley, like, why would I do that?" said a frustrated Bayley last year during an interview with the “Insight” podcast.

>Bayley seemed to be headed in a similar direction for WrestleMania 42, where she was left off the famed poker table photo for the Vegas event. Bayley responded to this exclusion via Twitter. Thankfully, WWE booked a storyline based on her WrestleMania 41 ouster and she found her way onto the card this year as part of a Fatal 4-Way for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship. Bayley and her tag team partner that night—Lyra Valkyria—failed to win the titles, and their ensuing struggles ultimately led to a Lyra Valkyria heel turn. Bayley and Lyra had their first singles match since the split this past weekend. Lyra won clean and obliterated Bayley after.

Mercedes Mone, Lyra Valkyria Promo Suggest Bayley Is AEW-BoundLast night on WWE Raw, Lyra raised even more eyebrows during an interview segment when she claimed she “ran Bayley out of here.”

>Mercedes Mone, Bayley’s best friend, has been teasing a possible AEW debut from Bayley. Three weeks ago, Mone took to IG stories and posted a graphic of herself and Bayley in a “WrestleDream 2026” matchup. On July 13, Mone posted an hourglass GIF on Twitter, possibly suggesting Bayley’s WWE exit was only a matter of time.

>Whether this is a legitimate recruiting mission or Mercedes trying to help Bayley get a better deal, Bayley leaving WWE is well within the range of outcomes.

>In fact, it’s the most likely scenario.

>WWE cut ties with several mainstays in 2026, some of whom decided to leave on their own after reportedly being asked to take a paycut. The New Day and Sheamus are among many big names previously considered “WWE lifers,” only to depart the company in 2026 with WWE and TKO looking to build out a cheaper roster with younger talent. Bayley falls into the category of a big name from a past generation. Whether or not she does re-sign, it’s highly likely her role in WWE would remain limited.

>As for AEW, opportunities for women in All Elite Wrestling are few and far between. AEW is set to air its 50th PPV this Sunday with AEW Redemption. The main event between Kenny Omega and Kevin Knight will be the 50th consecutive AEW PPV without a women’s match main eventing. Though this does not bode well for Bayley, she would find herself in a politically advantageous situation if she were to join fellow Horsewoman Mercedes in Jacksonville.

>Mercedes is one of AEW’s biggest stars. Last week, Mercedes was set up to fail during a women’s Dynamite main event that started after the overrun (which is typically where viewership falls off a cliff.) Despite the death spot, a trios women’s tag match main event powered AEW to its biggest viewership since 2024. As AEW stubbornly begins to realize the drawing power of its women’s division, a Bayley-Mercedes dream match may not be too far behind.

>This article was originally published on Forbes.com