10 Times WWE Characters Had Sexual Awakenings

Hello, old ladies.

Angry Bayley
WWE

Oh, Bayley.

The lovable NXT loser with a prominent inner child is now, in true WWE broad strokes form, an actual child. WWE often hones in on one aspect of a performer's act and defines them by it. You know that Jinder Mahal is a modern day Indian prince because JBL shouts "The MAHARAJA!" really loudly every week on SmackDown. The Big Show really should have had a better career, but at least he occupies the most amount of mass out of anybody in the sporting realm. Shinsuke Nakamura adopted the red leather jacket of Michael Jackson as part of his look in NJPW, so WWE nicknamed him after the other pop music genius of the 1980s. So that makes sense.

Bayley's career looks dead in the water at this point - but WWE is actually plotting the longest of long term arcs. She began main roster life as a toddler, cherishing her RAW Women's Title like a blanky. Now, if rumours are to be believed, creative is planning to have her enter adolescence and kiss a boy for the first time in her life, joining a prestigious lineage of WWE performers who sexually matured onscreen.

If WWE continues with this ageing arc, Bayley will be an octogenarian by 2019 - just in time for Mark Henry's retirement angle...

10. George The Animal's Steele Rod

Daniel Bryan Bellas
WWE.com

In 1986, George 'The Animal' Steele almost put his propensity to eat turnbuckles to rather different use.

Much like every kid attracted to the WWF's colourful sports entertainment vision of pro wrestling during its Golden Age, Steele developed a fixation on its wholesome, beautiful first lady: Miss Elizabeth. His passion peaked to such a degree that, in 1986 and early 1987, he waged war with her husband Randy Savage. In an hilariously out of date bit of objectification, the stipulation for one of their tussles was a "Winner Gets Elizabeth" match. Less hilarious was Vince McMahon's method putting her over - "What a prize!" he shouted obliviously, as if he were a carny, and she were a toy at the fair. To be fair, he was a carny.

In the build up, Steele did a King Kong bit and kidnapped her. This potentially criminal scenario was met with massive cheers from the crowd. It was a different and apparently more innocent time. Elizabeth did have a fondness for the big lug, and was conflicted at Savage's insistence on beating him up.

Unfortunately for him, the obsession amounted to nought. Steele nursed Ricky Steamboat back to health and assisted him in his successful quest to capture Savage's Intercontinental Title. His vindication came through the Dragon. Steele was friend-zoned.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!