10 Worst WWE Booking Decisions Of 2017 (So Far)

8. Bayley's Moment Comes Too Soon

Money In The Bank Carmella James Ellsworth
WWE.com

Bayley has had a miserable time on WWE’s main roster. Her run has seen one misstep after another, and while she’s not beyond saving, her stock has never been lower than it is today.

The Alexa Bliss feud was the most damaging stage of her downward spiral, but the process started long before that. On the 13 February episode of Raw, Bayley became Women’s Champion for the first time. Her winning the gold isn’t a problem in itself, as she was once a white-hot babyface commodity with all the qualities needed to lead the division, but the circumstances were all wrong.

Bayley’s rise through NXT was a perfect story, and her eventual developmental Women’s Title victory came following a multi-year underdog struggle. WWE tried something similar on Raw, but crammed it into too short a timescale. Her big moment felt artificial as a result, and to make matters worse, her win came thanks to an assist from Sasha Banks, suggesting she couldn’t have got the job done alone.

WWE jumped the gun with Bayley’s title reign. Waiting until WrestleMania 33 and coupling it with breaking Charlotte’s long-standing PPV undefeated streak in Orlando rather than at Fastlane may not have prevented her slide, but it would’ve had a lot more impact.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.