10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (April 1)

7. Vince McMahon Wanted Bayley For WrestleMania

Marc Mero and Sable
WWE.com

During the pre-show 'Kickoff' portion of WrestleMania 32's festivities, WWE will present a 10-Diva Tag-Team Match for those watching on the WWE Network to enjoy. 

Brie Bella, Alicia Fox, Paige, Natalya and Eva Marie will team up to face Tamina, Naomi, Lana, Summer Rae and Emma in the bout, which is clearly designed to give some a payday at 'Mania as well as providing others some big-time experience.

According to the Wrestling Observer, Eva Marie wasn't management's initial choice for the match. Instead, Vince McMahon wanted Bayley to take the remaining slot on the babyface team, but Marie was chosen despite being a heel. 

Triple H was reportedly the one who pushed for Eva, feeling she would be a better fit for the match due to her association with the Total Divas program.

There's a clear thread of that faux-reality show running through the match, but McMahon was eager for the current NXT Women's Champion to become involved. It's cool to imagine that Triple H vetoed such an idea, likely believing Bayley  - as a credible in-ring wrestler - shouldn't be involved in such an affair. 

That bodes well for her future, no doubt. 

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.