10 WWE Stars We Aren't Allowed To Like

5. Bayley

Becky Lynch
WWE.com

We are about as removed from 2015 Bayley - the Bayley that grown male adults received with joy in their ironic, cool heel-loving hearts - as Zack Ryder is from the glass ceiling. It is a massive shame, obviously. Bayley was NXT in microcosm; an uplifting celebration and restoration of wrestling's brilliant bare bones that you could happily believe in because, after a marvellous ascension story, she believed in herself. How could you not like 2015 Bayley? She was a treasure, but she was also a badass. A badass with a code: she only ripped Sasha's fingers apart when she suffered the same fate. Bayley was outstanding and upstanding.

Do you like Bayley?

Tough t*tties!

WWE sent her crashing down. And down. She was humiliated on the main roster. She was buried on the main roster. She became, fittingly enough, WWE's treatment of NXT stars on the main roster in microcosm: a rudderless, hopeless, non-factor. We're not allowed to like Bayley because WWE perceives her as a dork. The same WWE that habitually presents the lamest wrestling telly ever.

They've got some balls. You have to give them that.

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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 current Undisputed WWE 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!