10 WWE Stars Who Are Horrendously Miscast
5. Bayley
Is playing:
This is where WWE finds itself through the looking glass of its brand-first, self-referential approach to storytelling and character development. Bayley struggled badly to adjust to the main roster brand, and this has informed a character that must mystify those without a deep knowledge of the company. Her deadpan trash talking, miserable promos and eye-rolling demeanour put across the idea that she has developed through sheer work dread a sense of nihilism which, while not unrealistic, works exponentially better on social media on television. Whatever the hell it is, some of the tweets are funny, but it's just not right. This is Bayley. She shouldn't be playing the manifestation of a Smiths lyric.
Should be playing:
A babyface, goddamn it. If WWE can't channel her infectious magic through the TV set, that's their problem and one that requires, post-Becky Lynch, immediate correction. Get to the Sasha feud already. It's not going to be as good as it was in 2015, anyway. And if the old Bayley character needs an "edge" - what she really needs is to not be booked by decrepit old men who have no capacity for wholesome joy - just put her on RAW and have Paul Heyman put the word "Bitch!" at the end of every other sentence.