25 Most Iconic WWE Ring Entrances Ever
20. Bayley (Battleground 2016)
A series of dream scenarios right down to a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man falling in such a way that Bayley could hit it with a high five, the soft-launch of the 'Hugger' on the main roster at Battleground 2016 was a very temporary proof of concept for Triple H's golden era of NXT.
Drawing an absolutely thunderous pop and deafening "Bayley" chants after appearing as Sasha Banks' mystery partner at Battleground 2016, the former NXT titleholder was a worst kept secret in the best kind of way. The cheers began before she even came through the curtain, with Banks unable to contain her glee at the reaction her friend and former career rival was about to receive. In kayfabe, the two had earned enormous mutual respect via their transcendent battles, and Bayley had enhanced her reputation with an exceptional run as Women's Champion in the aftermath. The waters had been choppier on the main roster for 'The Boss', but this contest - a tag team opener against Charlotte Flair and Dana Brooke - couldn't have been a better for one for the 'Boss & Hug Connection' to bring their powers together at long last.
The whole thing plays like a dreamy alternate universe WWE that Vince McMahon wasn't able to embrace in all the years NXT was hot before its steep decline early in the 2020s. Whereas this was visible and aural evidence of the new connections finally being built with worn down fans, McMahon simply viewed it as yet another case of fans getting too much of a good thing.