Former Champion Returns At WWE SummerSlam 2022, Forms New Faction

This returning star was joined by two former NXT faces at SummerSlam.

by Andrew Pollard
WWE SummerSlam 2022 Io Shirai IYO SKY Bayley Dakota Kai
WWE

After over a year off WWE TV, Bayley made her return at last night's SummerSlam premium live event. Not just that, but the Role Model was joined by Dakota Kai and Io Shirai.

Following Bianca Belair retaining her Raw Women's Title against Becky Lynch in a barnburner of a match, Bayley made her way out to confront the EST. As the one-time Hugger stopped halfway down the entranceway of Nashville's Nissan Stadium, Kai's music hit and she headed down to join Bayley. From there, Io's music started and she headed out to join the duo.

This trio then stepped between the ropes and stared down Belair, who herself was joined by Becky Lynch. Seemingly turning babyface, Big Time Becks stood at Bianca's side and encouraged the three heels to 'bring it'. This itself came on the back of Lynch giving Belair a post-match handshake and hug.

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For Io Shirai, she's undergone a slight name change as she heads to the main roster. As noted on commentary, Shirai is now going by the name IYO SKY, presented in all capitals. Having not been seen since NXT Stand & Deliver during WrestleMania Weekend - where she came up short in a four-way bout for Mandy Rose's NXT Women's Title - there had been recent speculation that SKY was getting set to depart WWE and return to Japan.

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As for Dakota Kai, the Captain of Team Kick was released by WWE on 29 April after reportedly informing company officials that she was not planning to renew her WWE contract. Prior to that, the New Zealander had competed in several dark matches and WWE Main Event contests as management pondered calling her up to Raw or SmackDown.

Where Bayley is concerned, she's been on the sidelines for a year after suffering an ACL tear during mandatory Performance Center training for all talent ahead of WWE returning to touring following the Thunderdome Era.

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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.