Which WWE Star Has 'Found Herself' Without Live Audiences?

"I’ve found a certain annoyance in my character".

Bayley Sasha Banks
WWE.com

Current SmackDown Women's and Women's Tag-Team Champion Bayley told Digital Spy why working in front of empty seats at WWE's Performance Center has really helped her career.

Bayley turned heel during SmackDown's jump to FOX, and she ended up playing a much less charismatic character that didn't click; stoic and grumpy, the new heel Bayley struggled for house room alongside the much more electric Sasha Banks.

This empty arena era has changed that.

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Now, Bayley looks way more comfortable as a villain and is producing some of her best work on the mic. She credits this to the lack of backlash from live audiences. Without that, Bayley says she doesn't "really have to worry about the fan’s approval, or worry about fans believing in what I’m doing and not buying into what I’m saying in promos".

WWE trusted Bayley's judgement when she said that the angry, brooding persona she was playing previously wasn't cutting it. They let her mix things up and start showing "a certain annoyance" that made being heel much more entertaining.

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The double champ isn't sure she would've had that chance if fans were still flocking to buildings.

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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.