'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It's official. After two years of toiling around and a lot of underutilization, Bayley finds herself back in the championship picture. It all happened in a great opening contest at Money in the Bank, where the women once again opened the proceedings.
The playing field was an interesting one, with Naomi, Carmella, Mandy Rose, Nikki Cross, Natalya, Ember Moon and Dana Brooke all coming close in their attempt at glory. It turned out to be a great way to open the show, with Dana Brooke and Mandy Rose undoubtedly coming the closest to becoming Ms Money in the Bank.
At the end of it all, Sonya Deville literally carried Rose up on her shoulders and climbed the ladder, only for Bayley to shove both of them down and grab the briefcase. With that, Bayley becomes the third Ms Money in the Bank (or fourth, if you count the fact that Carmella won it twice). Here's why Bayley became Ms MITB!
#5 A great way to start the show
WWE really had no better way to start the show. Sure, they could have done Becky Lynch vs Lacey Evans, but we all know that a ladder match is always going to be a more exciting way to start a show.
Moreover, there really isn't a better way to kick off the show than with a big babyface win. The crowd was really hot after watching Daniel Bryan & Rowan vs The Usos and it translated in the first match.
The crowd would have been ok with Carmella, Naomi or Dana Brooke winning, but credit where credit is due - WWE undoubtedly made the right call with Bayley winning the match. It set the tone for a hot crowd throughout the show.
#4 SmackDown rejuvenation
We all know that a move to SmackDown has helped multiple Superstars in the past. It's a better-written show and far more character drive as well, with WWE seemingly not being as strict about it as they are on RAW.
Either way, when Bayley moved to SmackDown, it became clear that she would be an instant beneficiary from the trade, despite abruptly ending her partnership with Sasha Banks.
It was further reaffirmed in her match against Becky Lynch, where the two put on an incredible performance, even during the ad break!
Moreover, it became clearer that something positive was going to happen because Bayley began adding an edge to her character.
We haven't fully seen the fruits of that yet, but if her character development continues, she could be in for something very special. After all, it was only last year when Becky Lynch's major attitude change shot her up to the main event of WrestleMania.
#3 Becky Lynch won't be SmackDown Women's Champion for long
Keep in mind that this was written before Becky Lynch's match with Charlotte Flair, so we're not sure about the outcome yet. Either way, when Becky Lynch won both championships at WrestleMania, it was clear that it wasn't going to be a permanent thing.
Moreover, the clear focus was on her becoming the RAW Women's Champion because Ronda Rousey, the top female babyface (who had turned heel later on) was also gone, meaning that the red brand needed Becky Lynch to fill that role.
And it seems like the role of RAW's top babyface will be for Becky Lynch. We don't know if the Wildcard rule will see her going back and forth, but in the long run, it's better for her to compete for just one title rather than two.
That's where Bayley comes in. She'll automatically be one of the two top stars carrying the women's division on SmackDown along with Charlotte Flair.
#2 A long overdue push
Bayley, as we mentioned, has spent the last two years being completely underutilized. Sure, she won the Women's Tag Team titles at February, but even that was short-lived. Prior to that, she basically did nothing and was demoted to the role of "Sasha Banks' best friend".
Her only glory period on the main roster was in early 2017 when she won the RAW Women's Championship from Charlotte Flair. She retained the title in a decent match at WrestleMania, but Alexa Bliss' arrival on RAW saw WWE completely kill all of Bayley's momentum.
From terrible match stipulations to terrible storylines to constantly making Bayley look like a fool, it took WWE over two years to finally recover. If anything, it goes to prove that anyone can be salvaged with the right time and effort.
All we can hope is that WWE doesn't screw it up this time.
#1 SmackDown needs a top babyface
As we mentioned, the clear priority is for Becky Lynch to be the top champion and babyface on RAW. The entire 2018 to early 2019 saw the entire RAW Women's division focus around Ronda Rousey, while the SmackDown Live women's division centered around Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair (and Asuka, to some extent).
Bayley's move to SmackDown was a calculated one and WWE knew exactly what they had with her as a propsect on the blue brand. With Becky Lynch's SmackDown appearances potentially reducing, the blue brand needs to establish a new, fresh top babyface.
Who is a better candidate for that than Bayley? Ember Moon could fit that bill but she doesn't seem to be ready character-wise. If Bayley continues to add an edge to her character, then the sky is the limit for her.
