Bayley appears to have made a choice in her ongoing internal war, vowing to “make it right” with Lyra Valkyria. The declaration came during a new pre-taped vignette on the September 8 edition of WWE Raw from the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, signaling a potential turning point in her complex psychological storyline.
The segment showcased Bayley’s struggle between two distinct personas. A harsh, dismissive voice, representing her “Role Model” heel character, berated her, saying, “Are you finished yet? Save it for your diary,” and pushed her to “move on and do what’s best for us.” However, a softer voice reminiscent of her “Hugger” gimmick offered a different path. It encouraged reconciliation, telling her, “I’m proud of you for admitting your mistakes… What’s best for us is to make it right with her.”
Overcome with emotion, Bayley ultimately sided with the latter voice. Her decision was fueled by a deep sense of guilt over her recent actions toward Valkyria. “The last person I wanted to hurt is Lyra,” Bayley confessed, adding, “I just don’t know how Lyra can forgive me when I can’t forgive myself.” The vignette concluded with her tearfully accepting the advice and making the promise to seek amends.
An Identity in Crisis
The storyline began in August 2025, following a period where Bayley experienced significant professional setbacks, including a subsequent losing streak, and the dissolution of her Damage CTRL faction. The narrative portrays these events as the catalyst for a mental breakdown.
Vignettes in August 2025: On the episodes of RAW on August 11 and August 18, 2025, WWE aired the initial segments establishing this new character arc. In these vignettes, Bayley was shown being tormented by distorted voices that mocked her for her failures, such as not being booked for major events like WrestleMania 41 and SummerSlam. The voice, representing her more arrogant “Role Model” persona, called her a “loser” and contrasted her current status with her past achievements, including being the longest-reigning SmackDown Women’s Champion.
A pivotal moment in the August 18 vignette occurred when a voice sweetly asked her, “Need a hug?”—a direct reference to her former fan-favorite “Hugger” gimmick, which strongly hinted at the internal clash between her past identities. These segments, reported on August 18 and 19, 2025, led to widespread discussion about a major gimmick change.