Last week on Raw, Bayley announced she was injured and unable to challenge Alexa Bliss for the Raw Women’s Title at SummerSlam. Bayley is still in New York for the build-up for the biggest party of the summer. She discussed her shoulder injury and rehab with Mike Johnson from PWI. She revealed the extent of her injury and how long she plans to be out of action.
“…I’m not really sure how long [she will be out of action]…it it’s a couple of months or if it’s a few months of what’s it going to be right now. But, it’s separated, it’s a grade-two separation. It’s like the AC joint and the ligaments and all that stuff, so it’s not easy.”
Bayley’s injury came during her match against Nia Jax. Some fans were quick to blame Jax, believing her style to be a bit too stiff and dangerous. I have to disagree with this assessment. This ain’t ballet. Injuries are common in wrestling. These athletes are performing 2-3 times a week, every week of the year.
Injuries to the shoulder, knee, and neck are frequent in wrestling. Pretty much any area where there’s a lot of pressure and a lot of sudden movements. Cesaro, Sheamus, John Cena, and Finn Balor are among some of the current wrestlers who have suffered shoulder and arm injuries and returned better than ever a few months later.
Why Time Off Could Help Bayley
The crowd reaction to Bayley’s injury announcement was not ideal. While Bayley and Charly Caruso talked, the crowd swayed from indifference to outright hostility towards the former Women’s Champion.
Since her elevation to the main roster, the character of Bayley grew stale. She never emerged from her “Aw-Shucks” personality. I’m not saying she needs to turn heel or come back with tattoos and piercings, but she needs a bit of an edge. She’s supposed to represent pre-teen girls, right? Don’t those girls grow-up and develop an angsty attitude? Why not have Bayley return as an unruly teen who just wants her dad to stop embarrassing her? Just some #FantasyBooking, on my part.
What do you think about Bayley’s injury? Does she need to come back with a new character? Share your thoughts.