If someone had, many moons ago, said that we’d see Bayley hold a championship title for a full year, chances are no one would’ve believed the fortune teller. Probably not even Bayley herself. Yet here we are, celebrating the 365 consecutive days of our beloved Role Model longest title reign.
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Shockingly, it began with the sacrifice of the figures that accompanied Bayley for years: the inflatables that made her already colourful entrance even more full of life. She took them down, one by one, as if to show that the stage was hers and hers alone. It was Bayley’s time, now. Nobody elses.
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With an entire new image and attitude, the once cheerful loving member of the SmackDown locker room confirmed what she had meant when she said the hugs had stayed back on RAW upon the Draft. The only thing Bayley would hug, as of that day, would be the SmackDown Women’s title, in a grip so tight not even the ones closer to her could touch it for long.
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Many people tried to question Bayley’s new attitude, attempted to pierce through her carefully built force field and disrupt her confidence but not even the strongest attacks were enough to shake her. Time after time, Bayley defended herself and the championship with the fire of a thousand suns. After all, her previous theme song was right: There was no stopping her now.
In fact, right in the middle of this enormous reign, the Grand Slam Champion accomplished something only a few select WWE Superstars can pride themselves off of. Alongside her partner in crime, Sasha Banks, the duo that refused any name become two time tag teams champions and, Bayley, joined the elite that paired a universal title with a tag team title.
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Their reign featured some of the best matches the women’s tag team division has ever seen and yet Bayley never backed away from pulling double duty when need be. She was aiming for something bigger, after all. So big that, once the duo lost their tag team titles, Bayley didn’t shy away from distributing blame and cutting off Sasha Banks because, she figured, without the distraction, Sasha would try to steal the title away from her.
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Yet, Bayley still stands. 365 days later. Countless of title defences behind her, one of which making history in Saudi Arabia, and another against all odds at the mercy of an empty Performance Center. Through sickness, torn muscles, and growing pains, Bayley consistently proved why she’s rightfully at the top. In fact, one could argue that her new theme song, called Deliverance, takes the name not from Bayley’s need to set herself free from the shackles of the past but to deliver us into a promised land. The one where a dreamer can make all of her wildest dreams come true through the power of consistency and perseverance.
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On behalf of her loyal sheep, thank you.
