Former WWE Women’s Champion Bayley disclosed that she had the chance to pick a ring name before debuting in WWE but her preferred choices were turned down. Known for the iconic phrase “This is your winner, Bayley,” she is recognized as the Women’s Grand Slam Champion.
During an appearance on The Undertaker’s Six Feet Under podcast, Bayley shared that WWE had acknowledged the name “Davia,” which she could have used, as she had wrestled outside WWE under the name Davina Rose. She recounted the name selection process in NXT, revealing she initially submitted a list of unisex names, none of which included Bayley.
She explained that WWE came back with a shortlist of three options, including Bayley and Davia, which she felt was an unusual choice. With pressure from WWE to select a name quickly for a TV appearance, she ultimately settled on Bayley. She also mentioned how the spelling BAI allowed her to pronounce it Bay, connecting it to the Bay Area, which sometimes gets teased by fellow wrestler Lyra Valkyria.
Bayley’s story highlights the behind-the-scenes decisions about wrestler personas and how names can become an essential part of their brand and identity in WWE.
Fan Take: This revelation shows how much thought and sometimes chance goes into crafting a superstar’s identity, which can impact their career trajectory. For WWE fans, understanding these origin stories adds depth to their favorite performers and reminds us of the creative process behind the spectacle of wrestling.
