In 2019, the renowned wrestler, Bayley, famously made an impactful heel turn. She engaged in a conversation with KLAS, based in Las Vegas, while she was promoting the 2025 Royal Rumble pay-per-view event. Bayley shared her thoughts about the decreased bond with her fans following her heel turn and explained why that transformative decision was essential.
Below are some key points from her exclusive discussion:
Regarding the diminished fan connection since turning heel: Bayley confessed, “Occasionally, I ponder about where I would stand with the fans had I not turned heel. As I transformed into a villain, I experienced a perceived disconnection with the fans. It seemed like they were unsure about their feelings towards me or if they wanted to continue being my fans. There was a palpable disconnection. So, sometimes I still wonder, ‘Would my career have been in a better or worse place if I had never made that heel turn?’”
Speaking of the necessity of this turn: Bayley added, “However, I think about events like during the pandemic. I am not sure if I would have achieved the success I did if my character hadn’t undergone that transformation. So I always attribute my success to those key moments when I was allowed to explore my growth. I did not think that my career would progress much with the persona I had. Therefore, I knew I had to bring about a change. Being a fan myself, I wanted to explore all facets of wrestling. I yearned to play both antagonist and protagonist roles and delve into various exciting storylines. It was the start of doing something different for myself. Even though I catered to many fans during my initial days, this was a step I felt was necessary for my career development. So, looking back, I have no regrets whatsoever.”
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