January 1, Wrestling Rivalry Explodes in Fresno Ring

Wyatt’s Take

• Bayley and Lyra Valkyria delivered a hard-hitting no-disqualification match that showcased real grit and athleticism.
• The feud started when tag partners turned on each other after failing to win the women’s tag team titles.
• Both wrestlers went all out with chairs, tables, and kendo sticks in a fight that left the Fresno crowd stunned.

Bayley and Lyra Valkyria put their names in contention for women’s match of the year in WWE on “Monday Night Raw” as their feud culminated in a no disqualification match.

The two stars’ rivalry goes back months. Bayley and Valkyria were tag team partners and failed to capture the women’s tag team titles from Brie Bella and Paige back in June. It led to an eruption from Valkyria, who turned on Bayley. Valkyria then made Bayley tap out in a match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Multiple back-and-forths over the course of several weeks led to the major match on Monday – and the two stars on the women’s roster delivered. To say they went all out and put everything on the line in a non-title match with the only stakes attached being who is the better wrestler, may be the understatement of the year.

Bayley immediately went for the foreign objects hidden underneath the ring. She dragged out chairs, kendo sticks, a broom and set up a table. Valkyria got back into the match fairly quickly and the brawl was on.

In the middle of the match, the table was propped on its side on top of the announce table. Valkyria hesitated for a split second and Bayley took advantage. Bayley ran full speed through the middle ropes and hit a suicide dive onto Valkyria, who caught Bayley. The momentum carried both of them through the table.

Bayley nailed her right shoulder on the bottom of the table but seemed to be OK as she smiled through whatever pain she may have been dealing with in the moment.

All was not lost for Valkyria. She made a valiant effort to dust herself off and try to find any sort of offense she could muster. She wedged Bayley in between two chairs in the ring and was going for a high-risk move on the top turnbuckle.

Valkyria attempted to moonsault onto Bayley but she missed her. Valkyria writhed in pain and grabbed her left forearm. Bayley wasn’t finished doling out punishment, either.

The Irish-born superstar tried to nail Bayley with a Hurricanrana from the apron onto the floor where Bayley was standing. However, Bayley caught her and slammed her down through a garbage can.

The crowd in Fresno, California, was stunned.

Valkyria stumbled back into the ring and grabbed a kendo stick, but couldn’t focus on her opponent. Bayley dragged Valkyria down and used the weapon to inflict more pain while she had Valkyria in a crossface submission maneuver.

Bayley made Valkyria tap out and the match was finished. Bayley picked up the win and possibly excised any demons haunting her moving forward.

Regardless of the outcome, Bayley and Valkyria thrust themselves into the conversation for women’s match of the year in WWE. There have been several great matches put on from the women’s roster over the course of the year, including the title match between Liv Morgan and Becky Lynch that anchored “Raw” later in the night, which ended in a DQ.

Bayley and Valkyria showed out and amplified what a wrestling match should be.

Wyatt Matters

Hard work, determination, and putting it all on the line still matter in sports and in life, values that built this country and still ring true in heartland arenas every week.