Lyra Valkyria turned on Bayley after a long partnership. (Credit: Cooper Neill/WWE via Getty Images)
WWE via Getty Images
At WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, the long‑standing rivalry between Bayley and Lyra Valkyria finally came to a head.
For much of her tenure on WWE’s main roster, Valkyria, a former NXT Women’s Champion, was closely linked with Bayley, one of the most decorated stars in the company’s women’s division. On the June 22 edition of Monday Night Raw, Valkyria’s patience finally snapped.
Valkyria’s heel turn led to a decisive clash at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Madison Square Garden, sparking intense speculation about Bayley’s future with the company.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 2026 Results: Bayley vs. Lyra Valkyria?
Valkyria opened her main‑roster run as a villain with a dominant victory over Bayley. The bout ended when Valkyria locked in a distinctive submission that left Bayley unconscious rather than tapping out.
- Valkyria launched an immediate assault on Bayley as the MSG crowd chanted in support of the longtime fan favorite. An elbow to the face caused a visible cut, yet Valkyria fought on, her nose possibly broken, according to commentator Michael Cole.
- Bayley sent Valkyria over the top rope and followed with a daring dive between the middle ropes. Valkyria quickly regained control, and Bayley responded with a back‑body drop and a creative near‑pin for a two‑count before applying a Boston crab that Valkyria escaped.
- Climbing to the top rope, Bayley was met by Valkyria, who delivered a neckbreaker onto the turnbuckle. Inside the ring, Valkyria added a top‑rope leg drop to Bayley’s head, earning a near‑fall, before the two exchanged heavy strikes.
- After a sunset‑flip bomb sent Valkyria into the turnbuckle, Bayley attempted a Rose Plant but missed. She then slammed Valkyria face‑first and locked in a cross‑face, only for Valkyria to lift Bayley and drive her throat‑first into the ropes.
- Bayley went for a Bayley‑to‑Belly, but Valkyria escaped, took Bayley down and applied a unique modified sleeper. Bayley passed out, prompting the referee to award the match to Valkyria.
- Post‑match, Valkyria attacked Bayley again, slamming her onto the steel ring steps before exiting the arena.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 2026 Results: What’s Next for Bayley and Lyra Valkyria?
Speculation about Bayley’s future remains rampant, and her bruising loss at Saturday Night’s Main Event will only intensify the conversation. Bayley’s WWE contract is set to expire next year, and she has openly expressed creative frustrations over the past season. Recent social‑media activity from AEW star Mercedes Moné, Bayley’s former tag‑team partner, has further fueled rumors.
Two years ago, Bayley captured the Royal Rumble and subsequently won the world title at WrestleMania, but she has since been stuck in a mid‑card limbo, much of it entangled in an endless storyline with Valkyria. The early narrative suggested Bayley would turn heel, yet WWE never pursued that direction; instead, Valkyria embraced the role, representing a missed opportunity to fully utilize Bayley’s potential as a villain.
Now Bayley finds herself repeatedly paired with Valkyria as a rival rather than a partner, while the creative team appears more focused on newer talent. With legacy stars like Sheamus and The New Day departing, Bayley’s long‑term prospects look uncertain.
While the feud with Valkyria is likely to continue in the short term, Bayley’s trajectory suggests a challenging future within WWE.
