Pamela Rose Martinez (June 15, 1989) is an American female professional wrestler who is signed to World Wrestling Entertainment, performing on the Raw brand under the ring name Bayley. She is also a one-time NXT Women's Champion and one-time WWE Women's Champion.
Early life
Martinez states she has been a fan of professional wrestling since the age of eleven. Drawn to athletics, Martinez has competed in track, basketball and martial arts and has even done juggling and pogo sticking. At age 18, she began seriously training for professional wrestling.
Professional wrestling career
Independent circuit (2008–2012)
Martinez had been attending shows by Big Time Wrestling, a professional wrestling promotion in Northern California, since she was 11. She started her professional wrestling career at the age of 18 in April 2008 by attending Big Time Wrestling's training classes by her head trainer Jason Styles, which was one of the reasons why Martinez considered Big Time Wrestling as her home promotion. She had her first match in September 2008. On the American independent circuit, Martinez wrestled under the ring name "Davina Rose". From 2011 to 2012, Rose branched out to wrestle for other promotions like NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood and Shine Wrestling.
Rose first met her mentor Serena in October 2010 when they teamed together for a tag team match. When Rose made her debut for Shimmer Women Athletes in October 2011 at the tapings of Shimmer Volume 41-44; she became embroiled in Serena's feud with the Canadian Ninjas (Portia Perez and Nicole Matthews). At the tapings, Rose lost all four matches wrestled including her debut match to Mercedes Martinez. Rose continued to wrestle for Shimmer in 2012 and she received her first victory on Volume 48 as she teamed with Mia Yim to defeat Melanie Cruise and Mena Libra; on Volumes 51 and 52, Rose picked up her first two singles victories in Shimmer with wins over Cherry Bomb and Rhia O'Reilly.
WWE
NXT (2012–2016)
Martinez joined the WWE in early 2013, appearing on it NXT program under the name of Bayley. She wrestled her first match on the February 21 edition of WWE NXT, losing to Paige. Bayley competed in the first round of the NXT Women's Championship Tournament on June 12, losing to Alicia Fox. She competed in her first title match in WWE, facing the reigning champion AJ Lee on the August 21 edition of NXT. On the September 4 edition of NXT, Bayley teamed with Charlotte against Aksana and Alicia Fox in a winning effort for her first win in WWE. On the September 25 edition of NXT, Bayley was defeated by the heel-turned Sasha Banks. On November 6, Bayley was targeted by the BFFs (Sasha Banks and Summer Rae), which led to Charlotte coming to her defense, despite being annoyed by Bayley's persona. On the following edition of NXT, Bayley and Charlotte competed in a losing effort against Banks and Rae, with the loss coming after Bayley was attacked by Charlotte during the match. On the December 11 edition of NXT, Bayley teamed with Natalya in a losing effort to Banks and Rae, but she would defeat Rae in singles action on the January 8, 2014 edition of NXT. Three weeks later, Bayley defeated Banks in singles action. Bayley would defeat Banks again on the March 20 edition of NXT.
On the May 1 episode of NXT, Bayley failed to advance in the tournament for the vacant NXT Women's Championship after losing to Banks in the first round. On the June 12th episode of NXT, Bayley scored the victory over the new NXT Women's Champion Charlotte in a six-Diva tag team match. On the August 7 episode of NXT, Bayley defeated Eva Marie. On the August 14 episode of NXT, Bayley defeated Sasha Banks to become the #1 Contender to the NXT Women's Championship. She repeated the feat on August 28 when Banks challenged her to a rematch. At NXT Takeover: Fatal 4 Way, Bayley was unsuccessful in capturing the championship from Charlotte.
On the September 25 edition of NXT, Bayley defeated Alexa Bliss in singles action, and later challenged Charlotte to a rematch for the NXT Women's Championship, which she lost on the following week. She was later attacked by Sasha Banks in a backstage interview segment, which led to a match on the October 23 edition of NXT, which Bayley lost via submission. She was later attacked by Banks after the match until Becky Lynch saved her; however, Lynch would undergo a villainous turn and attack Bayley in the ring. Later, Bayley formed an alliance with former rival Charlotte to feud with Banks and Lynch throughout the following several weeks. On November 27, Bayley was attacked by Banks and Lynch, injuring her knee in the storyline. She returned on January 21, 2015, saving Charlotte from an attack by Banks and Lynch. At NXT Takeover: Rival, Bayley competed in a Fatal 4-Way match for the NXT Women's Championship, but she was defeated by Sasha Banks. Bayley was again defeated by Becky Lynch on the February 25 edition of NXT.
Bayley began an angle with Emma on the March 4 episode of NXT, where Emma began mocking Bayley's niceness and stating that it kept her from winning the NXT Women's Championship, leaving Emma in the process of turning heel. Bayley was again confronted by Emma on the March 25 episode of NXT, and later argued against Emma's statements and said that the fans made her #1 Contender for the NXT Women's Championship twice. In response, Emma delivered a slap to Bayley to solidify her heel turn. Bayley defeated Emma on the April 1 edition of NXT. On the April 29 episode of NXT, Bayley was defeated by Dana Brooke after a distraction by Emma. Bayley would gain revenge on Emma the following week, where she would attack her after Emma's loss to Charlotte in a match. At NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable on May 20, Bayley teamed up with Charlotte to defeat Emma and Dana Brooke. On the May 27 episode of NXT, Bayley was defeated by Emma via submission, and after the match, she and Charlotte were attacked by Emma and Dana Brooke.
After some hiatus due to a broken hand, Bayley returned on the July 22 episode of NXT, where she defeated Emma and announced her goal to become the next NXT Women's Champion. Bayley would then challenge Charlotte to a match, which Bayley won, on the August 5 episode of NXT. On the August 12 episode of NXT, Bayley defeated Becky Lynch in a Number One Contender's Match to earn a shot at the NXT Women's Championship against Sasha Banks at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn. At the event, Bayley defeated Banks to capture the NXT Women's Championship. After the match, Bayley celebrated with Banks, Becky Lynch and Charlotte. Bayley successfully defended it against Banks at NXT Takeover: Respect in a 30-minute Iron Man Match. Bayley would continue to defend it against the likes of Nia Jax, Eva Marie, Carmella and Alexa Bliss, until Asuka unseated her at Takeover: Dallas, by passing out to the Asuka Lock.
On July 24 at Battleground, Bayley made her WWE main roster and pay-per-view debut in a one-off appearance as Sasha Banks's mystery tag team partner, defeating Charlotte and Dana Brooke. On the July 27 episode of NXT, Bayley asked NXT's general manager William Regal a rematch against Asuka for the NXT Women's Championship at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II, which he granted. Two weeks later on the August 10 episode of NXT, a contract signing was held between both women, which they would signed and subsequently accept. At the event on August 20, Bayley failed to regain the title.
Raw (2016–present)
On July 24, 2016, at Battleground, Bayley made her WWE main roster and pay-per-view debut in a one-off appearance as Sasha Banks's mystery tag team partner, defeating Charlotte and Dana Brooke.
On the August 22 episode of Raw, Bayley made her official main roster debut after being established as part of the brand by Raw general manager Mick Foley, where she confronted and challenged the Raw Women's Champion Charlotte to a title match, which Charlotte refused and instead forced protégé Brooke to face her, whom Bayley defeated. At Clash of Champions, Bayley was unsuccessful in winning the championship from Charlotte in a triple threat match, which also included Banks. Throughout this time, she entered a feud with Brooke, and the two brawled and traded victories in matches. This culminated in a match at Hell in a Cell on October 30, which Bayley won.
At Survivor Series on November 17, Bayley survived alongside Charlotte Flair as members of Team Raw; after the match, she was attacked by Flair. On January 2, 2017, Bayley defeated Nia Jax to become the number one contender for Flair's Raw Women's Championship. She challenged Flair at the Royal Rumble but was unsuccessful in capturing the title. She earned a rematch after she, Cesaro and Sheamus defeated Flair, Gallows and Anderson the next night on Raw, with Bayley pinning Flair. Two weeks later on the February 13 episode, after an assist from Sasha Banks, Bayley defeated Flair in the main event to win the Raw Women's Championship. At Fastlane, thanks to a distraction from Banks, she retained the title against Charlotte, and in turn gave Charlotte her first pay-per-view loss. At WrestleMania 33, in Bayley's WrestleMania debut, she retained the title against Charlotte, Banks and Nia Jax in a fatal four-way elimination match. On April 30, Bayley dropped the title to Alexa Bliss at Payback, ending her reign at 76 days. She failed to regain the title in a kendo stick on a pole match at Extreme Rules. In late July, Bayley again became the number one contender for the championship and was slated to face Bliss at SummerSlam in August, but she suffered a separated shoulder injury which left her unable to perform.
Bayley returned from her injury on the September 18, 2017, episode of Raw to help Sasha Banks fend off Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss. At No Mercy the next week, she lost a Fatal-5 Way match by being pinned by the defending Raw Women's Champion, Bliss. Bayley defeated Mickie James and Dana Brooke in a triple threat match to become the final member of Team Raw for a traditional five-on-five elimination tag team match at Survivor Series. Bayley was the first member of Team Raw to be eliminated during the match, but her team eventually won. On the January 1st Bayley announced that she is entering the women's Royal Rumble match. On Raw 25th anniversary Asuka, Sasha Banks, Bayley and Mickie James defeated Mandy Rose, Sonya Devile, Nia Jax and Alicia Fox with Sasha Banks making Alicia Fox tap out with the Banks Statement.
At the Royal Rumble 2018 Event, Bayley entered at Number 29 where she eliminated Nia Jax before getting eliminated by her best friend Sasha Banks. On the February 5th episode of Raw, Raw General Manager Kurt Angle announced Bayley as one of the participants of the first ever women's Elimination Chamber Match. At Elimination Chamber Alexa Bliss eliminated Bayley then eliminated Sasha Banks to retain her WWE Raw Womens Championship. On the March 5th episode of RAW, Bayley defeated Mandy Rose after the match, Absolution attacked Bayley, but then Sasha Banks came for an aid for Bayley, but Bayley pushed Sasha Banks away. On March 12, 2018 episode of RAW, after Banks defeated Sonya Deville, Bayley walked away from Banks, leaving Banks confused, showing signs of a heel turn.
Personal life
Martinez cites Randy Savage, The Rock, The Hardy Boyz, Lita, Ivory, Victoria and Triple H as her influences in wrestling. She enjoys juggling, pogo sticking and playing basketball.
In wrestling
- Finishers
- As Bayley
- Bayley to Belly / Hug-Plex (Belly to belly suplex)
- Bayley Elbow Drop (Diving elbow drop) — adopted from Randy Savage
- Scissored armbar – 2015
- As Davina Rose
- Rose Plant (Modified facebuster)
- with Sasha Banks
- Double knee backbreaker (Banks) into Bayley to Belly (Bayley)
- As Bayley
- Signature moves
- Bayleycanrana (Super frankensteiner, sometimes inverted)
- Diving back elbow, sometimes while performing a corkscrew
- Diving crossbody
- Dropkick
- Multiple suplex variations
- Belly-to-back Bayleyplex (Exploder, sometimes into the ring turnbuckle) German
- Running back elbow to a cornered opponent, often preceded by a running turnbuckle thrust with theatrics
- Guillotine choke with bodyscissors, rarely used as a finisher
- Headscissors armbar to a bent over opponent
- Hurricanrana
- Japanese arm drag
- Multiple running double axe handles, sometimes to an oncoming opponent
- Multiple running corner back elbows
- Multiple turnbuckle head smashes with theatrics
- Neck wrench, sometimes while applying a modified surfboard stretch
- Front powerslam, transitioned from a cornered opponent
- Springboard elbow drop to a tree of woe hung opponent
- Running corner clothesline
- Running knee drop
- One-handed bulldog, sometimes to a kneeling opponent
- Sliding clothesline to a seated opponent
- Running spinning back elbow to a seated opponent's back
- Running baseball slide, under the bottom turnbuckle
- Slip 'N Slide (Spinning on top of a face-down opponent)
- Springboard corkscrew arm drag
- Stunner to an opponent hung over the second rope
- Running reverse bulldog
- Entrance themes
- "Boyfriend" (Instrumental) by Hollywood Music (NXT; June 12, 2013 - September 4, 2014)
- "Turn It Up" by CFO$ (NXT; September 11, 2014 – Present)
Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Match of the Year (2015) vs. Sasha Banks at NXT TakeOver: Respect
- PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (2016)
- PWI ranked her #47 in the 2013 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #19 in the 2014 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #11 in the 2015 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #5 in the 2016 PWI Top 50 Females
- NXT
- NXT Women's Championship (1 time)
- NXT Year-End Award (2 times)
- Female Competitor of the Year (2015)
- Match of the Year (2015)
See also
External links
| 2015 PWI Top 50 Females |
|---|
| Nikki Bella • Paige • Sasha Banks • Santana Garrett • Gail Kim • Charlotte • Naomi • Cherry Bomb • Courtney Rush • Taryn Terrell • Bayley • Brie Bella • Sexy Star • Cheerleader Melissa • Lufisto • Nicole Matthews • Becky Lynch • Kimber Lee • Natalya • Jessicka Havok • Awesome Kong • Candice LeRae • Brooke • Athena • Ivelisse • Jade • Madison Rayne • Leva Bates • Barbi Hayden • Angelina Love • Emma • Saraya Knight • Veda Scott • Velvet Sky • Madison Eagles • Kay Lee Ray • Marti Belle • Kellie Skater • Nikki Storm • Evie • Heidi Lovelace • Tessa Blanchard • Portia Perez • Alicia Fox • Cat Power • Crazy Mary Dobson • Xandra Bale • La Rosa Negra • Malia Hosaka • Vanessa Kraven |
| 2016 PWI Top 50 Females |
|---|
| Charlotte Flair • Sasha Banks • Asuka • Becky Lynch • Bayley • Jade • Natalya • Gail Kim • Sexy Star • Sienna • Ivelisse • Madison Eagles • Nicole Savoy • Rosemary • Allie • Nicole Matthews • Kimber Lee • Candice LeRae • Paige • Heidi Lovelace • Evie • Cheerleader Melissa • Nia Jax • Santana Garrett • Naomi • Dana Brooke • Madison Rayne • Kay Lee Ray • Alexa Bliss • Lufisto • Amber Gallows • Marti Belle • Emma • Taylor Made • Vanessa Kraven • Su Yung • Ember Moon • Tessa Blanchard • Jessicka Havok • Shayna Baszler • Crazy Mary Dobson • Malia Hosaka • Thunder Rosa • Carmella • KC Spinelli • Veda Scott • Jessica James • Xandra Bale • Kaitlin Diemond • Eva Marie |
| 2017 PWI Top 50 Females |
|---|
| Asuka • Charlotte Flair • Alexa Bliss • Sasha Banks • Bayley • Io Shirai • Natalya • Sienna • Naomi • Kairi Sane • Mercedes Martinez • Shayna Baszler • Rosemary • LuFisto • Mayu Iwantani • Mia Yim • Allie • Ember Moon • Becky Lynch • Madison Eagles • Nicole Savoy • Nia Jax • Candice LeRae • Toni Storm • Hiroyo Matsumoto • Chelsea Green • Saraya Knight • Shazza McKenzie • Kay Lee Ray • Mickie James • Dakota Kai • Nicole Matthews • Alex Windsor • Deonna Purrazzo • Abbey Laith • Risa Sera • Viper • Carmella • Ruby Riot • Nikki Cross • Vanessa Kraven • Santana Garrett • Tessa Blanchard • Arisa Nakajima • Lady Lory • Shotzi Blackheart • Veda Scott • Alpha Female • Marti Belle • Zoey Skye |
