Bayley Becomes Number One Contender

The Role Model is officially coming for AJ Lee and her prestigious new championship. On the March 9 episode of Monday Night Raw, a massive multi-woman gauntlet match took place in Seattle to decide the first-ever number one contender to the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. The bout was a showcase of the entire division, starting off with a high-speed encounter between IYO SKY and Lyra Valkyria.

After a solid stretch of fast-paced action that kept the crowd on their feet, SKY was able to eliminate Valkyria from the contest with her signature moonsault. The momentum shifted instantly as Raquel Rodriguez entered the match and took control with her power-based offense. However, the championship landscape became even more chaotic when Royal Rumble winner Liv Morgan emerged from the back in an effort to stop SKY’s momentum. Despite the distraction, SKY managed to eliminate Rodriguez with a clever inside cradle pin.

The elimination did not sit well with Rodriguez, who further damaged SKY by launching a physical post-match attack after the bell. This opening allowed Ivy Nile to slide into the ring and eliminate a weakened SKY with ease. Bayley was the next entrant to the match, and the two traded multiple near-falls in a physical battle. Eventually, Bayley was able to take Nile out of the contest by delivering a thunderous Bayley-To-Belly slam.

Asuka was the final obstacle in Bayley’s path, accompanied to ringside by her Damage CTRL teammate Kairi Sane. The match entered a “dirty” phase at this point, as Asuka and Bayley traded stiff strikes and high-impact slams. Lyra Valkyria eventually returned to ringside to neutralize Sane’s interference, providing the opening Bayley needed. The veteran successfully pinned Asuka with her Roseplant finisher to win the entire gauntlet and secure her title opportunity.

Bayley is now officially scheduled to challenge AJ Lee for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship on the March 16 episode of Monday Night Raw. The match will take place at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, as the road to WrestleMania 42 reaches its final stages. This marks a personal showdown years in the making, as Lee famously wore Bayley’s merchandise during her final match over a decade ago.

While Bayley focuses on her upcoming title shot, the rest of the women’s division is preparing for a record-breaking weekend in the desert. WrestleMania 42 is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, 2026, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will feature Jade Cargill defending the WWE Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley, while Liv Morgan challenges Stephanie Vaquer for the Women’s World Championship. If Bayley can overcome Lee next week, she will likely head into the “Silver State” as the premiere mid-card champion for the red brand.

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