WWE
The road to WrestleMania is often described as the most chaotic time of the year for WWE Superstars, a sentiment that Lyra Valkyria learned firsthand heading into WrestleMania 41. The former NXT Women’s Champion was originally scheduled to team with Bayley to challenge Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships on the grandest stage of them all. However, plans changed drastically just twenty-four hours before the event when Bayley was taken out backstage in a storyline attack, leading to her being replaced by Becky Lynch—who was later revealed to be the attacker.
The emotional fallout of this last-minute switch and the behind-the-scenes reality of the situation are heavily featured in the second season of WWE Unreal. While the change resulted in a high-profile pairing with “The Man,” it was a bittersweet moment for Valkyria, who had been building a rapport with “The Role Model.” Speaking to Adrian Hernandez of Unlikely, Valkyria opened up about what she learned about the wrestling industry during those turbulent weeks and how she handled the sudden shift in creative plans.
“The Show Goes On”
Valkyria admitted that losing her original partner on the eve of the biggest show of the year was a difficult pill to swallow. She emphasized that the biggest lesson she took away from the experience was the industry’s ruthless requirement that the show must continue, regardless of personal feelings or setbacks.
“Just that the show goes on. It was very hard knowing Bayley wasn’t going to be part of that. I still very much hope that it means something absolutely massive is going to happen for her very soon, maybe WrestleMania, who knows. She is someone that deserves the world. It was very hard for me.”
Learning From Bayley’s Grace
Despite the disappointment of being pulled from the card, Bayley’s reaction to the situation seemingly left a lasting impact on her younger counterpart. Valkyria praised the veteran for her unwavering support and positivity, noting that she learned more from Bayley’s character than she did from the industry mechanics themselves. In a business often defined by ego, Bayley’s ability to remain happy for others stood out.
“She is someone that is there for everyone no matter what she is going through. I wouldn’t say I learned from the industry; I learned from Bayley because she is always happy for other people, no matter what. She’s so interested in everyone and supportive. I learned a lot from her on how to be (like that) even when things aren’t going your way.”
Fortunately for fans of their dynamic, the story has come full circle. Lyra Valkyria and Bayley are currently teaming together on WWE programming, finally getting the opportunity to showcase the chemistry that was momentarily disrupted at WrestleMania 41.
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