WWE
Bayley has publicly called out Tatum Paxley for a potential match at the John Cena Classic, the new WWE event announced at Backlash 2026. After a fan post on X expressed interest in voting for Bayley vs. Paxley, Bayley tagged the NXT Women’s North American Champion and asked if she was ready for a match. Paxley responded that she was. The exchange can be viewed in Bayley’s X post here. The interaction is the first time wrestlers have publicly engaged with the new event’s main roster vs. NXT format.
Bayley vs. Tatum Paxley Could Be A John Cena Classic Highlight
Paxley signed with WWE in 2021 and has been a fixture on NXT, defeating Jacy Jayne last year to win the Women’s North American Championship for a short 24-day reign before reclaiming the title. The proposed match-up with Bayley fits the John Cena Classic concept perfectly — a respected main roster veteran against an emerging NXT champion, with fans potentially crowning the winner regardless of the match outcome. The exchange has already generated buzz among fans pushing for the bout to be formally booked.
Bayley’s Recent Focus On Mentoring And NXT Talent
Bayley has built a clear reputation for mentoring younger wrestlers both inside and outside of WWE. She’s hosted multiple Lodestone Wrestling Seminars to help develop the next generation of talent. In the ring, she teamed with Lyra Valkyria for a women’s tag team title push last year, including the fatal four-way at WrestleMania 42 that was ultimately won by Brie Bella and Paige. Bayley also returned to AAA last weekend to assist Lola Vice and La Catalina during an ambush from Las Toxicas. A John Cena Classic match against a rising NXT champion like Paxley would fit cleanly within that mentorship-driven direction she’s been operating in.
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