Bayley on why she turned heel and why she decided to cut her hair

Former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley was interviewed on The New Day: Feel The Power podcast. She was on to talk about her topping the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Women’s 100, her heel turn, her feud with Sasha Banks and much more.

Here are some highlights from the interview:

Bayley talked about the process of her turning heel: “I think because I did that (babyface) character for so long, as much as it was me, I felt with my age and what I was doing in my life and where I was in my career, literally growing up starting as a super bubbly babyface, that I was in awe to be there. I was like a little kid with a ponytail. But I felt myself growing up from having these championship matches in NXT, to winning the title in Brooklyn, to being the leader of the locker room once Charlotte, Sasha, and Becky got called up.  It was a real gradual growth.  It took a couple years, but it was time for a change and I didn’t want to be the same character for the rest of my career. I felt like I had more to give. But, I didn’t think they were ever going to give me that chance until I had this random thing where I hit Becky with a chair. At the last Hell In A Cell, I cried when I lost the title. I was like, I can’t come back as the same person. I really fought for the change to take my career in a different direction. Honestly, it was the scariest, but the best decision that I’ve ever made and I’m so happy they allowed me to do that. I feel like the first seven years of my career, I dedicated to the fans. I gave back to the little kid in me in how I believed in my heroes because I wanted to be that for the kids. But, I feel like at this end of my career is now, just about me. I’m going to do what I have to do to get to that next level.”

Bayley talked about her hairstyle: “Jackie from makeup is the one who cuts my hair. She’s so cool whenever she has an idea. She thought we should go a little bit shorter. I said, ok. I don’t know anything about hair, makeup, or fashion. I trusted her and said ok. The first time she started cutting it really short, I was like, oh no, that’s way too short. She fixed it and I thought I don’t look like a badass. She said what would look cool is if we shave the back of it. I said ok, I trust you and she shaved the back of it. There is a guy by the name of Josh that puts in the back of it. The Undertaker’s daughter is a huge fan of mine. Michelle McCool will text me and say her daughter started shaving stuff on the back of her head. I wanted to have this Egyptian look to me.  I wanted Egyptian eye makeup. I wanted Egyptian colors. I wanted my gear to look Egyptian but it happened so fast, I didn’t have time to find the right gear. I had no time to even put much thought into it. All I knew is I wanted to cut my hair because I had to be the complete opposite of everything I was.”

If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The New Day: Feel The Power with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription