At WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, the long-running issues between Bayley and Lyra Valkyria finally came to a head.
For much of her stint on WWE’s main roster, Valkyria, a former NXT Women’s Champion, found herself associated with Bayley, one of the most decorated stars in the history of WWE’s women’s division. Then, on the June 22nd edition of Monday Night Raw, Valkyria finally snapped.
After much speculation that Bayley would betray her longtime friend, it was Valkyira who turned heel instead. That led to a major clash between Valkyria and Bayley at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event in Madison Square Garden, all amid major speculation regarding Bayley’s WWE future.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 2026 Results For Bayley Vs. Lyra Valkyria?
At WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, the newly heel Valkyria began her first main roster run as a villain on the right foot.
Valkyria defeated Bayley via submission to capture one of the biggest victories of her young career. The finish of the brutal bout came when Valkyria locked in a unique submission move and Bayley passed out rather than tap out.
Here are the key moments from Valkyria’s big victory at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 2026:
- Valkyria immediately attacked Bayley as the MSG crowd chanted in support of Bayley. On the outside, Valkyria took an elbow to the face and got busted open with what Michael Cole speculated was a possible broken nose, but she continued to fight through the injury.
- Bayley sent Valkyria over the tope and then hit a dive between the middle ropes. Valkyria was able to quickly turn things around and gain control. Bayley fought back with a back body drop then a creative pin for a two-count. She locked in the Boston crab on Valkyria, who ultimately pushed off Bayley.
- As Bayley climbed to the top rope, Valkyria followed her and hit a neck breaker onto the turnbuckle. Back in the ring, Valkyria nailed a top rope leg drop to the back of Bayley’s head, which got her a two-count. The two stars exchanged haymakers in the middle of the ring before Valkyira attempted a spinning leg kick and was caught and tossed by Bayley.
- Bayley hit a sunset flip bomb, sending Valkyria into the turnbuckle. Bayley missed a Rose Plant, then slammed Valkyria face-first into the mat and locked in a cross face. Valkyria picked Bayley up and sent her throat-first into the ring ropes.
- Bayley went for the Bayley-to-Belly, but Valkyria escaped, took Bayley down and locked in a unique modified sleeper submission. Bayley passed out as the ref called the match in favor of Valkyria.
- After the match, Valkyria attacked Bayley and smashed her onto the steel ring steps before exiting.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 2026 Results: What’s Next For Bayley And Lyra Valkyria?
There continues to be widespread speculation about Bayley’s WWE future, and her brutal lss at Saturday Night’s Main Event is only going to stoke those flames.
Bayley’s WWE contract reportedly expires next year, and she has been somewhat outspoken regarding her creative frustrations over the past year or so. More recently, AEW’s Mercedes Mone, Bayley’s former tag team partner, has been fueling those rumors on social media as of late.
Two years ago, Bayley won the Royal Rumble and then captured the world title at WrestleMania, but since then, she’s been stuck in midcard purgatory. Much of her time in the midcard has been devoted to a seemingly never-ending storyline with Valkyria, and the early trajectory of that feud suggested Bayley would turn heel.
WWE, however, never moved forward with that turn, and instead, it was Valkyria who moved to the dark side. That was a huge missed opportunity because Bayley badly needed a heel turn and has proven to be much better in that role. Now, Bayley is stuck treading water, still being associated with Valkyria, only this time as a rival instead of a tag team partner.
As WWE has recently parted ways with longtime stars like Sheamus and The New Day, the creative team doesn’t seem too concerned with pushing established stars who aren’t solidified as top acts. Bayley fits that role, and she’s being used accordingly, which doesn’t bode well for her future.
After Bayley’s loss at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, her feud with Valkyria is likely going to continue in the short term, but Bayley’s long-term projection looks pretty bleak.
