Bayley, Lyra Valkyria in contention for WWE women’s match of the year as brutal feud reached breaking point
Bayley defeated Lyra Valkyria in a no-disqualification match on Monday Night Raw, bringing their months-long feud to a close. The contest’s intensity and physical set pieces prompted the article to argue that it belongs among WWE’s contenders for women’s match of the year.
The rivalry began after the former tag partners failed to win the women’s tag team titles in June, then Valkyria turned on Bayley and later made her submit at Saturday Night’s Main Event. In Fresno, the wrestlers used chairs, kendo sticks and other objects, with both crashing through a table; Bayley ultimately won by making Valkyria tap in a crossface. The article also cited Liv Morgan and Becky Lynch’s title match later that night as another standout bout.
In short
- Bayley beat Valkyria to end their feud.
- Their no-disqualification bout featured tables and other weapons.
- The match was tipped for WWE women’s match of the year contention.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The match has a strong case as a match-of-the-year contender: it paid off a months-long personal rivalry, used the no-disqualification stipulation for varied and memorable physical set pieces, and ended with a decisive submission after both wrestlers took risks. Bayley and Valkyria’s history as former partners also gave the violence and reversal of fortunes added emotional weight.
The case against
A spectacular finish and intense action do not by themselves make a match one of the year’s best; the story’s claim may depend on personal taste and how well the wrestling, pacing and character work held together throughout. Other bouts, including Morgan and Lynch’s title match that same night, may offer a stronger overall blend of in-ring quality, stakes and storytelling.
Explained simply
WWE is a professional wrestling company whose televised shows combine athletic performances with ongoing storylines. Raw is one of its weekly programmes, while Saturday Night’s Main Event is a special show; rivalries between wrestlers often unfold across several events.
Bayley and Lyra Valkyria had been partners in a women’s tag team before their relationship broke down. Their rivalry followed a failed attempt to win the women’s tag team titles, with each later facing the other in singles matches. WWE’s women’s division features both individual and tag team championships, and high-profile matches are often compared when fans discuss the year’s best bouts.