• Bayley Reveals The Original Name WWE Wanted Her To Use
Bayley revealed that the name she uses now was not her first choice and that WWE tried to give her a name similar to the one she used before she joined the company.
Speaking on The Undertaker’s Six Feet Under podcast, Bayley said that when she was starting in NXT, she had to give WWE officials a list of names. She wanted to use a name that could be used for either a man or a woman because she felt that was a unique idea at the time.
However, the names she chose were not approved. Instead, the company sent her back a short list of three names to pick from. Bayley remembers that one of the names WWE approved was “Davia,” which was an attempt to keep it close to the “Davina Rose” name she used on the independent circuit. Bayley thought “Davia” was not even a real name and did not like it.
Rob Naylor, who worked closely with the late Dusty Rhodes, told Bayley that the team wanted to put her on TV that very week, so she had to choose quickly or wait. Faced with a deadline, Bayley chose “Bailey” from the list.
She then successfully asked for a slight change in the spelling, moving from B-A-I-L-E-Y to B-A-Y-L-E-Y, to honor the “Bay Area” where she is from. She joked that even now, Lyra Valkyria makes fun of her for the small spelling change.
• CM Punk Explains Why He Ignored WWE Order Not To Honor Randy Savage
CM Punk recalled a direct confrontation with a high-ranking WWE executive over his choice of ring attire, detailing a backstage incident where he was explicitly ordered not to wear gear paying tribute to “Macho Man” Randy Savage.
During an appearance on WWE’s Break It Down series, Punk explained that the pink attire was intended as a double tribute: a nod to one of his favorite looks on Savage, specifically the gear worn at WrestleMania III against Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, and a realization that the color pink complements him well.
After commissioning the gear, Punk stated that an unnamed, very senior figure within the WWE office walked past, saw the outfit, and issued a clear command: “Do not wear that gear on television.”
True to his rebellious persona, Punk’s reaction was simply to agree and then proceed to wear the tribute gear anyway, explaining, “That’s what I do. I’m gonna pay homage to Randy Savage whether you like it or not.”
He justified his defiance by explaining his deep connection to Savage. Punk identified as a “hardcore wrestling fan” who historically gravitated toward talented wrestlers they felt were unfairly overshadowed – in his view, Savage was the one who should have had the spotlight reserved for figures like Hulk Hogan.
Punk noted that this same rebellious passion, both his own for Savage and the passion fans in turn show for him, is what has fueled his entire wrestling career.
