Lyra Valkyria shocked fans on the June 22 episode of WWE RAW when she betrayed Bayley after their unsuccessful attempt to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships from Paige and Brie Bella.
At first, Bayley tried to comfort Valkyria following the loss. But instead of accepting the support, Valkyria snapped. She attacked Bayley multiple times and even hit her with Nightwing. Although officials came in to stop the brawl, Valkyria was successful in landing some strikes for the second time on her former partner.
The shocking betrayal left fans wondering why Valkyria finally turned on her longtime ally. Here are the three possible reasons-
Signs of tension had been building for weeks
Even though Bayley and Valkyria seemed to be on the same page, WWE had quietly hinted at problems between them.
One such moment happened during a backstage interview on the June 1 episode of RAW. The two were discussing their goals in the Queen of the Ring tournament and the tag team division when Valkyria suddenly spotted Sol Ruca.
Instead of talking about the tag titles, she immediately focused on a possible future match with the Women’s Intercontinental Champion. Bayley looked annoyed as she was left standing alone during the interview.
It may have seemed like a small moment, but it showed that the two women were starting to focus on different things.
WWE could be setting up a singles run for Valkyria
Another possible reason for the turn is that WWE sees Valkyria as ready for a major singles push. Her last title match with Ruca was probably a test for whether she is ready for singles. Both wrestlers were able to pull off “This is awesome” chants from the crowd.
A feud with Bayley allows Valkyria to show a different side of her character. The rivalry also gives Valkyria a chance to score a big win over one of WWE’s most accomplished stars, much like what WWE did for Sol Ruca. Defeating Bayley would immediately raise her profile and move her closer to championship contention.
Valkyria may feel Bayley was holding her back
The simplest explanation might be that Valkyria no longer believes teaming with Bayley enhances her career.
Despite spending over a year together, the pair never managed to win the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. They had several opportunities but always fell short when it mattered most. The loss on June 22 was probably the final straw.
From her point of view, staying with Bayley may have stopped her from chasing bigger goals. While other women competed for singles titles, Valkyria spent much of the past year focused on tag team success that never came.
Bayley’s attempts to guide and encourage her may also have become frustrating over time. What Bayley saw as support might have felt like unwanted advice to someone who already believed she could succeed on her own.
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