The subject of Bayley coaching the WWE’s women’s roster one day came up in conversation recently. All I can say is that she’s been a natural leader for years and that coaching is something she’s always talked about. I see her opening her own wrestling school someday, if not being an actual WWE executive, when she hangs up her boots. Even now, Bayley’s the go-to person backstage—always ready to help and elevate the women around her. She’s unselfish and passionate, constantly working to push the women’s division forward as a whole – not just herself. That’s a true role model and real leadership. When you talk about the women’s movement in life, not just wrestling, Bayley epitomizes what it needs to be and should be.
And on that note, let’s not forget about Natalya, the OG. She’s been leading the women’s division for years. SI called her the “Gatekeeper of Wrestling” for a reason—if you can’t hold your own in a match with Natalya, you’re not going to make it. She’s wrestled pretty much every woman in the business and is so giving in the ring. Like Bayley, she’s unselfish and committed to helping the next generation of women succeed. Along with being the Gatekeeper, it’s no coincidence she’s called the B.O.A.T. She makes us all the better inside AND outside the ring.
On the subject of female coaching and mentorship, I want to give a big shout-out to my first mentor in wrestling, Nikki Roxx, who is known from TNA. Nikki, a fellow New Englander, always stopped by the New England Pro Wrestling Academy to give me advice and train with me. She went out of her way to do so because I was the only girl training at my school. Nikki also taught me about working out, too. She didn’t have to do any of it, but it meant the world to me. I’m forever grateful to her. I hope to see other women out there. We must see and help one another when we can in this sport and in life. Love you, Nikki and thank you again.
