Bayley vs. AJ Lee Connects Women's Wrestling Past, Present, and Future

The two former champions face off for the Women's Intercontinental Championship on 'WWE Raw'

Mar. 14, 2026 at 5:23pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Bayley will challenge AJ Lee for the Women's Intercontinental Championship on this Monday's 'WWE Raw', a match that connects the past, present, and future of women's wrestling. Bayley, part of the influential 'Four Horsewomen', helped usher in the Women's Revolution, while Lee was one of the most popular figures at the start of that movement before departing WWE for over a decade. Their match marks a culmination of the hard work Bayley and others have put in to elevate the women's division.

Why it matters

Bayley and Lee's match represents the evolution of women's wrestling, from the Attitude Era stars that inspired Bayley, to the Four Horsewomen that led the Women's Revolution, to the current crop of global superstars. It shows how far the division has come and the lasting impact of those who helped drive that change.

The details

Bayley and Lee first met in the nascent days of NXT when Lee was the Divas Champion. Now, 13 years later, they'll clash for the Women's Intercontinental Championship, a title that didn't even exist when they last faced off. Bayley earned this opportunity by winning a grueling gauntlet match against several top stars, including Ivy Nile, whom Bayley praised for her impressive growth and work ethic.

  • Bayley and Lee first met in the NXT ring 13 years ago when Lee was the Divas Champion.
  • Bayley won the gauntlet match on last Monday's 'WWE Raw' to earn the title shot against Lee.

The players

Bayley

A member of the influential 'Four Horsewomen' group that helped usher in the Women's Revolution in WWE.

AJ Lee

A former Divas Champion who was one of the most popular and influential figures at the start of the Women's Revolution, before departing WWE for over a decade.

Ivy Nile

An up-and-coming star whom Bayley praised for her impressive growth and work ethic after their match in the gauntlet.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“[The women's division] is definitely the strongest it's ever been, and that's saying a lot. I grew up wanting to do this based on how amazing the women were in the Attitude Era with Trish, Lita, Gail Kim, Victoria, Molly Holly. Right now, I think we have such a strong division, with women who come from all over the world, from all different backgrounds — it's really cool to think that we have something or someone for everyone.”

— Bayley (Uncrowned)

“To me, lately, what's been the true testament is seeing the Bellas come back, seeing AJ Lee come back and want to be a part of this, mix right in with us, even be a little intimidated, want to step their game up. It's so cool because when we were coming up and when we were trying to build the division, we were thinking about the present, how big we wanted to make it at that time and how much we wanted to inspire the future. We never really considered people from the past wanting to come back to be a part of it. I think it's been like a cherry on top of the work that we put in.”

— Bayley (Uncrowned)

What’s next

Bayley's match against AJ Lee for the Women's Intercontinental Championship on 'WWE Raw' could have major implications for her path to WrestleMania 42, with the potential to secure a spot on the card for WWE's biggest event of the year.

The takeaway

Bayley and AJ Lee's match represents the evolution of women's wrestling, connecting the past, present, and future of the division. It's a testament to the hard work of Bayley and others who helped drive the Women's Revolution, and shows how far the sport has come in embracing and elevating its female talent.