Bayley’s WWE Deal Nearing Expiration, AEW Watching Closely

Bayley’s next contract decision could turn into one of the bigger storylines in wrestling business over the second half of 2026. Her current WWE deal is believed to be running out before year’s end, though that timeline could shift if any injury time ends up tacked onto the contract.

The timing lines up with a heated on-screen program against Lyra Valkyria. Bayley dropped a match to Valkyria at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and Valkyria followed up during a commercial-break segment on Monday Night Raw by taunting her fallen rival, framing the loss as running Bayley out of the company. Whether that storyline beat ends up mirroring real-life business remains to be seen, but it has added extra intrigue to a contract situation that was already drawing attention behind the scenes.

AEW is said to have had Bayley’s deal on its radar for some time and is expected to make a serious push if she reaches the open market. One wrestling agent suggested Bayley would be smart to test free agency, arguing that however her negotiations shake out could help set the market for other top-tier WWE talent whose deals come up in the future. Both WWE and AEW are expected to be prepared to offer multi-year contracts worth millions of dollars to keep or land her, and AEW has reportedly had internal discussions about what a deal for Bayley might look like, with some conversations centering on bringing her in for close to a year’s worth of dates.

Bayley, a former WWE Women’s Champion and one of the promotion’s most established stars over the past decade, has not publicly commented on her contract status. For now, her rivalry with Valkyria continues to play out on WWE television, but the real-world storyline surrounding her future may end up being just as compelling as anything happening in the ring. As her deal edges closer to its end date, expect speculation about her next move to only intensify.

Bayley's contract and potential free agency have been a conversation in AEW for quite some time, with the company expected to be heavily interested and to make a play for her if she becomes available, @FightfulSelect has learned.

A number of sources had been discussing the… pic.twitter.com/Pv7vRtErjs

— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) July 21, 2026