Bayley Reportedly Still Unsigned Amid WWE Contract Standoff

Bayley’s next contract with WWE has still not been finalized, and the delay is fueling growing speculation that she could be weighing outside options, including AEW.

Dave Meltzer addressed the situation on Wrestling Observer Radio, saying the situation boils down to one simple fact: Bayley has a decision to make, and she has not yet signed a new deal with WWE. Meltzer indicated that WWE appears to be holding off on any creative plans for her until that decision is made, comparing it to how AEW president Tony Khan sometimes handles talent whose contract futures are uncertain.

Meltzer laid out what he believes is the likely outcome either way. If Bayley re-signs, he expects her to return to television by attacking Lyra Valkyria, setting up a new program between the two. If she doesn’t sign, he suggested WWE may treat her July 18 loss to Valkyria at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Madison Square Garden as her unofficial send-off — meaning that match could end up being her final WWE television appearance.

Bayley has not appeared on WWE programming since that Madison Square Garden bout. She did wrestle once more after that, at a WWE live event in Bakersfield, California on July 26, but has otherwise been off WWE’s radar for weeks now.

The uncertainty has only intensified chatter about a potential AEW move. On Monday, Bayley posted an Instagram training video set to a song titled “All In,” captioning it “All or Nothing, baby.” Given that All In is one of AEW’s signature branded events, plenty of fans read the post as a not-so-subtle hint, though Bayley has offered no direct confirmation that it was meant that way.

Adding another layer to the speculation, Mercedes Moné shared a fan-made graphic imagining a Bayley vs. Moné match at AEW’s WrestleDream event. The two have a long and storied history together dating back to their days as Sasha Banks and Bayley in NXT, and any tease of them renewing that rivalry — inside or outside WWE — is bound to get attention.

Bayley herself has sounded introspective about where she stands in the business. In a mini-documentary built around her Saturday Night’s Main Event match, she talked about reassessing her career and recognizing her own value within the industry, saying she’s taking “a further look back at everything” and coming to a clearer understanding of her worth.

None of this confirms Bayley is leaving WWE, and it’s worth remembering that unsigned doesn’t automatically mean unwilling — plenty of long-tenured stars have let deals lapse during negotiations before ultimately staying put. But the combination of her creative absence, the pointed social media messaging, and the reported contract impasse gives this story real weight heading into the fall. If WWE truly is holding off on a Valkyria feud pending her signature, the next few weeks could determine whether Bayley’s Madison Square Garden loss was a stepping stone to a fresh rivalry — or the final chapter of her WWE run.