Why Bayley Was The MVP Of The Pandemic Era (& 5 Greater Alternatives)

The pandemic era has been difficult for the professional wrestling industry and it has forced the best out of professional wrestlers. Bayley is one that has stepped up and thrived within this period, proving just how talented, creative, and entertaining she truly is, becoming arguably the true MVP of the era.

Some wrestlers have unfortunately struggled in this era, clearly needing the live audience to bounce off of both in the ring and in promos. However, there are others who have taken the situation and ran with it, giving Bayley a true run for her money in terms of being the top star of this historic period of time.

10 Bayley: Tag Team & Singles Star

Bayley has proven her versatility throughout the pandemic era, which is one of the reasons she has been the greatest star. Her ability to work in both the tag team and singles division is something she deserves big credit for.

She and Sasha Banks ran the women's tag team scene and did an amazing job with it, but Bayley also stood out as a singles star as well. They outworked everyone, appearing on all three brands which really helped to raise their stock.

9 Greater Alternative: Roman Reigns

While Roman Reigns wasn't around for the entire pandemic era like Bayley, when he did turn up, The Tribal Chief made a statement. Finally turning heel and aligning with Paul Heyman, the two men have created magic together.

Roman's attitude shift has been incredible to see and his in-ring performances have found a new level. His trash-talking in the ring is always fun to watch, while the family storyline that runs through everything he does has made all of his rivalries compelling, which is a credit to him.

8 Bayley: A Memorable Rivalry

There have been plenty of good feuds during the pandemic era, and while they'd all have been improved by fans, Bayley and Sasha Banks had arguably the greatest. Spending time as a team until Bayley surprisingly turned on Sasha was fantastic.

They brought the best out of each other inside the ring and during promos and it helped to create something truly special that fans were able to easily invest in.

7 Greater Alternative: Apollo Crews

Apollo Crews may not have been in the main event scene, but he deserves a lot of credit for the work he's put together in this period. Having held the United States and Intercontinental Championships, Apollo has clearly stepped up and proven his ability during this time.

Apollo has finally shown a different side to himself that isn't just smiling and that personality change has made him become one of the most important stars for WWE in this period.

6 Bayley: Epic Promos

Bayley has always been a good talker, but it wasn't until the pandemic era when she really took that to new levels. Bayley has developed her own cocky personality that saw her go over the top with everything in a way that proved to be really funny.

Whether it be trash-talking in the ring or on the microphone, Bayley has just become so much more confident. On top of that, she's been able to gain her own talk show, which has become a highlight of SmackDown.

5 Greater Alternative: Randy Orton

Randy Orton is another wrestler who has really shone brightly during this period of time. While everybody is well aware that Orton is one of the best, this period has been one of his greatest in terms of detailed character work.

From his storyline with Edge to the work against Drew McIntyre and The Fiend, Orton has done a variety of work and been great in all the roles. The tiny details he has added to his work and the amazing promos that he's put together have helped cement Orton as a top star for this period.

4 Bayley: Work With Michael Cole

One of the best reasons that Bayley has been the MVP of this era is the relationship she's created with Michael Cole. Bayley made the most of the fact that with a nearly empty area she could hear Cole talking on his headset.

Because she could clearly hear what Cole was saying about her matches, Bayley reacted and trash-talked back. She would make a point of targeting Cole throughout her entrances and it became a moment of pure joy for fans, helping Bayley stand out in the process.

3 Greater Alternative: MVP

During the pandemic era, MVP has done a brilliant job for WWE, all without competing often inside the ring. His promos and story development have been second to none, having taken three talents to new heights.

MVP's promos helped guide Bobby Lashley to the top of the WWE mountain, which is something he deserves major credit for. He has often taken on countless segments in one night and has always done a great job, proving his talent.

2 Bayley: Her SmackDown Women's Championship Reign

The main reason that Bayley has been the MVP of this period is because of her epic run as SmackDown Women's Champion. Bayley spent 380 days with the title and became the top star of the women's division.

She was an incredible champion that carried the entire SmackDown women's division and helped to take the blue brand to new heights. Bayley managed to achieve all of this without even having the fans around, which just makes it even more impressive.

1 Greater Alternative: Sheamus

The Celtic Warrior is somebody who could legitimately give Bayley a run for her money when it comes to being the MVP of this period. While Bayley developed her character work, Sheamus stepped up with some unforgettable matches.

He has put together an amazing body of work in this period with a high match quality that few can compete with. His hard-hitting style has made his matches refreshing to watch in comparison to others, which is a credit to his work.

NEXT: 10 Backstage Stories About Sheamus We Can't Believe