Bayley absent since SNME as Meltzer weighs WWE re-signing amid AEW speculation

Bayley has not appeared on WWE programming since her match with Lyra Valkyria on the July 18 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event at Madison Square Garden, and reports say her current contract is due to expire before the end of 2026. Dave Meltzer, in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, suggested she could re-sign with WWE rather than test free agency.

WWE is reportedly interested in retaining the former Women’s Champion but no contract extension has been signed, fueling speculation about a move to AEW. Bayley added to the conjecture with an Instagram video showing her training alongside AJ Lee and AEW star Mercedes Moné, captioned "all or nothing, baby" and set to The Grouch & Eligh’s song "All In." The post drew attention because "All In" is closely associated with AEW and its biggest annual pay-per-view, which is set to air next weekend in London.

Meltzer noted that Bayley has been mentioned several times on episodes of Monday Night Raw since her match with Valkyria and argued WWE would be unlikely to keep acknowledging her by name if officials did not expect her to remain with the company. In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter he speculated the Role Model could re-sign with WWE rather than enter free agency.

Bayley’s Instagram clip showed her training with several wrestlers and included AEW’s Mercedes Moné in the footage. The choice of soundtrack immediately attracted attention because of its ties to AEW and its London pay-per-view scheduled for next weekend.

Her friend and former WWE star Sasha Banks (aka Mercedes Mone in AEW) and many fans have publicly urged Bayley to sign with AEW, and a report from WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful said Bayley’s social-media post "did not land well with everyone" within WWE. Those reactions have intensified debate about her next move amid the contract uncertainty.

Timelines for Bayley’s deal remain unclear: some reports indicate the contract is expected to expire in late 2026, around the fourth quarter, while Observer’s Bryan Alvarez has speculated the agreement actually runs until January 2027. There has been no official confirmation of the exact expiration date or of any extension.

As of now Bayley’s future is unresolved and there is no clarity if she will join AEW or sign an extension with WWE; fans and media are awaiting the next update.