WWE SummerSlam: Bayley, Dakota Kai and Io Shirai confront Bianca Belair-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro

Bayley, Io Shirai and Dakota Kai confronted Bianca Belair at SummerSlam (Picture: WWE)

The WWE Raw women’s division got a massive boost at SummerSlam as Bayley made her return with Dakota Kai and Io Shirai by her side.

Triple H has been at the helm of both talent relations and creative for less than a week, but he’s leaving his mark as the shock alliance was formed in Nashville as Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair had a target on her chest.

After beating Becky Lynch in a stunning opening match – which was delivered at a breakneck pace perfectly playing up to their history – the EST of WWE celebrated her big win.

However, it was shortlived as Bayley’s music hit and the Role Model made her highly anticipated comeback to the roar of the crowd – but she didn’t come alone.

First, Dakota made her own return months after she was released from the company earlier this year as part of repeated roster cuts.

It’s a great sign that Triple H has already brought back one of his own NXT proteges and put them straight into a prominent spot.

Similarly, the duo were joined by fellow black and gold alumni Io Shirai, who had been rumoured to be on her way out of the company with no main roster debut in sight.

The formidable trio stepped in the ring with Belair in their sights, but she had backup in the unlikely form of Becky Lynch.

Bayley is back and she’s got Io Shirai and Dakota Kai for company (Picture: WWE)

This was exactly the kind of injection of energy and unpredictability SummerSlam needed to prove that Triple H will be making some big changes across the board.

Bayley’s injury in July 2021 came at a tough time when WWE was poised to welcome fans back on SmackDown the very next week ahead of UK tours in September and November.

After shifting to a more villainous persona shortly before the pandemic, she came into her own and carried the company through the PC and ThunderDome era, and she was excited to see how fans respond to her character.

‘I’m interested to see how they react to me when I come back,’ she exclusively told Metro.co.uk at the time. ‘I just feel so grateful that [WWE] gave me the opportunity to show a different side to me and show that I can be so much more. I’ve been having the best time!’

She added: ‘This is definitely some of the most fun matches and moments and stories that I’ve been in my career. It hasn’t even been in front of actual fans! So I can’t wait to get in front of fans and be able to share that with them.’

WWE SummerSlam is available to stream on the WWE Network.

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