WWE’s SmackDown Women’s champ Bianca Belair has admitted Bayley’s recent injury was a “a blow to the whole locker room.”

One of WWE ’s top performers, Bayley was ruled out of action last month after suffering a suspected torn ACL in what was thought to be a training accident.

The former blue brand champ went under the knife around July 16th to help repair the damage, which is likely to keep her out of action for up to nine months.

The injury robbed Bayley of a title bout against Belair at WWE’s Money in the Bank pay per view, and a chance to perform in front of returning crowds at the company’s events.

The 32-year-old has had the warmest of wishes from fans all around the world, but colleague Belair admitted in an exclusive Daily Star Online interview that it was a tough one for the roster to swallow.

The reigning champ – who won the gold at WrestleMania this year – said her stricken pal had done plenty for her and others and reckons she doesn’t always get due credit for her high-quality performances.

“It was definitely difficult for the whole entire locker room, and I think that speaks volumes for Bayley,” said Belair.

“Bayley is so good at what she does, she makes it look so effortless and easy that sometimes I feel like she doesn’t get the credit she deserves.

“I always pay homage to Bayley because she was my first feud when I got to SmackDown and she helped introduce me to the WWE Universe.

“She is someone who goes to the table to eat, but she pulls up a seat alongside her so you can eat, too, and she did that for me.

“I learned so much from her, so it was definitely a blow for the whole locker room, we were all sad to see Bayley sidelined, especially me I loved my feuds with her, and I enjoyed it as much as everyone enjoys them when they watch it.”

For much of her career, Bayley had portrayed a good-girl character that was a firm favourite with WWE’s younger fans.

That all changed in the Autumn of 2019 when her on-screen persona was switched up to one far more bitter and angry.

Along with that came plenty of sass – which Belair admitted sometimes made it difficult for Bayley’s storyline rivals to keep a straight face.

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She added: “It’s so hard for me because Bayley used to get on my nerves so bad and annoy me!

“But sometimes we’d be in the ring doing a promo and she’d say something, and it was like ‘I can’t stand you!’, but I would have to hold back a laugh because it really was actually funny, even if it was offensive.

“We just can’t wait for her to get back – I can’t wait for her to get back.

“As soon as she’s back, I’m gonna be knocking at her door saying, ‘come fight me!’”

Catch Bianca Belair and the stars of WWE SmackDown each week, airing in the UK in the early hours of Saturday morning on BT Sport.

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