For the past few days, there have been rumors about Bayley possibly making her WWE TV return at Royal Rumble 2022, later this month. This was fueled up as the top Smackdown superstar responded to a tweet made by WWE and threatened to eliminate WWE The Bum host Kaylay Braxton from The Rumble if and when the latter opts to enter the 30-woman match.
Later, in a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that injured WWE Superstar Bayley’s return “could be as early as February but is more likely March” which ruled out the possibility of a major return at Royal Rumble 2022.
Michelle McCool Has Special Request To Vince McMahon Before WWE Royal Rumble 2022 Return
Bayley has since reacted to the report around the Women’s Royal Rumble 2022 Match via Twitter as she posted the following,
“OMG GOOD TO KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY ARE ALWAYS ACCURATE.”
OMG GOOD TO KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!! THEY ARE ALWAYS ACCURATE
— Bayley (@itsBayleyWWE) January 15, 2022
Bayley possibly recovered to return at Royal Rumble 2022
As noted last summer, Bayley underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL back in mid-July after suffering the injury while training in the ring at the WWE Performance Center for her scheduled match against Bianca Belair at Money in the Bank. It was noted then that she was expected to be on the shelf for around 9 months, which extended her absence up to mid-April, after WrestleMania 38.
Recently, WWE has also provided an update on former Women’s Champion Sasha Banks confirming reports that she is dealing with a foot injury. It was noted that Banks will be out of action for 6-8 weeks and will miss Women’s Royal Rumble 2022 matchup, later this month.
That being said, two of the Four-HorseWomen members will be missing the monumental event set for January 29. This is the reason WWE will be using a lot of former superstars in the upcoming matchup. To date, 19 superstars have been confirmed for the Women’s Royal Rumble 2022 match as the list goes as follows,
SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, Nikki A.S.H., WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella, WWE Hall of Famer Brie Bella, Shotzi, Natalya, Michelle McCool, Liv Morgan, Bianca Belair, WWE 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Carmella, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Queen Zelina Vega, Impact Knockouts Champion Mickie James, Tamina Snuka, Kelly Kelly, Aliyah, Summer Rae, Naomi, Shayna Baszler, WWE Hall of Famer Lita, 9 participants TBA.