In a match that was 30% athleticism, 70% emotional trauma, and 100% banger, Lyra Valkyria proved once again that she is not here to play—unless it’s play dead mid-match before countering with a Jackknife pin. On this week’s Raw, she faced her toughest opponent yet: Bayley, a founding member of the Four Horsewomen and part-time hugger turned full-time heartbreaker.
Opening the show like it was WrestleMania Lite, the Women’s Intercontinental Champion locked horns with Bayley in a match that had more grapples than a group chat argument. Valkyria came in fresh off wins over Dakota Kai and Ivy Nile—one a tactician, the other a human kettlebell—but this was a whole different animal. A Horsewoman. That’s boss battle energy.
The opening moments featured technical finesse, some stiff strikes, and a flying knee to Valkyria’s face that said, “Welcome to the deep end.” Bayley nearly turned Valkyria into a corner decoration, but the champion fought back with wild grapples and counters smoother than a Heyman promo.
Midway through, Valkyria’s back gave out on a “Nightwing” attempt (which sounds like a DC crossover, but we digress), allowing Bayley to take control. She hit a top-rope Superplex that had the Minneapolis crowd chanting “This is awesome!”—a sacred rite usually reserved for Canadian Destroyers and surprise John Cena appearances.
Bayley locked in a Boston Crab like she was reenacting WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2006, and Valkyria screamed like someone had spoiled House of the Dragon mid-hold. But the champ wriggled free, countered the Roseplant, and—like a queen escaping drama at brunch—rolled Bayley up with a Jackknife cover for the 1-2-3.
Post-match, Valkyria tried to keep it classy with a handshake. Bayley initially ghosted her like an awkward Tinder date—but then, in a shocking turn of sportswomanship (and possibly a setup for more slow-burn drama), came back and hugged it out. Emotional damage? Minimal. Respect? Maximum.
Lyra Valkyria’s reign is now sitting pretty at 85 days, and if you’re not watching her matches yet, you might be part of the problem.