WWE Goes All Out with Bayley Heel Turn and More Raw Fallout

WWE went all out with the long-awaited Bayley heel turn on Raw, providing its flagship with a much-needed spark that generated social media buzz and led to Bayley being the No. 1 trend in the United States late Monday night.

The SmackDown women's champion turned on tag team partner Becky Lynch, beating her down with a steel chair before standing tall with Sasha Banks to close out the broadcast.

That blockbuster storyline development headlined a show that featured questionable creative regarding Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman's upcoming pay-per-view main event and excellence from one of the King of the Ring qualifiers.

Now, dive deeper into each of those topics with this recap of the September 2 episode. 

Long-Awaited Bayley Heel Turn Provides Late Spark for Episode

After a full year of pining for a Bayley heel turn, fans were rewarded for their patience at the end of this week's show when the SmackDown women's champion blasted Raw champion Becky Lynch across the back with a chair, much to the delight of Sasha Banks, who will challenge Lynch at Clash of Champions on September 15.

It was the best segment of the show, mostly because it made sense within the context of the story being told and propels feuds forward ahead of the next pay-per-view.

Bayley and Banks have been established friends for years now. The commentary team and backstage interviewers Charly Caruso and Sarah Schreiber all played up the relationship, wondering out loud what Bayley thought of The Boss' actions.

After refusing to speak on them earlier in the night, Bayley instead showed the WWE Universe, shockingly betraying her tag team partner and standing alongside Banks with a devious smile.

Now, the newly heel Bayley defends her title against Charlotte Flair, also a heel, at Clash of Champions. Does the writing team make Lynch and Flair reluctant partners to thwart the reunited Banks and Bayley, or do they remain separate entities forced to handle the onslaught of the besties on their own?

That there is potential for different avenues is a good thing and will only enhance the overall quality of storytelling in the women's division.

As long as the writers can effectively present a Bayley unlike the one we have been exposed to for the last five or so years. 

Does Anyone Really Care About Seth Rollins vs. Braun Strowman?

How is it possible that Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman are two of the top babyfaces in WWE, are current tag team champions and will battle for The Beastslayer's universal title at Clash of Champions, but the excitement for the match is essentially nonexistent?

The program was not helped by the events of Monday night's broadcast. AJ Styles pointed out the flaws in the story, reminding fans that all Strowman did to earn a championship opportunity was look at the coveted title.

There is no reason for the match and no emotional investment from fans. It is simply a case of two top stars being programmed against each other and expected to sell some network subscriptions.

Rollins did his best to sell the match on Raw, reminding Strowman he has conquered Brock Lesnar, but even that was not enough to drum up anticipation for the bout.

That Styles, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson left them lying without having much to do at all with the championship clash only further muddies the waters, giving a boost to the wrong act while leaving Rollins vs. Strowman cold just under two weeks from the event.

That WWE is bringing in "Stone Cold" Steve Austin to moderate their contract signing next week in Madison Square Garden reeks of desperation, but if there is anyone who can get fans to care about the Rollins-Strowman beef, it is the Texas Rattlesnake.

The King of the Ring Was Made for Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin has been exceptional throughout this King of the Ring tournament.

The former Raw general manager delivered a banger of a match with Cedric Alexander, bumping around for the former cruiserweight champion and making it look like the 205 Live export may actually beat him on more than one occasion.

Add to that his promo a week ago, during which he sat on the throne and placed the crown atop his shaved head and then arrogantly addressed the WWE Universe as if he had already claimed the prize, and you have a Superstar for whom the King of the Ring was created.

Corbin needs a boost after his main event run with universal champion Seth Rollins was essentially overshadowed by The Beastslayer's on-screen relationship with Becky Lynch. While Andrade, Chad Gable or Ali may benefit more from the boost the tournament victory would provide, there is no Superstar more ready to thrive as the obnoxious and overbearing King of the Ring than The Lone Wolf.

Taking into account his recent in-ring performances and the emotion he elicits when he enters arenas, Corbin is an A-plus heel who fans want to see beaten up. Add in a crown and scepter and you have a villain with nuclear heat and the missing ingredient to a sustained, headlining heel run.