This is how AJ Lee saved Bayley's WWE career and inspired the Hugger Era

Bayley is one of the most popular WWE Superstars, but her journey was not always easy. Before becoming the “Role Model,” she had to work hard to find her place. She did not always feel confident or sure about her character. But with some good advice and fan support, Bayley found her famous “Hugger” gimmick that made her stand out.
Bayley has now opened up about her early days in WWE. She spoke about the struggles she faced and how WWE legend AJ Lee helped her in a big way. That moment helped Bayley grow and build the character that fans loved for years.

Bayley did not plan to become the “Hugger.” It started during a match with AJ Lee on NXT. Something simple she did in the ring got a big reaction from the fans, and everything changed after that. In a chat on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, she shared:
"It was actually my match with AJ, we were doing something where I literally went to hug and I was just going to hug her as a fan, and then just me hugging her got a crazy reaction ... the next match, they just started chanting like 'Bayley's gonna hug you,' and that was never my thought of being like 'Oh I'm gonna be a hugger,' ... but it was from that match."

Bayley said the crowd helped shape her character. She also shared that the idea for her “Hugger” style came from a movie character she loved growing up.
"My character came from Superstar Molly Shannon, Superstar the movie. That's where I stemmed it from. I was like, 'Okay I can have all the nervous antics like her and then I could just be a super fan.' And Dusty [Rhodes] loved it."

When Bayley first joined WWE, she felt out of place. She did not dress like the other women and was scared that she might lose her job. That is when AJ Lee stepped in to help her feel better and stay true to herself.
"I thought I was going to get fired my first month because I wasn't girly enough, cause I didn't dress the part ... one of my bosses I guess asked AJ to talk to me because I was not dressed appropriately as in like, I didn't look presentable enough," Bayley recalled.

AJ did not agree with the criticism and gave Bayley advice that made a big difference.
"She looked at him, kind of annoyed at him, and was like 'I got it.' And then grabbed my arm and talked to me for an hour ... basically told me, 'You don't have to change yourself to get to where you want to be, but you do work for this company, so you need to meet them halfway' ... that again changed everything for me and that was when I started figuring out the hugger stuff."
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Bayley’s story shows how tough the start can be, but with help, belief, and fans by her side, she found her way. Thanks to the advice of AJ Lee and her own creativity, the “Hugger” became one of the most loved characters in WWE history.