September 29, 2023. Sacramento, California. Golden 1 Center. SmackDown. Bayley has dinged the so-called queen Charlotte on a regular basis since 2013. Lately, Charlotte has obsessively stuck her nose in Damage CTRL business as her endless quest to stalk championship gold rolls on. Bayley being the leader she claims she is welcomed this match with Charlotte to lead by example. I know, I know, that doesn't always go well for The Ladies. But I'm feeling optimistic because to be fair, Bayley maybe has continued to prove understandable doubts about her wrong.

Prior to the match, Charlotte tried to stir dissension between Damage CTRL by accusing Bayley of being WWE Women's Champion IYO SKY's championship handler. That was followed by the predictable after she beats Bayley she's going to challenge IYO to a championship match "revelation". Bayley took it to Charlotte as Dakota Kai and IYO cheered her on. Unfortunately, The Role Model let her frustration get the better of her falling to the spear. Charlotte wins.

This past week, Charlotte made a bold claim: Bayley isn't helping Dakota Kai and IYO SKY, she's holding them down. Earlier this year, Becky Lynch made the same claim. I won't argue they both have points... however, since that time Becky made such claims I thought Bayley had proven her wrong. Despite the loss here, Bayley showed leadership rallying SKY and Kai to corner Charlotte in the ring for an attack to take her out before she could come after the title. Sadly, Asuka decided to be the party pooper forcing Damage CTRL to take a strategic leave.

Asuka ranted in Japanese. Bayley's ego was goaded, assuming it was for an IYO, Asuka and Charlotte triple threat at Fastlane on October 7, 2023, and accepted. Except it wasn't. Dakota asked IYO what Asuka said but seemed aware-enough it wasn't for a triple threat. IYO literally told Bayley that wasn't what Asuka said. And so here we are, AGAIN. This was shades of Monday Night RAW February 20, 2023 when Bayley accepted a WWE Women's Tag Team Titles defense for Kai and SKY without their consent. Even promising them she'd not jeopardize their reign. Yet, she did.

IYO was understandably frustrated with Bayley calling for the triple threat match. Dakota didn't look thrilled with Bayley, however seamlessly shifted into keep things calm between her friends mode. Bayley went from looking insistent about her choice to taking a few steps away from Kai and SKY, perhaps reality beginning to sink in that she messed up.

Nobody doubts IYO SKY can handle both Asuka and Charlotte on her own. The problem is Bayley is again speaking for her TEAM. I hoped, maybe just maybe she was beyond this whole ego goaded stuff. But she's done it again. That track record doesn't bode well. It cost Sasha. It cost Kai and SKY the tag team titles. Bayley pulled this routine to get Kai, SKY and her in the trios match at WrestleMania 39 Saturday that they lost. Could the third time be a lucky charm for Damage CTRL? Or is that time fast approaching for both IYO and Dakota to make a decision?

On The SmackDown LowDown, Bayley persisted that she called for the triple threat because she was certain Asuka was going to. She insisted it's a positive because IYO can prove she's the greatest. IYO told Bayley again that Asuka didn't say what Bayley thought followed by firmly telling her Damage CTRL sister that she can speak for herself. IYO took her leave. Bayley asked Dakota what Asuka said. Dakota said she didn't know. Bayley asked Dakota to talk to IYO. Dakota said she would. Our Captain is clearly stuck in the middle and frustrated.