Since the beginning of time, similar “gimmicks” or terms used by wrestlers in different promotions riles up the fan base of wrestling. It is quite easy to overlap with what is done and said as there is always a similar formula.
AEW’s Britt Baker spoke with Chris Jericho on Talk is Jericho about using the term “role model” to refer to herself on screen. She says it was pure coincidental and isn’t a reflection of Bayley who has been using it in WWE.
She expressed to Jericho the following:
“While we’re on the topic of that, no, we did not steal the ‘Role Model’ from Bayley because that’s like a daily thing and I know we’ve talked about it too, how the inspiration came from you, from Chris Jericho for the ‘Role Model’ gimmick. I’m not… I don’t wanna say I don’t know totally what’s going on with RAW and SmackDown because I try to stay in touch with it but at the same time, I’m a dentist and a professional wrestler.
I don’t know every single storyline or [what’s] going on each week. So, it wasn’t until I actually said the words ‘Role Model’ on TV and then I got the Bayley army coming at me. ‘You’re stealing her gimmick’ [like] I even knew she was calling herself that too. Granted, totally different uses of the words, totally different gimmicks as we call it. But I just kinda wanted to set the record straight that no, we didn’t steal that from anybody. Well I stole it from you [Chris Jericho], not from her.”
Jericho’s response to this was that people tend to “steal” things from one another as it is. Regardless if it is on purpose or just to emulate them. He is aware that both Bayley and Sasha Banks have watched a lot of what he and Eddie Guerrero had done. That coupled with the fact that Jericho more than likely took the “role model” aspect from someone else as it is.
Baker would add to her statement by saying: “They’re great, They’re absolutely great. I love them. I think they’re super entertaining, but it’s just completely, totally different than my character and what I’m portraying.”
It makes perfect sense as to why Bayley started focusing on the “role model” gimmick once she made her heel turn. She was always referenced as one when she was a face, so as a heel it is logical to put that in the forefront to get a reaction to her character.
What are your thoughts on this? Leave what you are thinking in the comment section below.
Transcription credit goes to Pro Wrestling Sheet.
