Backstage reaction to Bayley injury (Patreon)

Those that we've spoken to in WWE say that Bayley was training with another WWE star this week and that her "knee popped," and we've since heard that staff has been told it's a torn ACL, though we don't have an official word from Bayley or WWE. Fightful has been speaking to talent and staff since the news about potential plans. As of Friday afternoon, we heard that her injury may have actually caused plans to change for incoming talent.

Two talents on the Smackdown roster were openly frustrated that the company's lack of depth left them scrambling to find an appropriate replacement, with one saying "they did it to themselves," before noting that Bayley helped carry the company during the most difficult times and was known to be easy to deal with despite more always being asked of her.

As noted on Twitter, we're told the injury was a freak accident that happened while chain wrestling at WWE's mandatory return to road Performance Center training.