In late 2025, Bayley hosted a self-funded, multi-day all-women’s wrestling camp called Lodestone, which brought together top talent and iconic guests. Among the attendees was Canadian independent wrestler Dreya Mitchell, who shared her intense experience meeting John Cena at the camp just days before his retirement match.
Held in December, the unique camp featured participants such as Izzy, Gabby Forza, Rachel Armstrong, Dani Mo, Janai Kai, Brooke Havok, Nor Diana, Liviyah, and Nikki Blackheart. Distinguished wrestling figures including John Cena, Lyra Valkyria, Charlotte Flair, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, and Natalya also visited, elevating the event’s prestige while emphasizing its focus on supporting and growing women’s wrestling.
Dreya Mitchell’s Journey to the Camp and Encounter with Wrestling Icons
Dreya Mitchell recounted how Pat Laprade covered her flight expenses to ensure her presence at Lodestone, alongside her close friend Leah Sparks. The camaraderie of having a familiar face in an intense environment added to the experience’s emotional depth.
That whole week was a dream. Being there with one of my close friends, Leah Sparks, the only two Canadians, it was really nice to have that person who knows me and I know her. What I learned, people I met, John Cena,
Mitchell said.
John Cena arrived at the camp on December 6, nearly a week before his scheduled retirement bout against Gunther, surprising many attendees who had been exclusively focused on Bayley.
The whole day, we didn’t know that any guests were going to swing by. We were all there for Bayley. She was so generous with her time and her money. Having her there and caring so much about women’s wrestling and its evolution was so meaningful. Charlotte Flair coming in. Rhea, Bianca, Nattie, TJ. It was an overload. The people I panicked the most with were Bianca and John. Bianca, what can I say about her? Especially as a Black girl, it’s nice to see someone going to go to those heights in the sport. She was a big inspiration. Her chilling there and being like, ‘I like your stuff.’ ‘Me? Little old me?’
Inspiration from Bianca Belair and the Unexpected Meeting with John Cena
During a practice day at the camp, Dreya took the opportunity to speak with Bianca Belair, who praised Dreya’s character and the life she brought to her performance, a rare moment of validation for the rising wrestler.
The day she came in and it was more of a practice, we didn’t do matches. We did little mock matches, but not too much. I went to talk to her. She loved my character and said I had a lot of life into it. I’m like, ‘Okay, I did something good.’ With John, it was weird because that was the last day we were doing matches. I went to change and I just hear everyone whooping and clapping. I’m in the bathroom like, ‘Wait a minute, what am I missing?’ I go out and Bayley just goes, ‘This is my friend John.’ I turned the corner and was like, ‘Oh. Okay.’ I told Ella Envy, ‘I’m about to poop my pants. Legit. I’m gonna crap my pants. This is John Cena, who is retiring a week later.’ I missed the chance to watch him wrestle live in Toronto. I was really sad about that, but the universe has my back and gave me the chance to meet him and get feedback from him.
The presence of Cena, a wrestling legend, added significant weight to the camp’s atmosphere, marking a bittersweet moment as he prepared for his final televised match in the ring.
Upcoming Match and Continued Career Developments
Dreya Mitchell will soon showcase her skills in a highly anticipated match against veteran Mercedes Martinez at North Shore Pro Wrestling on April 11. The encounter highlights her growing profile in the wrestling scene, bolstered by the connections and lessons gained at Lodestone.
This camp not only provided invaluable mentorship and inspiration for Dreya and other participants, but also underscored Bayley’s commitment to advancing women’s wrestling. The integration of seasoned stars like John Cena and Bianca Belair created an inspirational environment for emerging talent, which may influence the future trajectory of many careers in the sport.
