On August 22, 2015, WWE’s NXT brand delivered what would soon be hailed as one of the greatest women’s matches in professional wrestling history. Bayley and Sasha Banks headlined NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn in a deeply emotional and thrilling contest for the NXT Women’s Championship at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Now, 10 years later, Bayley is celebrating that milestone moment, reflecting on a match that helped redefine women’s wrestling and arguably sparked the beginning of WWE’s Women’s Revolution.
A Match That Changed Women’s Wrestling Forever
The showdown between Bayley and Sasha Banks at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn marked a historic turning point inside WWE’s developmental territory. The match combined incredible in-ring storytelling, athleticism, and emotional depth that resonated powerfully with fans and critics alike. It was the first NXT TakeOver staged outside Full Sail University, performed on a grander stage to a record crowd of 15,589 fans, putting NXT on the biggest platform it had seen to date[1][2].
Throughout the match, both competitors showcased their signature moves and resilience. The intensity reached an emotional peak when Bayley, overcoming pain and near-falls, executed the perfect Bayley-to-Belly suplex to claim the NXT Women’s Championship from Sasha Banks, sparking thunderous applause and admiration from the live audience and viewers worldwide[3][4].
Why This Match Is Still Celebrated
Industry experts and wrestling insiders credit this bout not only as a defining moment for Bayley and Sasha Banks’ careers but also as a catalyst that advanced how women’s wrestling was perceived in North America. According to sources close to WWE, the match “raised the bar for storytelling and athleticism in women’s wrestling. It showed the world female wrestlers can carry the main event and electrify the crowd just as much as any male superstar”[2].
That match set in motion WWE’s “Women’s Revolution,” where women began to headline major pay-per-view events and received equal billing in storylines and promotions. It inspired a new generation of female wrestlers and influenced how companies like WWE and AEW build and promote their women’s divisions.
Bayley’s Reflection: Pride and Growth
Bayley, now an established WWE star with a decorated career and current member of WWE’s main roster, took to social media and backstage interviews to commemorate the 10th anniversary. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to Sasha Banks, who now wrestles under the name Mercedes Moné in AEW, for pushing her to new heights that night and for shaping the modern era of women’s wrestling.
A WWE insider revealed, “Bayley looks back at that match as a defining crossroad of her career. She knows it was more than just a title match—it was a moment that legitimized women in the sport on a level never before seen.” The source also shared that Bayley is inspired by how far she and her peers have come since, both in terms of opportunity and fan appreciation.
The Broader NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn Legacy
While the Bayley vs. Sasha Banks match grabbed the headlines, NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn also delivered other standout moments that night. The event was highlighted by Finn Bálor’s intense ladder match against Kevin Owens for the NXT Championship and featured memorable bouts like The Vaudevillains capturing the NXT Tag Team Championship[1][2]. Moreover, Japanese wrestling legend Jushin “Thunder” Liger made a notable one-off WWE appearance during the show, enhancing the event’s historical significance.
This event set standards that WWE continues to aim for with its NXT brand and live events, proving how developmental talent could draw major crowds and critical acclaim on big stages.
The Ongoing Impact on WWE and AEW
In a twist of wrestling industry fate, Sasha Banks, who fought Bayley a decade ago, transitioned out of WWE and now thrives as Mercedes Moné in AEW. This dynamic underscores how that seminal match had repercussions beyond WWE itself, influencing the broader wrestling landscape.
“Seeing Sasha flourish in AEW adds another layer of legacy to that historic night,” noted a wrestling journalist familiar with backstage dynamics. “Both Bayley and Mercedes Moné carry the torch of women’s wrestling excellence in their respective companies, and their legendary match remains a touchstone for what’s possible in the sport”[3].
Fans and Wrestlers Keep the Moment Alive
Fans often revisit the match footage on streaming platforms and highlight reels as a benchmark of wrestling excellence. The atmosphere during that match—complete with near falls, emotional storytelling, and athletic feats—created a feel-good energy that helped elevate women’s matches to main-event status.
Bayley and Sasha Banks’ 2015 battle is consistently cited in “top women’s match” lists across wrestling media, and its 10th anniversary has revived discussions about how women’s wrestling will continue to evolve[5].
The 10-year milestone is a celebration not just of Bayley’s championship victory but of a watershed moment that reshaped professional wrestling’s culture. According to backstage reports, Bayley is motivated by reflecting on this legacy as she continues her career, pushing to elevate women’s wrestling to ever greater heights.
As the wrestling world remembers August 22, 2015, it remains clear that the Bayley vs. Sasha Banks match isn’t just a moment frozen in time but a living part of wrestling history that inspires performers and fans alike—both in WWE and beyond.