In order to make history, you need to break new ground. That is exactly what Sasha Banks and Bayley did inside of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York in 2015.
Sasha Banks and Bayley’s match at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn in 2015 redefined what women could be in WWE. However, you don't reach such a plateau without expanding beyond your comfort zone and on the latest episode of WWE Untold, Bayley opens up about her apprehension concerning the penultimate move in the match, the top-rope hurricanrana she delivered to Sasha Banks.
“The first time I thought about doing a reverse rana, I was like, 'I don't think I've seen a girl really do that. I don't think I've ever seen a girl do it really from the top rope. I think I can do it,” recalls Sasha.
“Yes, I had doubts doing the reverse rana! I didn't know if I could do it,” admits Bayley. “I'm like, 'I have to do a backflip while sitting on you.' I wanted to give her the match of her life. So, I didn't want to say, like, 'I don't want to do that. I'm too scared.'"
The spot, of course, goes off without a hitch. Moments later, Bayley would defeat Sasha Banks and become the brand new NXT Women's Champion. The celebration that followed, featuring Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch embracing Sasha and Bayley inside the ring, was one of the most pivotal moments in WWE Women's Evolution movement. For Sasha and Bayley, it is a moment that they will never forget.
Bayley recalls, “I literally sat up and if you look at me, I'm just like, ‘finally,’ and I look over and Mercedes is crying on the floor and that just messed me up. Then, I start crying, and then, I look at my family and they're freaking crying.”
Sasha was appreciative that the audience allowed them to have that moment in the ring.
“The crowd almost stopped to let us have that moment of letting me say thank you and giving her a hug… Then I raised her hand, we put up the four [fingers]. What the hell just happened?! I feel like we really just changed the game and the way that people view women in wrestling.”
Bayley and Sasha’s WWE careers would continue to be synonymous with one another. Currently, they are the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions and they will defend their championship belts at WWE Payback against Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler
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