10 Best Matches From The WWE ThunderDome Era
1. Bayley Vs Sasha Banks (Hell In A Cell 2020)
It took five years for the WWE main roster to capture the magic of Bayley and Sasha Banks' era-defining 2015 NXT programme, and when they finally managed it, nobody could buy a ticket to see it.
The match didn't need it.
Paced and wrestled magnificently (save for one abandoned spot with a broken prop that Bayley still managed to extract an at-home pop from thanks to being so locked in to her gimmick), this glorious Hell In A Cell clash captured all the enduring drama of a title fight, whilst applying countless cool touches that rewarded investment in their micro and macro story over the last half decade. It was a war that just happened to luxuriate in fan service - hands were worked, old heckles were repurposed to match the switched dynamics, finishers were stolen it exactly the right spots, and danger lurked behind every brief breather thanks to just how well one knew the other.
Logical weapons usage throughout fed into the body of the match and especially the wonderful, details-driven finish. As she'd trapped Bayley just to get the match made official, so too did Banks to win the belt. A Bank Statement with a steel chair was enhanced by violent stomps to the weapon to expedite the Champion's submission. This in itself was an echo of one of the most famous moments from their TakeOver: Brooklyn classic, but there was no happy ending for the former 'Hugger' this time.