10 Most Important Wrestlers In NXT History
4. Bayley
Splitting up the Horsewomen’s individual impact is tricky, but Bayley’s personality really separates her from her peers. The ultimate squeaky clean babyface, she was NXT’s most altruistic and likeable character, and connected with a huge portion of the audience. Bayley’s underdog story and rise to becoming NXT Women’s Champion were booked perfectly, and WWE’s main roster writers would do well recreate it during her current Raw run.
Bayley is at the heart of some of NXT’s most important matches. Her two one-on-one clashes with Sasha Banks in 2015 are rightly remembered among the year’s best, with their TakeOver: Brooklyn match widely regarded as the best women’s wrestling match in WWE history. When Bayley eventually bested Banks, it was a hugely cathartic moment that delivered on every emotional level, and with Bayley’s heart, workrate, and inherent likeability, it was impossible not to feel happy for her.
Moreover, Bayley was entrusted with holding the fort when Sasha, Charlotte, and Becky Lynch were called up to their main roster. Bayley remained Women’s Champion in their absence, and played a vital role in helping the division rebuild itself. Asuka would eventually emerge to knock her from her perch, but NXT’s celebrated women’s scene would’ve been paper-thin if Bayley hadn’t stuck around.