15 Greatest Match Finishes In Modern Wrestling History
6. Bayley Vs. Sasha Banks - NXT TakeOver: Respect
Bayley was destroyed as expected under Vince McMahon on the main roster. At one point, people thought that Bayley held the potential to be the John Cena of the emerging "women's evolution" - but it was very naive, in retrospect. Vince simply doesn't get "wholesome", and his mind was too broad to grasp the true brilliance of the Bayley character. Like any great babyfaces, she was upstanding - until you pushed her.
Bayley infamously refused to use a kendo stick against Alexa Bliss at Extreme Rules 2017. What was particularly awful about that story - bad enough in and of itself - is that it totally contradicted NXT canon.
Bayley's act of violence on Sasha Banks at NXT TakeOver: Respect was so much more visceral than any hokey weapon shot, and she earned it in the guts of a story that summoned a just and vengeful violence from her.
Ahead of the first battle, Sasha injured Bayley's hand and she stamped the hell out of it in the match itself. That spot was beyond committed. It was disturbing but also rousing; the Brooklyn fans were desperate for Bayley to get back up and make Sasha eat crap for taking it that far. And she did, in what was a phenomenal last stand. Bayley rocked Banks with a top rope poison 'rana and Bayley to Belly. In the sequel, Banks intensified her heel work in a genius, instinctive performance. It was as if she were furious at letting the mask slip at the Brooklyn curtain call.
At the apex of another cast-iron classic, Bayley wrenched Sasha's arm back and stomped her head in to draw the tap-out, comfortable with and capable of using violence when the situation demanded it.