The Rise Of Triple H | Wrestling Timelines

August 22, 2015 - TakeOver

Bayley Sasha Banks
WWE.com

Levesque promotes one of the most iconic, feel-good and best WWE shows of all-time: NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.

Headlined by a worthy ladder match between Kevin Owens and Finn Bálor, and showcasing New Japan Pro Wrestling legend Jushin ‘Thunder’ Liger in a fun and surreal cameo, the event is best remembered for the show-stealing Women’s title match between Sasha Banks and Bayley. A violent, emotive and deafening bout between two ideally contrasted wrestlers, it is timeless and progressive, all at once. The women in WWE are permitted to go, and they go harder than their more critically acclaimed male counterparts.

The show emanates from the Barclays Center in front of 15,000+ fans. For WWE hardcores and lifers, it is an almost cruel glimpse of the excellent, red-hot company they could and should be watching on major cable every week. Not only is NXT wonderful: it is realistic. The sort of wrestling you want is viable; no longer are you a naive, daydreaming mark.

As the main roster continues to baffle, anger, and alienate the dwindling core audience, Levesque becomes the best booker in the world.

NXT is so good that it almost feels like Levesque is operating it in secret - and for the next four years, the seminal TakeOver brand enshrines itself into pro wrestling legend.

Advertisement
Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!