15. Asuka (c) vs. Bayley II for the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II
Asuka originally captured the NXT Women’s Championship from Bayley at NXT TakeOver: Dallas in another match worthy of this list, but their rematch proved even better. Their rivalry became heated during the build up, with Asuka becoming the aggressor and Bayley shedding some of her bubbly personality in favor of a tougher exterior.
A swift kick to @ItsBayleyWWE's head turns out the lights! @WWEAsuka is victorious at #NXTTakeOver! pic.twitter.com/f72vQeyvyU
— WWE (@WWE) August 21, 2016
The match itself saw an even more aggressive side of Bayley. She stood toe-to-toe with “The Empress of Tomorrow,” taking some of Asuka’s best hits and firing back with some of her own. With Brooklyn as the site of Bayley’s greatest victory the year before when she defeated Sasha Banks for the NXT Women’s Championship, she wanted to make a statement.
#ThankYouBayley!#NXTTakeOver @ItsBayleyWWE pic.twitter.com/qtcmwTycAk
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 21, 2016
It also turned out to be Bayley’s last match on the NXT brand before moving up to the main roster. Being an absolute workhorse, and with Asuka as her partner in this dance, the two of them turned in an epic match worthy of one last hurrah for Bayley. She would not recapture the gold but she would garner Asuka’s respect, as the two embraced in the ring. With her fellow Four Horsewomen sitting front row to cheer her on, Bayley would get an ovation from the crowd with chants of “thank you Bayley” echoing in the arena.