Mercedes Mone Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary of Iconic NXT TakeOver Classic with Bayley

In what is considered to be the magnum opus of her career, Mercedes Mone celebrates the 10th anniversary of iconic NXT Takeover: Brooklyn outing against Bayley.

Mercedes Mone Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary of Iconic NXT TakeOver Classic with Bayley

Mercedes Mone and Bayley (via WWE and Wrestling Inc.)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

The Black & Gold era of NXT under Triple H truly redefined what in-ring wrestling meant for WWE. Between 2014 and 2019, the brand delivered everything, from 5-star classics to unforgettable rivalries. Among its most iconic moments was the legendary showdown between Bayley and Mercedes Mone (then Sasha Banks) at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn on August 22, 2015.

That night, Bayley finally dethroned the dominant Mone to capture her first NXT Women’s Championship in an emotion-packed match that many still regard as one of the greatest women’s bouts in WWE history. Fast forward to August 22, 2025, and Mone took to Instagram to celebrate the match’s 10th anniversary. Sharing a series of nostalgic photos, including a heartfelt hug between her and Bayley after the match, she wrote:

Happy 10-year anniversary to the match that changed my life! Thank you to everyone who supports women’s wrestling — it’s magical to be able to do what I love the most for all of you! Thank you for changing my life @itsmebayley.

Mercedes Mone via her Instagram

Apart from this, the legendary duo also had a joint Instagram Live session on the occasion, where they even discussed having one last match. When Bayley playfully teased going after one of the eight titles (now nine) her friend currently holds, Mone didn’t hesitate to fire back.

Come face me then, dude. Give the people what they want, one more match. What do you think about one more match? I can’t imagine not wrestling you for ten years.

Mercedes Mone via Instagram Live

The two discussed when such a rematch could happen, making it clear they’re not planning to wait another decade. The last time the two shared the ring was in February 2021 during a six-person tag match on SmackDown. Since then, both stars have taken different paths. 

Mone infamously walked out of the WWE in May 2022 after creative differences with the company and is now signed with AEW and is thriving, currently holding nine women’s championships across major promotions, including AEW, CMLL, EWA, RevPro, and more.

Bayley, on the other hand, remains a seven-time Women’s Champion and a key figure in WWE’s women’s division. However, since losing her last title in 2024, she has openly admitted to feeling a bit lost in the company’s shifting landscape. With growing hints of a possible heel turn, fans are eager to see what’s next for her. 

Mercedes Mone reveals her Mount Rushmore of female wrestlers

Mercedes Mone has long been regarded as one of the most influential women in professional wrestling. Inspired by legends like Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio, ‘The CEO’ has been at the top of the industry for nearly a decade, helping redefine what women’s wrestling could be.

In a recent interview with SportBible, Mone was asked to name her Mount Rushmore of women’s wrestling, and her picks were as bold as they were iconic. She chose herself, Trish Stratus, Manami Toyota, and Toni Storm.

Mercedes Mone and Toni Storm
Mercedes Mone and Toni Storm (via AEW)

First, I have to choose Manami Toyota because she is a woman that I used to watch when I was 13 years old, and was like, ‘what the hell? Women can wrestle just like the men, but better.’ She inspired me so much to let me know that I can do this and have the biggest dreams and the biggest goals, and legit, she is one of the greatest women’s wrestlers of all time.

Mercedes Mone via SportBible

Mone then named Trish Stratus, praising her as a true legend who not only helped shape the landscape of women’s wrestling but also delivered incredible matches that cemented her as one of the best to ever step in the ring. For her third pick, Mone confidently included herself, explaining that she considers herself the “Beyoncé of women’s wrestling,” a reflection of the impact and star power. 

Her final choice was a bit surprising in the form of her opponent from AEW All In Texas, ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm. Mone described Storm as one of the “greatest woman characters in all of professional wrestling,” crediting her for completely changing the game in just two short years.

She believes Storm’s influence will inspire the next generation of wrestlers, who will look at her career and aspire to achieve the same level of stardom and innovation.

Also read: