[2014-09-11-WWE-NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4 Way] Charlotte vs Bayley

[Jimmy Redman]

Charlotte defends against Bayley at Takeover Fatal 4 Way.

This is the era of NXT where it was so rewarding to watch the TV and follow along week by week. We've seen Bayley going from naive and starstruck to betrayed by everyone around her, which has wisened her up a bit, and given her an edge as she goes for payback. She's been on a roll and earned a title shot from wrestling and beating people like Summer and Sasha. And it was actually Charlotte's turn on her in late 2013 that kicked this all off, and Bayley has never really got proper revenge on her for that, so it's only fitting that it comes here with her chance at the title. Bayley is fired up. She's also over as hell, by the way.

The great thing about Bayley, that only the really great babyfaces get, is that you have to fight back. Just enough, but fight back. Bayley is always fighting from underneath, not just taking shit but trying to push through, trying to get back to her feet, trying to block and escape. She gets it.

The Figure Four Headlock is a great move for Charlotte to base her offense and control around. She can sit in it and slow down, she can turn it over and do the head smashes with it, she can flip over in it and make it an impact move, she can reach their faces in it to claw at... it's a great base for her to do a million things with, and variety on offense is very much appreciated when I'm watching everything week to week.

Charlotte ROCKS her with some forearms which forces Bayley to fire up and fire back with strikes, before being cut off. Again, Bayley doesn't just sell forever and then comeback at the end. She's always trying to come back and fire up, just to get cut off. Bayley goes up for a fucking TOP ROPE FRANKENSTEINER OUTTA NOWHERE a year before Brooklyn for a sick nearfall. They build the good shit from there - Charlotte counters the B2B with her wacky rollup, then fucking MANGLES her head on the bottom rope. Charlotte HITS the moonsault for the first time ever (although whiffs enough to make it make sense as a nearfall) and Bayley kicks out. Bayley starts to get up with absolute FIRE in her face - you will have to PUT HER DOWN DAMMIT - and an enraged Charlotte just grabs her head and does exactly that with her finish. Great performance from both dudes. This was star making for Bayley because even the announcers couldn't believe her and really put her over as challenging Charlotte.

We even get a post-match angle where Sasha comes out to attack poor Bayley afterwards, and Charlotte - who had betrayed Bayley a year ago and continually looked down on Bayley and had no respect for her since then - came to the rescue and ran her off. Bayley earned Charlotte's respect during this match. Bayley is a made woman, and Charlotte is starting her turn towards being the world's worst babyface.