One big thing: Mercedes Mone (then Sasha Banks) nearly missed her first WWE championship win due to a delayed flight in 2015.
• Mone was scheduled to compete for the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver: Rival.
• Her flight was delayed, causing her to worry about missing the event.
• She arrived just before the show started and went on to win the title.
Why it matters:
This milestone victory was a crucial moment in Mone’s career and the evolution of women’s wrestling in WWE.
The backstory:
• Mone debuted in 2010 when women’s wrestling in North America was vastly different.
• She signed with WWE in 2012, joining future stars Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Bayley.
• These four women played a significant role in transforming women’s wrestling in WWE, particularly in NXT.
By the numbers:
• Mone won her first NXT Women’s Championship in February 2015.
• This was 3 years after signing with WWE and 5 years into her professional wrestling career.
What they’re saying:
Mone recounted the experience in The Independent:
“I remember calling my coach in tears and telling him I might miss the show. Luckily I got there just before it started, and ended up winning my first NXT Women’s Championship.”
The impact:
• The match received an overwhelmingly positive response from fans.
• Chants of “This is awesome!” filled the arena.
• Online reviews were highly positive, confirming the match’s significance.
The bottom line:
Despite the travel scare, Mone’s championship victory marked a turning point in her career and women’s wrestling in WWE, setting the stage for future developments in the industry.
How do you think women’s wrestling in WWE might have evolved differently if Mone had missed this pivotal match? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
