1 00:00:22,670 --> 00:00:25,670 I've always liked when the bad guys won in the movies. 2 00:00:29,530 --> 00:00:29,930 I 3 00:00:29,930 --> 00:00:36,730 think 4 00:00:36,730 --> 00:00:40,270 there's something just more intriguing about being a bad guy. 5 00:00:41,330 --> 00:00:44,230 Maybe that's just me. Maybe I just like the bad guys. Maybe it's my personality. 6 00:00:44,310 --> 00:00:45,310 I don't know. 7 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:59,760 She has that look in her eyes where you're just like, all right, this chick 8 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:00,760 dangerous. 9 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:09,560 Any time you see Sasha, you're just going to see what's going to 10 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:11,640 happen. What's she going to say this time? 11 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,400 You're the daughter of Rick Slater. 12 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:20,380 If it wasn't for a one night stand, you probably wouldn't be standing here. 13 00:01:23,500 --> 00:01:25,540 What makes Sasha such an evil character? 14 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:29,620 That she goes to any extreme and all extremes to win. 15 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,980 It is celebration time for Belair and Sasha Banks. 16 00:01:34,460 --> 00:01:35,460 Wait a minute! 17 00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:37,960 Backed over by Banks to the champion! 18 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:43,060 There is a little villain within all of us. 19 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,640 But some choose to cultivate their villainous side to get what they want. 20 00:01:49,260 --> 00:01:52,460 In WWE, that's Sasha Banks. 21 00:02:25,710 --> 00:02:29,630 I grew up on a farm in Iowa. 22 00:02:34,190 --> 00:02:39,430 It was so rough. I didn't have a dad. My mom didn't have a steady job. 23 00:02:40,630 --> 00:02:43,530 I was the only colored person in that town. 24 00:02:44,970 --> 00:02:47,990 I used to have a huge chip on my shoulder. 25 00:02:49,410 --> 00:02:52,810 I went to online school at the age of 12. 26 00:02:53,790 --> 00:02:55,610 No friends, no social life. 27 00:02:56,950 --> 00:03:01,570 For a very long time, I felt like I had no hope. 28 00:03:09,150 --> 00:03:13,670 I was just sitting in my room one day in Iowa, scrolling through the channels. 29 00:03:13,830 --> 00:03:15,790 I'll be stepping out in comfort in eight. 30 00:03:17,370 --> 00:03:20,310 The more you live, the more... 31 00:03:30,090 --> 00:03:34,750 And WWE just popped up on the screen, and I was like, what is this? 32 00:03:38,450 --> 00:03:38,970 It 33 00:03:38,970 --> 00:03:45,970 was like 34 00:03:45,970 --> 00:03:48,950 being a superhero, being a bad guy. 35 00:03:50,450 --> 00:03:54,510 I was obsessed with wrestling. 36 00:03:55,330 --> 00:03:56,670 It was my game. 37 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,080 This place is going crazy for Eddie Guerrero. 38 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:14,040 When I first saw Eddie Guerrero, there was just this instant connection. 39 00:04:14,820 --> 00:04:19,260 He was one of the few Latinos, you know. He was one of the few colored people in 40 00:04:19,260 --> 00:04:20,260 the WWE. 41 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:28,240 Eddie Guerrero used to come out in a low rider. 42 00:04:28,840 --> 00:04:34,240 A classic low rider for the WWE champion, Eddie Guerrero. 43 00:04:36,780 --> 00:04:39,140 Like, come on, you don't get flashier than that. 44 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,700 It was great being the villain. 45 00:04:47,380 --> 00:04:48,000 And 46 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:57,500 I 47 00:04:57,500 --> 00:04:59,860 loved the frog splash. 48 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:01,480 Oh, my God. 49 00:05:18,570 --> 00:05:21,130 To like him or to hate him. Can you believe this? 50 00:05:21,350 --> 00:05:22,950 Now call the spoken gun. 51 00:05:23,330 --> 00:05:25,750 Eddie Guerrero pulled him over there on that party. 52 00:05:27,310 --> 00:05:32,930 He knew how to tap into that inner soul of each fan sitting in the arena. 53 00:05:35,450 --> 00:05:41,570 When I watched Eddie Guerrero, I felt so alive. 54 00:05:43,670 --> 00:05:45,130 I saw myself in him. 55 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:50,960 I knew that was my only dream. 56 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:05,640 I always pictured myself walking down that WWE ramp, in the ring, on the top 57 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:09,120 turnbuckle, having a pose and just all eyes on me. 58 00:06:12,220 --> 00:06:15,380 Wrestling was my addiction and my escape. 59 00:06:18,010 --> 00:06:21,530 I had journals upon journals upon journals writing ideas. 60 00:06:23,530 --> 00:06:28,130 I would watch Raw and Smackdown every single week and write down and take 61 00:06:28,130 --> 00:06:30,110 and just study nonstop. 62 00:06:32,250 --> 00:06:38,070 I used to sit and write all the results of every 63 00:06:38,070 --> 00:06:40,030 wrestling show. 64 00:06:45,470 --> 00:06:47,510 I believe Mercedes was... 65 00:06:47,900 --> 00:06:52,820 Maybe 9 or 10 when I discovered that she was truly into WWE and wrestling. 66 00:06:53,220 --> 00:06:57,180 I begged for Snoop Dogg to take me to WrestleMania. 67 00:06:57,460 --> 00:06:58,820 I believe it was 24. 68 00:07:00,860 --> 00:07:02,420 Ric Flair's retirement match. 69 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:07,260 Tonight we celebrate nature boy Ric Flair. 70 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:13,540 She was real young, but I was taking her around, meeting all of our favorite 71 00:07:13,540 --> 00:07:17,500 wrestlers and just watching how she reacted to them and how she was. 72 00:07:18,030 --> 00:07:21,450 infatuated in how she was professional at the same time. It was, like, 73 00:07:21,450 --> 00:07:22,450 fascinating to me. 74 00:07:24,010 --> 00:07:27,550 There was no plan B, B, D, E, or F. 75 00:07:27,790 --> 00:07:31,910 It was only, only one, and that was to become a WWE superstar. 76 00:07:37,370 --> 00:07:44,310 At 18, 77 00:07:44,570 --> 00:07:46,650 Mercedes and her family moved to Boston. 78 00:07:47,820 --> 00:07:50,800 That's where she got her first opportunity to pursue her dream. 79 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:57,840 Chaotic Wrestling is the place that I started training when I was 18 years 80 00:07:57,980 --> 00:08:00,620 They had their own professional wrestling school. 81 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:02,280 Hey, Alexis. 82 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:03,880 Remember me? 83 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,140 Mercedes? The one that broke up your correlation. 84 00:08:08,580 --> 00:08:09,580 Coordination. 85 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,660 My first character, I wouldn't even say was a character. 86 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,440 It was just Mercedes KV. 87 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:20,940 which was Testner Bernardo was my last name. 88 00:08:28,020 --> 00:08:28,580 My 89 00:08:28,580 --> 00:08:35,919 upbringing 90 00:08:35,919 --> 00:08:41,940 was very, very, very hard. The chip on my shoulder came from a very young age 91 00:08:41,940 --> 00:08:45,900 and it gave me a whole different drive than a lot of people. 92 00:08:47,150 --> 00:08:50,590 I remember when Sasha was wrestling in this independent league and she was 93 00:08:50,590 --> 00:08:55,230 trying her hardest to get to the WWE, just doing good and having great fights. 94 00:08:56,110 --> 00:08:58,030 Oh, look at her pulling back. 95 00:08:59,530 --> 00:09:01,290 She quit. We've got a new champion. 96 00:09:03,070 --> 00:09:08,730 I was not shy when I went out and performed because I couldn't be. I had 97 00:09:08,730 --> 00:09:12,470 fans like me. I had to give them energy so they can give it right back. 98 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:18,920 Mercedes proved that she had the skills to move beyond the independent circuit. 99 00:09:22,300 --> 00:09:22,820 In 100 00:09:22,820 --> 00:09:30,840 2012, 101 00:09:31,220 --> 00:09:34,220 she was invited to join WWE's developmental system. 102 00:09:34,860 --> 00:09:36,640 I was so happy. 103 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:40,660 It's the only thing that I ever wanted to chase. It's the only thing that I 104 00:09:40,660 --> 00:09:41,439 dreamt of. 105 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,780 I wanted to make it to the WWE. 106 00:09:44,380 --> 00:09:47,240 and prove that I was better than everybody. 107 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:12,540 I learned right away when I first walked in the doors of the WWE Performance 108 00:10:12,540 --> 00:10:13,540 Center. 109 00:10:13,900 --> 00:10:16,240 I knew absolutely nothing. 110 00:10:17,300 --> 00:10:23,940 It takes so much to be a character on national television. 111 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:26,040 It's so unique. 112 00:10:28,340 --> 00:10:30,980 They broke me down so fast. 113 00:10:31,900 --> 00:10:38,400 When Sasha debuted on NXT, she was kind of just a generic character, really had 114 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:43,460 no persona. People just said she kind of seemed like... a girl next door 115 00:10:43,460 --> 00:10:46,020 character, if you want to call it a character at all. 116 00:10:48,660 --> 00:10:50,420 Did you see Raw on Monday? 117 00:10:50,620 --> 00:10:51,620 Of course. 118 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:53,640 What'd you think? I mean, it was okay. 119 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:56,980 I had no character whatsoever. 120 00:10:58,740 --> 00:11:02,380 I felt like I was not going to last long in NXT. 121 00:11:03,900 --> 00:11:08,760 I was so shy as Mercedes and so scared to even put myself out there. 122 00:11:09,740 --> 00:11:15,420 I had to build myself up to prove that I could belong here and transform myself 123 00:11:15,420 --> 00:11:16,960 into someone else. 124 00:11:19,860 --> 00:11:25,020 I started out watching hours of different types of movies and 125 00:11:25,420 --> 00:11:28,840 Tell me one athlete right now has been dominating the game. 126 00:11:29,310 --> 00:11:33,290 For 16 years straight without a loss. I saw Floyd Mayweather. I was like, man, I 127 00:11:33,290 --> 00:11:34,490 like how this guy speaks. 128 00:11:34,830 --> 00:11:36,430 I'm the best. I'm the best. 129 00:11:36,890 --> 00:11:42,730 Kanye West was really arrogant, going up on stage, interrupting people. 130 00:11:42,950 --> 00:11:45,910 Thank you so much for giving me a chance to win a VMA award. 131 00:11:46,510 --> 00:11:51,210 I'm really happy for you. I'm going to let you finish. 132 00:11:51,470 --> 00:11:54,290 But Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time. 133 00:11:56,410 --> 00:11:57,730 So I stole some of that. 134 00:11:58,730 --> 00:12:00,450 I really love Nicki Minaj. 135 00:12:00,850 --> 00:12:03,730 The hair, the nails, the outfit. 136 00:12:04,450 --> 00:12:06,390 And I really like the Bratz doll. 137 00:12:07,410 --> 00:12:10,170 Let me take a little bit of that. 138 00:12:11,470 --> 00:12:13,750 And then I was like, Mercedes, hello. 139 00:12:14,050 --> 00:12:15,330 Snoop Dogg is your cousin. 140 00:12:15,770 --> 00:12:19,750 People used to call him the boss. I don't want people to treat me like that. 141 00:12:19,750 --> 00:12:20,689 me take that. 142 00:12:20,690 --> 00:12:21,910 I'll call myself the boss. 143 00:12:23,170 --> 00:12:25,650 I was going to be the bad guy. 144 00:12:28,270 --> 00:12:32,930 She took advantage of that moment, and she honed it in, and she created her 145 00:12:32,930 --> 00:12:35,710 character, and she became Sasha Banks. 146 00:12:36,430 --> 00:12:41,870 Three, two... Are you tired of looking like a chick? 147 00:12:42,290 --> 00:12:48,530 Are you sick of being basic? Did you think that you can boss me around? 148 00:12:48,830 --> 00:12:50,070 Oh, no. 149 00:12:50,790 --> 00:12:55,990 No! I was like, how long did she have to work on this to find this? 150 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:59,040 Character and this personality that I don't even recognize. 151 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:01,220 And you just wanted to, like, slap her. 152 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:04,480 I am Sasha Banks, the boss of NXT. 153 00:13:06,180 --> 00:13:10,120 Characters have to learn how to feel, not think. Because if you're thinking, 154 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:12,060 it's not real. 155 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:14,440 But you have to put it in front of an audience. 156 00:13:18,300 --> 00:13:21,480 Sasha's first big opportunity at NXT came against Paige. 157 00:13:23,630 --> 00:13:25,990 We've seen the metamorphosis here of Sasha Banks. 158 00:13:28,170 --> 00:13:34,510 In a moment of rage, we got our first glimpse of the boss. 159 00:13:35,010 --> 00:13:36,790 And there was no turning back. 160 00:13:40,130 --> 00:13:46,830 The matchup's over, but Sasha Banks is not done competing. 161 00:13:47,070 --> 00:13:48,070 Young ladies. 162 00:13:51,020 --> 00:13:52,440 We've never seen this before. 163 00:13:52,700 --> 00:13:59,460 It was one of the greatest feelings when I found something 164 00:13:59,460 --> 00:14:00,780 that clicked for me. 165 00:14:01,900 --> 00:14:03,340 Here comes the boss! 166 00:14:04,540 --> 00:14:08,720 I was just like, I think this is working. The fans are booing. 167 00:14:12,940 --> 00:14:18,060 Upon making the boss persona, things clicked into place. You had this 168 00:14:18,060 --> 00:14:19,400 unrepentant... 169 00:14:20,430 --> 00:14:24,530 unapologetically black female character who wasn't afraid to tell everyone that 170 00:14:24,530 --> 00:14:30,010 she knew she was the best, wasn't afraid to be vicious, and 171 00:14:30,010 --> 00:14:33,370 she backed it up. 172 00:14:36,230 --> 00:14:42,790 Mercedes was so shy, not outgoing, didn't want adventure. 173 00:14:43,350 --> 00:14:47,310 Sasha Banks is everything I want Mercedes to be. 174 00:14:48,290 --> 00:14:49,290 Larger than life. 175 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:52,720 a know -it -all, have all the eyes on her. 176 00:14:54,240 --> 00:15:00,700 When you see somebody that is really insecure, and when they step onto the 177 00:15:00,700 --> 00:15:07,180 stage, and they morph so dramatically, it's that pendulum swinging. They go so 178 00:15:07,180 --> 00:15:10,340 far the other way because it's escapism. 179 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:14,620 This is their vengeance. 180 00:15:16,540 --> 00:15:19,520 Sasha, she likes to lie. She likes to steal. She likes to cheat. 181 00:15:19,740 --> 00:15:21,340 Like her hero, Eddie Guerrero. 182 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,400 You lie, you cheat, you steal. It's a family tradition. 183 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:29,180 She just likes to do things a little bit dirtier than most of the women. 184 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:38,120 The bank statement, Sasha Banks' submission is 185 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:39,120 very painful. 186 00:15:39,380 --> 00:15:41,960 It puts pressure on your back, puts pressure on your neck. 187 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:44,880 She's supervision. 188 00:15:46,250 --> 00:15:50,610 I really love keeping a hold of the crossface a little bit longer after they 189 00:15:50,610 --> 00:15:53,870 out, just to let the fans know that I'm the bad guy. 190 00:15:54,950 --> 00:15:56,610 Sasha doesn't want to let the hold go. 191 00:15:56,830 --> 00:15:57,769 Come on! 192 00:15:57,770 --> 00:15:59,010 She's sending a message. 193 00:15:59,350 --> 00:16:01,210 This is too much. Let it go already. 194 00:16:03,390 --> 00:16:07,210 You honestly think that you're going to be the next NXT Women's Champion before 195 00:16:07,210 --> 00:16:08,210 me? 196 00:16:08,810 --> 00:16:09,810 Before me. 197 00:16:11,370 --> 00:16:12,430 By 2014. 198 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:17,160 Sasha earned her reputation as the most vicious female on a star -studded 199 00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:18,160 roster. 200 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:23,020 But then came Charlotte Flair, the daughter of wrestling nobility. 201 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:28,780 Blessed with the genes of the greatest champion of all time and the confidence 202 00:16:28,780 --> 00:16:31,020 and athleticism that comes with it. 203 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,440 You think you're special because your last name is Flair. 204 00:16:35,660 --> 00:16:38,780 Well, guess what? After I beat you, Charlotte. 205 00:16:39,610 --> 00:16:43,470 You're going to end up a loser just like your pathetic old man. 206 00:16:46,990 --> 00:16:49,110 Charlotte, take one. Mark. 207 00:17:00,310 --> 00:17:01,590 By 2014, 208 00:17:02,310 --> 00:17:04,190 Sasha Banks was the boss at NXT. 209 00:17:06,190 --> 00:17:07,670 But a new rival. 210 00:17:07,930 --> 00:17:11,470 who the legendary pedigree posed a threat to Sasha's status. 211 00:17:12,869 --> 00:17:16,290 Ladies and gentlemen, my daughter, Charlotte. 212 00:17:20,190 --> 00:17:24,230 Being Ric Flair's daughter, I'm going to chip off the old block. 213 00:17:26,470 --> 00:17:32,770 When I walk in the arena, they don't boo, they woo. 214 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,860 She was an incredible athlete. 215 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:56,180 So freaking good, and she got it so easily. 216 00:17:57,020 --> 00:17:59,260 I'm 5 '10", I'm blonde, and I'm super athletic. 217 00:17:59,460 --> 00:18:00,460 What is there not to like? 218 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:02,500 Oh, yeah, but my last name's Blair. 219 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,060 Everything's handed to me. Yeah, you heard me. 220 00:18:05,360 --> 00:18:08,100 Call your little daddy to put you on the main roster. 221 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:13,520 How about you call Snoop to buy you a win? 222 00:18:13,880 --> 00:18:16,920 Oh, so that's how it's going to be. That's how it's going to be. 223 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:24,040 Charlotte was the number one girl. So fast that it would make me so jealous, 224 00:18:24,040 --> 00:18:25,040 I wanted to outdo her. 225 00:18:26,860 --> 00:18:29,320 The two titans came from different worlds. 226 00:18:30,060 --> 00:18:33,020 Claire from the top, Sasha from the bottom. 227 00:18:33,520 --> 00:18:37,680 And their battles spoke to the fight between the privileged and the 228 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:38,680 underprivileged. 229 00:18:41,430 --> 00:18:46,450 Charlotte and Sasha really gives you a feeling that you are watching an 230 00:18:46,450 --> 00:18:47,690 classic in the making. 231 00:18:51,150 --> 00:18:55,230 It's like two bulls just going head to head. She wants to be the best. 232 00:18:59,030 --> 00:19:00,310 I want to be the best. 233 00:19:04,910 --> 00:19:09,110 When you have two out. 234 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:15,380 colliding with one another, there is going to be magic that unfolds. 235 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:27,940 I think the Sasha Banks -Charlotte Flair rivalry made Sasha Banks a lot meaner 236 00:19:27,940 --> 00:19:31,480 and a lot harder. They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. 237 00:19:33,340 --> 00:19:36,460 In defeat, Sasha was even more motivated. 238 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:37,840 But now... 239 00:19:38,120 --> 00:19:40,660 It wasn't just Charlotte Flair making a name at NXT. 240 00:19:41,780 --> 00:19:44,420 Becky Lynch and Bayley were also making noise. 241 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:47,200 Sky's the limit for Becky Lynch. 242 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:52,100 All four were destined for great. 243 00:19:52,700 --> 00:19:55,860 But only one could be the real boss of NXT. 244 00:19:57,220 --> 00:20:02,200 These four women were having, you know, classic matches in NXT. 245 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:05,560 They'd be stealing the show, but they wouldn't be the main event. 246 00:20:06,830 --> 00:20:08,810 We were so competitive. 247 00:20:09,230 --> 00:20:14,050 We wanted to show everybody that the women can do it just like the men. 248 00:20:16,870 --> 00:20:22,430 In 2015, a championship fatal four -way would settle which of these rising 249 00:20:22,430 --> 00:20:24,730 superstars was the baddest of all. 250 00:20:30,610 --> 00:20:34,490 Fatal four -way matchup for the NXT Women's Championship. 251 00:20:36,810 --> 00:20:41,270 That Fatal 408, I wanted that to be like my WrestleMania match. 252 00:20:43,570 --> 00:20:50,550 All the stars aligned, and it was such a special 253 00:20:50,550 --> 00:20:51,550 match. 254 00:20:56,150 --> 00:20:58,670 Bayley was a split second away from the charge. 255 00:21:01,610 --> 00:21:05,350 Sasha snuck in from behind and stole it for herself. 256 00:21:08,460 --> 00:21:12,000 You saw that vindictive side of her that she takes from Eddie. 257 00:21:12,460 --> 00:21:13,980 I'm going to lie, cheat, steal. 258 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:16,200 Look at this. 259 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:17,460 Crossface, crossface. 260 00:21:18,300 --> 00:21:19,460 Submission maneuver applied. 261 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:21,440 Charlotte. 262 00:21:21,780 --> 00:21:23,160 Trolling. Flying. 263 00:21:24,420 --> 00:21:25,420 Cover. 264 00:21:26,940 --> 00:21:28,400 And that's it. She did it. 265 00:21:29,020 --> 00:21:35,720 I was so in shock. 266 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:36,920 I felt like. 267 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:41,260 Everything that I ever fought for since I was 10 years old was just in that 268 00:21:41,260 --> 00:21:42,260 moment. 269 00:21:42,860 --> 00:21:44,520 We have a new women's champion! 270 00:21:47,660 --> 00:21:49,860 What a moment for Sasha Banks. 271 00:21:51,660 --> 00:21:54,920 I've always known I was the best from day one. 272 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:58,280 This right here, it just proves it. 273 00:21:58,740 --> 00:22:02,580 It shows every single person who's ever doubted me. 274 00:22:05,260 --> 00:22:09,700 I think what drives the Sasha Banks character truly is that she knows she's 275 00:22:09,700 --> 00:22:14,160 best. Who's above the boss? There is no one above the boss. 276 00:22:14,500 --> 00:22:20,640 And the boss proceeded to defend her championship and her status by any means 277 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:22,320 necessary. Oh, my goodness! 278 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,220 Ladies and gentlemen. 279 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:35,680 This Saturday, NXT takes over Brooklyn, New York. 280 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:41,620 I am now pleased to preside over the official contract signing for the NXT 281 00:22:41,620 --> 00:22:42,820 Women's Championship. 282 00:22:47,220 --> 00:22:54,020 First of all, Mr. Regal, I just want to thank you and the NXT fans 283 00:22:54,020 --> 00:22:55,540 because if it wasn't for you guys... 284 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:33,000 The Sasha -Bailey rivalry was a ticking time bomb. 285 00:23:33,280 --> 00:23:37,880 And at NXT TakeOver Brooklyn, they were set to blow the roof off the Barclays 286 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:38,880 Center. 287 00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:45,660 Tonight's first main event, NXT Women's Champion, The Boss, 288 00:23:45,900 --> 00:23:47,280 Sasha Banks. 289 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:54,040 This, ladies and gentlemen, is how you do it like a boss. 290 00:24:14,540 --> 00:24:18,060 She said she's not going to put this opportunity to a fire. And the boss was 291 00:24:18,060 --> 00:24:22,140 quick to reply with, I'm sorry, Bailey, this isn't a fairy tale. This isn't a 292 00:24:22,140 --> 00:24:23,140 feel -good story. 293 00:24:24,780 --> 00:24:30,100 It starts with, you know, Bailey coming back from a real -life wrist or hand 294 00:24:30,100 --> 00:24:32,140 injury. What do they do? 295 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:35,380 Immediately, Sasha is targeting that hand. 296 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:40,320 Bailey's still with that hand brace on. She broke her hand without a match. No, 297 00:24:40,420 --> 00:24:41,420 no, no, no. 298 00:24:42,860 --> 00:24:45,480 She decided to put it in between the stairs and the ring. 299 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:55,700 And she kicked the stairs, which 300 00:24:55,700 --> 00:24:58,660 I tell her that she rebroke my hand. 301 00:25:04,640 --> 00:25:10,500 If she sees a weakness, she will exploit that weakness. 302 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:13,700 in the most gruesome ways, if necessary. 303 00:25:15,500 --> 00:25:16,500 Sasha doesn't care. 304 00:25:18,940 --> 00:25:23,620 I don't think until that point anybody's ever seen a female wrestler really 305 00:25:23,620 --> 00:25:26,120 dissect her opponent like she did to me that night. 306 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:28,420 Look how much the boss didn't join us. 307 00:25:29,940 --> 00:25:33,620 I was doing everything I can just to give her that extra punishment. 308 00:25:39,980 --> 00:25:44,680 When I finally put my bank statement on Bailey and she is reaching out for those 309 00:25:44,680 --> 00:25:49,300 ropes with that broken hand, I stick my foot out and I stomp that hand. 310 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:55,420 Over and over and over again. 311 00:25:56,060 --> 00:25:59,240 That was a reaction that I have never heard in the WWE. 312 00:26:01,220 --> 00:26:05,760 I loved being that bad guy taking her dreams away. 313 00:26:06,680 --> 00:26:08,220 I hope she's proud of herself. 314 00:26:08,780 --> 00:26:09,780 She's evil. 315 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:15,080 Emboldened by her disgraceful behavior that night. 316 00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:18,740 Oh, but here comes the boss. 317 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:21,640 Banks went on a rampage of terror. 318 00:26:26,220 --> 00:26:29,440 And no one was off limits. 319 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:34,580 Izzy is one of our number one fans down in NXT. 320 00:26:34,920 --> 00:26:37,940 Bayley was everything to her. 321 00:26:38,330 --> 00:26:39,330 And I knew that. 322 00:26:43,250 --> 00:26:43,770 She 323 00:26:43,770 --> 00:26:50,350 was 324 00:26:50,350 --> 00:26:54,690 taunting me the whole entire match. And I was just getting angrier and angrier. 325 00:26:55,050 --> 00:26:57,710 She threw Bayley into the screen. 326 00:26:58,130 --> 00:27:03,090 And she walked right over to me and took my headband. 327 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:07,000 Did you see Sasha Banks? 328 00:27:07,120 --> 00:27:11,060 What is wrong with her? Sasha Banks running around with Izzy's, with that 329 00:27:11,060 --> 00:27:12,640 headband on. Did you see Izzy? 330 00:27:13,620 --> 00:27:19,020 I feel like Sasha kind of plays the everyday bully, and I hate that. I 331 00:27:19,020 --> 00:27:20,020 do. 332 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:27,420 You see the tears rolling down Izzy's face, and Sasha Banks is just in there 333 00:27:27,420 --> 00:27:29,900 continuing to murder Bailey. 334 00:27:33,610 --> 00:27:35,390 She's embarrassing Bailey. She's enjoying herself. 335 00:27:36,750 --> 00:27:39,290 She just did that off the top of her head. 336 00:27:40,350 --> 00:27:44,530 That's one more thing that puts her on that next level of being one of the best 337 00:27:44,530 --> 00:27:45,530 villains ever. 338 00:27:48,390 --> 00:27:51,030 You don't make children cry. 339 00:27:51,550 --> 00:27:52,550 Period. 340 00:27:53,690 --> 00:27:55,010 Sasha Banks does, though. 341 00:27:57,730 --> 00:28:01,970 The boss swaggered her way onto the main roster in 2015. 342 00:28:04,550 --> 00:28:06,030 It's boss time. 343 00:28:07,050 --> 00:28:11,850 When she's walking out to the ring, you see a bit of that Eddie. 344 00:28:12,950 --> 00:28:15,510 Sasha Banks is here! 345 00:28:17,310 --> 00:28:20,190 Because you can see her swag, you can see her drip. 346 00:28:20,550 --> 00:28:21,890 Eddie was the same way. 347 00:28:22,270 --> 00:28:23,270 Sasha Banks! 348 00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:49,800 my dad used to say, there's something about that old boy that I don't like 349 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:50,800 me. 350 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:57,580 And what he meant was we can't see in others what we don't at least 351 00:28:57,580 --> 00:28:59,580 possess a little bit in ourselves. 352 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:06,640 A part of us is like, wow, that's what it would look like if I let that beast 353 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:08,920 loose. And that's a guilty pleasure. 354 00:29:15,500 --> 00:29:19,500 Her work as a villain has, you know, really, really stuck out. 355 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:25,740 She's been one of the most consistently talented people I've seen, man or woman, 356 00:29:25,900 --> 00:29:26,900 in WWE. 357 00:29:27,580 --> 00:29:30,980 Look at this heinous act. 358 00:29:32,740 --> 00:29:38,560 By 2019, despite her dastardly deeds, Sasha had proven herself as a worthy 359 00:29:38,560 --> 00:29:40,340 champion to the WWE Universe. 360 00:29:45,730 --> 00:29:51,090 But living like it's boss time all the time took an unforeseen toll on 361 00:29:53,410 --> 00:29:57,050 I think I exhausted myself working 24 -7. 362 00:29:57,710 --> 00:30:04,190 We travel 350 days out of the year, performing five days out of the week, 363 00:30:04,250 --> 00:30:06,010 not having the social life. 364 00:30:06,490 --> 00:30:11,030 I never got to see my real hair. I never got to hear my real name for such a 365 00:30:11,030 --> 00:30:12,030 long time. 366 00:30:12,410 --> 00:30:14,030 I was just Sasha Banks. 367 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:15,840 24 -7. 368 00:30:16,420 --> 00:30:21,780 When I did have that one day off to take out my wig, I was just like, who the 369 00:30:21,780 --> 00:30:25,180 heck are you without Sasha Banks? 370 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:29,620 I was like, you know what? I can't do it anymore. 371 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:40,980 By 2019, Sasha's lifelong dreams had come true. 372 00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:44,550 But... It came with a price. 373 00:30:46,470 --> 00:30:51,750 I was exhausted as a kid. I had dreams of making it to the WWE. 374 00:30:52,790 --> 00:30:56,290 Everything that little girl Mercedes always dreamt of having. 375 00:30:56,590 --> 00:31:01,570 But once I got here, it was completely different than what I kind of had in my 376 00:31:01,570 --> 00:31:02,570 mind. 377 00:31:03,190 --> 00:31:08,770 The travel, no sleep, getting into character, 378 00:31:09,030 --> 00:31:12,490 just the overall sacrifice. 379 00:31:13,150 --> 00:31:16,310 It's a huge toll on the mental state, on the physical state. 380 00:31:18,690 --> 00:31:19,190 No 381 00:31:19,190 --> 00:31:25,910 one 382 00:31:25,910 --> 00:31:31,370 who's on the outside really understands the level of commitment and hard work 383 00:31:31,370 --> 00:31:33,930 and effort that it takes to be a WWE superstar. 384 00:31:37,030 --> 00:31:41,690 My frustrations just grew and grew and grew and grew and grew until I was like, 385 00:31:41,690 --> 00:31:42,690 you know what? 386 00:31:42,890 --> 00:31:44,150 I can't take this anymore. 387 00:31:46,930 --> 00:31:51,570 The desire that propelled Mercedes into becoming the boss was fading fast. 388 00:31:52,390 --> 00:31:53,930 Sasha needed a reboot. 389 00:31:55,590 --> 00:32:00,370 When I went to Vince McMahon and asked for my release, he told me right away, 390 00:32:00,490 --> 00:32:01,490 no. 391 00:32:02,050 --> 00:32:05,250 He told me to take a little bit of time for myself. 392 00:32:08,210 --> 00:32:10,430 She made the best decision for herself. 393 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:17,460 It was a really tough time, and it was something that was bigger than wrestling 394 00:32:17,460 --> 00:32:18,460 at the moment. 395 00:32:20,080 --> 00:32:26,400 I was so ready to leave because I just didn't want this to be my everything. 396 00:32:26,680 --> 00:32:30,640 I wanted to know who I was without Sasha Banks. 397 00:32:33,820 --> 00:32:38,460 Once Sasha was able to rebalance her life, she sought to regain the passion 398 00:32:38,460 --> 00:32:39,880 she felt from her days as a youth. 399 00:32:41,770 --> 00:32:44,310 So I took myself to Japan. 400 00:32:47,590 --> 00:32:51,670 I just wanted to find myself and to make sure that I was good mentally and 401 00:32:51,670 --> 00:32:52,670 physically. 402 00:32:54,910 --> 00:32:59,470 The few months that she was gone, I was so prepared for her to never come back. 403 00:33:02,770 --> 00:33:07,690 Even though I was on a break from the WWE, I always wanted to learn the 404 00:33:07,690 --> 00:33:08,690 style of wrestling. 405 00:33:12,080 --> 00:33:16,000 So I learned the Japanese strong styles. 406 00:33:16,520 --> 00:33:19,640 They are just so fine -skilled in their detail in Japan. 407 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:26,120 While in Japan, Sasha rediscovered her passion for wrestling, and she picked up 408 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:27,560 a few new tricks along the way. 409 00:33:27,900 --> 00:33:32,620 I learned more about strikes and the impacts, and I knew if I brought that 410 00:33:32,620 --> 00:33:35,380 the WWE, it would be game over for this woman. 411 00:33:36,360 --> 00:33:39,360 And just right then and there, something clicked for me. 412 00:33:39,790 --> 00:33:44,530 Just the energy switched just like that. I felt like all the fire within myself 413 00:33:44,530 --> 00:33:49,290 just erupted. I knew I was still so in love with wrestling. I was born to do 414 00:33:49,290 --> 00:33:50,290 this. 415 00:34:14,860 --> 00:34:20,900 I took a four -month break from the WWE, and I was truly, truly, truly searching 416 00:34:20,900 --> 00:34:21,900 for myself. 417 00:34:23,620 --> 00:34:25,820 The answer was just within me the whole time. 418 00:34:26,520 --> 00:34:31,120 I know who I am as Mercedes, and I know who I am as Sasha Banks. 419 00:34:34,980 --> 00:34:39,179 I remember coming back the day after SummerSlam in Toronto. 420 00:34:41,190 --> 00:34:45,610 And I felt, I still love it. I still have that 10 -year -old kid inside. 421 00:34:47,389 --> 00:34:49,730 Feel it, feel it, feel it, feel it, feel it. 422 00:34:52,330 --> 00:34:55,550 Rested and rejuvenated, Sasha Banks returned to Raw. 423 00:34:57,430 --> 00:34:59,990 It's been one year today since my dad died. 424 00:35:02,390 --> 00:35:04,470 Just in time to support her grieving friend. 425 00:35:07,670 --> 00:35:09,070 What? Oh my! 426 00:35:09,870 --> 00:35:10,870 Could it be? 427 00:35:17,840 --> 00:35:19,240 Or so we thought. 428 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:22,520 What a moment! 429 00:35:26,660 --> 00:35:28,540 Oh my God! 430 00:35:29,120 --> 00:35:30,740 What the hell? Surprise! 431 00:35:31,560 --> 00:35:35,680 Sasha Banks is packing to tell you! That's your daddy, huh? 432 00:35:36,180 --> 00:35:41,400 New blue hair, same blue colors. Sasha Banks is the worst. 433 00:35:42,180 --> 00:35:44,540 Sasha, I really like being... 434 00:35:45,180 --> 00:35:50,200 In control and in charge and unapologetically bitchy, rotten and 435 00:35:51,680 --> 00:35:54,300 Sasha Banks has returned with a vengeance. 436 00:35:55,020 --> 00:35:57,260 With an evil, evil vengeance. 437 00:35:59,540 --> 00:36:05,980 I feel 438 00:36:05,980 --> 00:36:11,980 like ever since I came back from my break, my wrestling style, my in the 439 00:36:11,980 --> 00:36:12,980 performance. 440 00:36:13,770 --> 00:36:17,110 It's just on a whole different level. 441 00:36:19,190 --> 00:36:21,630 Banks just drove Lynch to the table. 442 00:36:22,350 --> 00:36:26,830 I made fans freaking cry. I made little kids cry. 443 00:36:30,210 --> 00:36:35,630 Banks trash talks and now continues to beat down Evans in front of her family. 444 00:36:36,970 --> 00:36:41,770 Sasha Banks is gnarly. She does not care about anyone. 445 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:51,680 Sasha has studied the art form of WWE to such an extent that she's become a 446 00:36:51,680 --> 00:36:52,658 master of it. 447 00:36:52,660 --> 00:36:54,860 No! Wake up, Frankenstein! 448 00:36:57,420 --> 00:36:58,420 I'm the movement. 449 00:36:58,980 --> 00:36:59,980 I'm the standard. 450 00:37:00,260 --> 00:37:01,260 I'm the boss. 451 00:37:01,580 --> 00:37:02,580 I'm the greatest. 452 00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:03,980 I'm the best. I'm everything. 453 00:37:07,660 --> 00:37:11,860 Look at the confidence on the face of the SmackDown Women's Champion. 454 00:37:14,090 --> 00:37:19,230 At WrestleMania 37, Banks intended to steal the spotlight from WWE's new star. 455 00:37:22,210 --> 00:37:26,970 WrestleMania is the biggest night of the year for WWE. 456 00:37:27,270 --> 00:37:29,350 It's the Super Bowl of wrestling. 457 00:37:30,330 --> 00:37:35,010 This is an historic moment. For the first time ever, two black women have a 458 00:37:35,010 --> 00:37:37,590 title match in the main event at WrestleMania. 459 00:37:39,920 --> 00:37:45,140 Being the first two black females to ever main event WrestleMania, we knew 460 00:37:45,140 --> 00:37:46,140 significance of that. 461 00:37:48,120 --> 00:37:54,940 I remember being in 462 00:37:54,940 --> 00:37:59,800 NXT and dreaming about main eventing a WrestleMania one day, but those dreams 463 00:37:59,800 --> 00:38:05,780 were so far so big that I honestly never thought that would actually happen. 464 00:38:06,680 --> 00:38:09,100 Sasha trying to lock it in, but it's thrown away. 465 00:38:11,370 --> 00:38:15,310 My rule is don't touch my hair. I won't use it. 466 00:38:15,550 --> 00:38:19,610 Sasha Banks grabbed my hair, I think, more than anybody has ever grabbed my 467 00:38:19,610 --> 00:38:20,610 ever before. 468 00:38:23,390 --> 00:38:30,150 It is part of being a bad guy, doing anything you can to 469 00:38:30,150 --> 00:38:31,150 hurt your opponent. 470 00:38:31,870 --> 00:38:35,090 It took a lot for me to finally decide that's it. 471 00:38:44,810 --> 00:38:48,030 Ooh, that was probably the loudest hair whip that I've ever heard. 472 00:38:49,930 --> 00:38:51,230 Oh, my God! 473 00:38:52,930 --> 00:38:56,030 This is the name of the game. You have to deal with the pain. 474 00:38:57,570 --> 00:38:58,570 A -O -D! 475 00:38:58,910 --> 00:39:00,110 No way! It's a death! 476 00:39:00,430 --> 00:39:01,710 No way! It's a death! 477 00:39:02,470 --> 00:39:08,950 Even though I was beaten and bloody from 478 00:39:08,950 --> 00:39:12,150 Bianca's braid, I really wanted to take that moment in. 479 00:39:13,210 --> 00:39:17,110 A WrestleMania main event, whether you win or lose, it is the crowning 480 00:39:17,110 --> 00:39:20,010 achievement of being in this business, being in WWE. 481 00:39:20,550 --> 00:39:23,110 Even though she lost, it seems like a win to me. 482 00:39:26,550 --> 00:39:32,130 Win or lose, when it's boss time, Sasha has found a way to embrace the villain 483 00:39:32,130 --> 00:39:33,130 within. 484 00:39:35,370 --> 00:39:38,810 Being a boss, sometimes you got to do what you got to do. 485 00:39:39,660 --> 00:39:43,240 And that's what makes her who she is, is that she's willing to take that chance 486 00:39:43,240 --> 00:39:46,760 and be different and be on the dark side. 487 00:39:49,320 --> 00:39:50,560 She is the boss. 488 00:39:51,500 --> 00:39:52,660 She is the blueprint. 489 00:39:53,860 --> 00:39:56,380 She is the pinnacle of the division. 490 00:39:59,740 --> 00:40:01,900 I enjoy watching Sasha every time. 491 00:40:02,640 --> 00:40:05,660 She carries that Latino heat with her. 492 00:40:11,080 --> 00:40:15,640 I always wanted to make everybody feel how Eddie Guerrero made me. 493 00:40:22,020 --> 00:40:23,440 No, that's unstoppable. 494 00:40:25,220 --> 00:40:26,780 Sasha Banks is unstoppable. 495 00:40:27,440 --> 00:40:29,020 She'll do whatever it takes. 496 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:33,560 Whoever she wants, whenever she wants. 497 00:40:35,400 --> 00:40:38,700 That's why she'll always be the boss.