Bayley is ready to take on Asuka: Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.

Returning to the site of her career’s defining moment, Bayley hoped and believed lightning would strike twice for her in an NXT Women’s Championship Match.

While her opponent last year, current WWE Women’s Champion Sasha Banks, was no pushover, her opponent on this night, Asuka, was an entirely different type of force. The undefeated Empress of Tomorrow stunned a sold-out arena in Dallas into silence during WrestleMania 32 week, steamrolling Bayley en route to capturing the title. Asuka was supremely confident as she approached the ring and stared down her challenger with a sinister smile across her face.

With Becky Lynch and Banks watching at ringside, the two women spent the early moments of the contest sizing each other up, neither woman able to gain the upper hand. The champion finally gained an advantage when Bayley dove off the ropes, only for Asuka to nearly crush her nose in with a knee to the face. The NXT Women’s Champion grinned from ear to ear after that as she unleashed strike after strike on her dazed challenger. Bayley psyched herself up as Asuka slammed her head into the turnbuckle, finally getting the energy she needed to turn the tables. Bayley showed how much she’s been studying the champion, evading Asuka’s flying hip attack and catching her in the ropes.

Bayley continued to gain momentum as she fought off attack after attack from the insanely aggressive champion. However, Asuka is a force unlike any other and cut off her challenger at every point, eventually trapping Bayley in an ankle lock and wrenching away. The Empress of Tomorrow teed off on Bayley with kicks, only for the challenger to stand up and demand that Asuka hit her in the face. Asuka was happy to oblige, but nearly got caught in a pinning attempt by Bayley.

Bayley survived the Asuka Lock and connected with the Bayley-to-Belly that had Brooklyn thinking a new champion would be crowned. Bayley survived another Asuka Lock and tried to weather the storm, standing up and slapping the champion. Unfortnately, Asuka responded with a kick to the head that echoed through the Barclays Center and put Bayley down for the three-count.

Asuka showed tremendous sportsmanship in hugging her defeated challenger and ceding the ring to her. The sold-out Brooklyn crowd was on its feet in appreciation for the valiant Bayley, who left the ring with her head held high.