It was nothing short of a groundbreaking matchup that the NXT Universe was moments away from witnessing: Bayley vs. Asuka for the Women’s Championship at NXT Takeover: Dallas.

Just minutes before the epic encounter inside the sold-out Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, with the cheers of the rabid NXT Universe reverberating in the background, NXT Women’s Champion Bayley found solace seemingly away from the rest of the world. A dark hallway, with no soul in sight, provided her the opportunity to digest the magnitude of her impending title defense. Sadly, despite a valiant effort, the beloved Superstar would fall to Asuka and thus watch her 223-day reign as NXT Women’s Champion reach its conclusion.

Nearly four months later, Bayley now finds herself on the verge of a redemptive opportunity to right that unforgettable loss in Dallas.

“Winning back that title has always been my top priority, because being the best has always been my goal in NXT,” Bayley told WWE.com.

In the same week that Bayley witnessed seven of her colleagues get drafted to the respective brands of Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live, it seems the quest to regain the NXT Women’s Championship has taken permanent residency in the mind of the beloved NXT Superstar.

“Ever since I lost the Women’s Championship to Askua, I feel like I've been targeted in a whole different way,” she revealed. “People have tried to keep me down and keep me away from the title picture to make sure that I never get a chance again. And personally, I've struggled with a lot of doubt in myself at times.”

Last night on NXT, Bayley took a major step toward shaking that doubt by pinning newly drafted Raw Superstar Nia Jax. Now, the inevitable — a rematch with NXT Women’s Champion Askua — appears to be around the corner.

Just weeks after returning from an injury at the hands of Nia Jax, Bayley takes on her towering rival in this week's main event. Video courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.

“I've become more aggressive than I was last April,” Bayley said. “I’m more demanding. I know I deserve this rematch, and I won't take no for an answer any longer.”

Though the decision for a rematch is certainly out of her hands, the motivation she has to achieve that goal is not.

“Making my family, friends and close peers proud of me is the most important thing,” an emotional Bayley stated. “They are my motivation every day. They keep me going when things get tough. I'm very proud of NXT. I've seen it all. I've done it all, from the very low days of [Florida Championship Wrestling]/NXT, to the NXT we see today that is taking over the business. I know the future is brighter than ever.”

The only question is, does that bright future mean a second reign as NXT Women’s Champion? Bayley intends to answer that sooner than later.

Follow Bayley on Twitter @itsBayleyWWE.