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To say Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair have redefined what women can achieve in WWE would be a massive understatement.

Last October the pair contested the first women's Hell in a Cell match and first women's bout to headline a pay-per-view in the company's history.

It was a far cry from the five-minute contests, swimsuit competitions and bikini battle royals the stars of WWE's old 'Divas Division' were often limited to a decade ago.

But it was the natural next step in a revolution led by the duo and their fellows stars like Becky Lynch, Nikki Bella, Natalya, Bayley, Alexa Bliss, Naomi and Paige.

The build-up to this historic moment is captured in a new Channel 4 documentary for All 4, titled Smashing Glass Ceilings: The Women of WWE.

Directed by James Delow, host of the hit UK wrestling podcast Gorilla Position, it sees Sasha and Charlotte prepare for the biggest match of their careers and reveals their extraordinary dedication and the sacrifices they have made to reach the top of an industry traditionally dominated by men.

Three-time world champion Sasha, 25, from Boston, Massachusetts, spoke to the Mirror about breaking down doors, making history and her future goals.

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What was it like being the focus of a documentary about the women stars of WWE and how you have helped change perceptions of women in the industry?

It's been crazy. It's truly amazing to be part of such a great company where they have really given us a platform to show women that we can do it like the guys and even better and to let us go out there and have a main event of a pay-per-view. Charlotte and I when we found out, we were totally in shock and in awe. I remember finding out when I was in the car driving with Bayley to Boston. I kind of just broke down in tears, just because I couldn't believe it that I was going to be in my hometown and that I would actually main event a pay-per-view. Not only a pay-per-view, but inside Hell in a Cell. There were so many mixed emotions and it's so crazy how women have grown and changed perceptions of what we can do in the WWE.

The documentary centres around the build-up to that match, how you reached that point and developed such an intense rivalry with Charlotte. How did you find watching those scenes back and reflecting on them afterwards?

So emotional. So emotional that I didn't get to finish watching the documentary. I hate watching myself. It just brought me back to that day and I remember the day being so overwhelming, knowing that my family was going to be there, that we were going to be the main event and I just didn't want to let the fans down. So honestly it was hard for me to even finish the documentary. I've heard many great things about it and maybe one day I can finish it if I don't cry!

(Image: © WWE)

You certainly didn't let anyone down. It was an intense match with a gripping story, which at one point saw you taken away on a stretcher, only to recover and the match continue. The atmosphere at the TD Garden in Boston was electric.

Thank you. Yeah, I try every time I go out there and perform, my goal is always to try and have the best match on the whole card. I want to be better than all the boys. I hope the atmosphere was fantastic, I know when the match was over it kind of fell to a deathly silence because I lost! But during the match they were quite incredible, as always.

Obviously as the hometown favourite, people were disappointed to see you lose. It was a shame as the bout drew to a close that a table didn't appear to break as intended - perhaps things didn't go exactly according to plan. But that didn't overshadow a great match and moment in WWE history.

Yeah, I mean when does anything go to plan? If I'm thrown through a table, I'm 120lbs, so who knows if it's going to break or not? I roll with the punches.

Throughout this rivalry with Charlotte, you have both pushed yourselves to the limit physically, giving fans everything you have got and delivered hard-hitting matches the likes of which fans haven't expected from women superstars in the past.

Yeah absolutely, we keep breaking these doors down. At Hell in a Cell, in the Falls Count Anywhere Match, getting to main event Raw, the Ironman match... We've constantly been doing that and it's incredible how many doors we've been breaking down. I'm so excited that I'm a part of this history of women in WWE right now and looking forward to the future.

(Image: © WWE)

It has been reported that you have had some some injury issues over the past year, particularly with your lower back. Are you fully fit now?

Oh my back is great dude, it's 100%.

That's good to hear. Sometimes watching the things you and Charlotte have put each other through, as fans it's difficult not to wince and think: 'I hope she's okay'.

Then I'm doing a great job, dude. I got cha!

You mentioned Bayley earlier - you were part of a special moment for her on Raw on February 13, when you helped her win the Raw's Women Championship.

Well did I really help her? She could have done it on her own. I just love beating up Charlotte! Bayley is an amazing competitor and I'm so happy she is the Raw Women's Champion. I hope she holds that championship for a very long time.

Surely you have your own eyes set on reclaiming that prize?

Oh, I'm good, I'm a three-time women's champion. I'm happy for her, I support her and this is her time. Maybe I could go after the United States Championship!

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It's a unique situation to have you, Charlotte, Bayley and Nia Jax, who have all come up through NXT, dominating the women's division on Raw and making such an impact.

Oh yeah, as you can tell NXT has produced so many amazing competitors - myself, Charlotte, Becky, Bayley, as you mention Nia Jax - she's okay - and the current SmackDown Women's Champion, Alexa Bliss, she's okay too, but she's no Sasha Banks.

On Raw, there have been a lot of women's title changes in a quick period of time. Some fans have complained the title is like a hot potato and is flitting around too much. The counterpoint to that is in the past there have been times when male superstars - such as Mankind and The Rock and The Rock and Triple H in the late 1990s and early 2000s - traded belts back and forth, which heightened their rivalries and made it feel like either could defeat the other on any given night. What do you think?

Absolutely. The hot potato on that too, the same goes for SmackDown, that title has already changed three times as well. Fans can complain all they want but they are still watching every week because they want to see what's next, we have them on the edge of their seat and they never know what is coming. That's what's so great about WWE, we are here to entertain you, we are here to make you watch with a mystery eye, like what's going to happen. Even when I show up on Raw I have no idea what is going to happen, they surprise me as well. Raw is the better brand, I was the better champion and when I want to reclaim that championship, I will.

With WrestleMania 33 on the horizon, would you like to see a four-way match with you, Charlotte, Bayley and Nia Jax all going for the Raw Women's Championship, as has been rumoured?

No, I don't like Nia Jax. I'm kind of over wrestling Charlotte for a while and with Bayley, if it was for the women's championship I would beat her. Although she is my best friend, I want her to have a nice long title reign. Maybe I can wrestle her without the title being on the line and just give her some tips on being a champion.

(Image: © WWE)

Some superstars develop an interest in WWE later in life, but you have been a fan of WWE since you were a child.

Oh yeah, it's been my dream since I was 10-years-old and ever since I laid my eyes on WWE, I have wanted to be here. It's so crazy to think that I got signed when I was 20 and now here I am at 25 legit living my dream. I'm a three-time women's champion, I got to main event Raw, a pay-per-view, got to be a part of WrestleMania last year, and it is so crazy to think what this dream of that 10-year-old girl has become now. It's incredible. I am legit following my dreams and I am ready to chase some more.

We have recently seen Mickie James - a women's wrestling legend and trailblazer in many ways - return to WWE and join the SmackDown roster. How pleased are you to see her back and is she someone you would like to lock horns with?

Oh yeah, absolutely, I was actually quite jealous to find out Mickie was going to SmackDown, I was like 'damn I really want to wrestle her'. But it wasn't to be and anything can happen, hopefully after the next draft our paths cross because she is definitely someone I would like to get in the ring with. The same goes for Naomi and Natalya, there are so many women I feel like I haven't really had the opportunity yet to have great matches with yet. That's what the future is for and keeping you guys on your toes again! Mickie James is an absolute legend, she is great.

As a long time fan, are there any other iconic women's stars you would like to see back in WWE so you could clash one day?

Absolutely, I would love to wrestle Trish [Stratus], Molly Holly, Jazz, Jacqueline - she is a WWE Hall of Famer now - all of them could have one more match. There are so many amazing women who have come before me and I would love to wrestle them all.

Smashing Glass Ceilings: The Women of WWE is available to watch now on All 4.