Rogue Opinions
Nov 2 · 4 min read

The N(E)XT Women

With the first ever all women’s War Games match announced for the up coming TakeOver War Games event and with this past Fridays NXT invasion of SmackDown. I’m here to ask when it comes to NXT could we be looking at the strongest women’s division in Wrestling? If not (let’s not forget Impact whom have the likes of Rosemary, Tessa Blanchard and Jordynne Grace on their books) then most certainly in WWE.

Where as far as Raw and SmackDown are concerned there may be one possibly 2 credible challengers for the main championships: Asuka (who’s currently in a tag team) and Charlotte on Raw, Sasha (Who is Bayley’s friend) and Nikki Cross on SmackDown. You could also insert Alexa Bliss in there for SD but there are still doubts over her fitness after multiple concussions.

But NXT is a totally different story where we have at least four credible challengers for the Championship. Starting with Io Shirai who after a decent but shaky start in the second Mae Young Classic has really found her confidence and hit her stride developing into one of the best performers male or female in the entire WWE Universe. With her recent heel turn adding another layer to her character and overall presentation.

Bianca Belair is another front runner, this super athletic rookie hasn’t been in the grap’s business long but has improved immensely over the past twelve months and looks more than ready to mount another challenge for the NXT Women’s Championship.

Then we have the first ever NXT U.K women’s Champion Rhea Ripley. This 23 year old Australian is super over and her ring work and experience belies her youthfulness. The crowed reactions are so hot for this superstar and the fact she looks more than ready to take on the lofty mantle of NXT Women’s Champion, Make’s her my own personal pick to be crowned the next Champion.

We mustn’t forget Candice LeRae who had a superb no holds barred match against Io Shirai at the last TakeOver event. Easily one of the best women’s matches this year not just in WWE but in the entire wrestling industry! This Indie darling has been wrestling years and is simply amazing in the ring.

We can also factor in Tegan Nox who recently returned from injury and is clearly someone WWE had big plans for before her horrendous injury at the MYC2. (during a match v Rhea Ripley no less) Rumour’s suggest Nox was originally penned in to win the whole tournament before her knee gave out. But her recent tag team performance with partner Dakota Kai against the Kabuki warriors suggest she is getting back to her very best.

Although I remain unconvinced Mia Yim is on the fringes and has pedigree in other promotions so I won’t discount her completely.

But let’s not forget the foundation this whole women’s division is built on, the NXT Women’s champion herself Shayna Baszler. Some people moan she has held the belt for too long, an all too common complaint when a title reign lasts longer than six months. Maybe this is because we have become accustomed to shorter titles reigns in the modern era or is due to our depleting attention span’s in this technological era we are living in. But for me this Lengthy reign is one of the reasons that makes this division so strong. Shayna is a beast of a champion who at this point is almost unstoppable, (holding the title for 369 days and counting) tapping out all her opponents out with her patent Kirfuda clutch. Shayna has a big fight aura that she brings to all her title defences that very few in the wrestling business possess, Lesnar being one obvious example.

All the women I’ve mentioned have tried and failed at least once to grapple the NXT Women’s Championship away from Baszler’s clutches. But they are all so talented and good in the ring that they have been able to bounce back, rack up the wins and challenge again. Right now Io, Rhea and Bianca all believe they are next in line and deserve another shot at the Queen of Spades. This is what led to a mass brawl at this past Wednesday’s NXT and in turn has led us to the first ever women’s War Games match. Which will pit Team Baszler v Team Ripley. All these women have worked so hard and totally deserve this history making opportunity in my view. The match has the potential to be simultaneously insane and awesome with the likes of Io and LeRae who will potentially be on opposing sides in this diabolical match. Add to the mix Team Kick, Belair and at least one of the horsewomen and we are in for an absolute treat. As we saw at TakeOver Toronto Io and Candice held nothing back with Shirai also spectacular in her Cage match defeat against Baszler on NXT. As I’ve previously mentioned we know all the other women I’ve named can go and then some making War Games a hotly anticipated match and I for one can not wait, buckle. up people we are in for one hell of a ride!

Carl Pearce

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