15 Ups & 6 Downs For WWE NXT In 2019
2. Shayna Baszler
It took the guts and guile of Rhea Ripley to finally terminate Shayna Baszler's incredible second reign as NXT Women's Champion in a glorious payoff to a truly magnificent feud, but 'The Queen Of Spades' contributions up to and including that cathartic switch were possibly more important than anybody else's on a show.
Wrestling companies are often (rightfully) defined by their Champions, and the unflappable, unstoppable Baszler was simply sensational in her role as such. Her TakeOver title defences were wrestled at a different pace to every other bout on the card - fought like the monster/monster slayer battles they were, Baszler's ability to flit between dominance and panic extracted every last burst of hope from the crowd before she put another pretender away.
It informed every one of her defences up to and including the last, and if November was any indication of Vince McMahon's thoughts on her, Raw and SmackDown will be substantially better for having her.