10 Ups & 2 Downs From Last Night's WWE NXT (Dec 18)
2. The. Main. Event.
Making a late play for match of the year, Shayna Baszler's 416-day reign as NXT Women's Champion came to an end in the most glorious possible fashion after a mesmerising match with the only woman to meet her mettle.
In Rhea Ripley, NXT established a challenger with the pedigree and punch to finally heap dirt on the 'Queen Of Spades', the pushed her as such until the time was right for the title switch to take place. This, categorically proved itself to be the right time.
Never allowing herself to become rattled by Shayna's early threats, Ripley only appeared weak when she found herself trapped like all the rest - and it was then she summoned the most strength. An endless Kirifuda Clutch spot resembled the punishing time Shawn Michaels spent in Kurt Angle's ankle lock at WrestleMania 21, and may have even been agented by the former for maximum effect.
Equal parts desperation and desire, Ripley's survival of that was as important as the conclusive pinfall win that followed. She survived and thrived against the 'Submission Magician' in a way nobody else ever had. That's how she won, and that's how she became Women's Champion.