6 Ups & 4 Downs From NXT TakeOver: XXX

2. Kai Hangs With Shirai

After conquering the likes of Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, Tegan Nox and Sasha Banks during her reign as NXT Women's Champion so far, NXT TakeOver: XXX saw Io Shirai faced with a new type of foe.

In Dakota Kai, not only was Shirai about to take on a well-rounded performer who also holds victories over Ripley and Nox, but she also had to manage the added hulking variable that is Raquel Gonzalez.

Yet, instead of heavily relying on her back-up muscle, Kai actually did the majority of the heavy lifting herself during her first ever NXT Women's Championship TakeOver match. Disarming Shirai early in the battle after hurling her into the ring post, the New Zealander clinically grounded the Genius of the Sky for long sections of their gripping encounter.

For a brief moment, it even looked like Kai was about to pull off the unimaginable and defeat the Japanese sensation after Raquel Gonzalez finally intervened post-referee knockdown. Yet, two typically mesmerising moonsaults later, Shirai was celebrating overcoming one of her most difficult obstacles to date.

Kai lost nothing in defeat and a run with the belt seems like a more intriguing proposition after this programme, but there's still a few more miles left in this high flying Shirai ride.