6 Ups And 1 Down For WWE NXT (Mar 10)

5. Shirai Overcomes The Storm

Charging straight on into our first of three (!) NXT Championship matches of the evening, Io Shirai took to the ring post-game-changing announcements as she looked to defend her NXT Women's Championship against the woman she has never defeated in a one-on-one encounter - Toni Storm.

This simple story of an all-encompassing Champion going up against the one foe who has always had her number was enough to keep your eyes fully locked into this contest from the off. After seemingly using her superior experience in NXT title matches to her advantage early on, derailing Storm's amped up momentum with her usual array of stomps and excruciating submissions, the challenger grasped a chance to turn the tide by launching the Champion face first into the apron and steel steps.

It wasn't long before the resilient 'Genius of the Sky' was back at it again, though, nailing Storm with a delicious tiger feint kick and springboard dropkick as she forced her way back into the bout. If that wasn't enough, a Storm Zero reversal into a back body drop on the apron was soon followed by a mega top rope moonsault onto Storm on the outside.

In a wicked momentum shift, however, just as Shirai looked to have the match all finished up, Toni Time appeared to be imminent as the challenger dodged another moonsault and nailed her foe with a Storm Zero for a pulsating near-fall. A desperate Storm would then miss a last-ditch flying head-butt before Storm rolled her into a vicious cross-face, forcing her powerful adversary to tap.

As far as title matches go, this one ticked all the boxes for a short and sweet affair. Storm looked like a worthy rival to the 2020 NXT Wrestler of the Year, but Shirai's legend continues to grow with this latest addition to her long list of scalps.