6 Ups And 1 Down From NXT Halloween Havoc (28 Oct)

2. Racquel In A Cell

Despite debuting in April (this infernal year will never end), this really felt like Raquel Gonzalez's first big match in NXT. Yes, she's worked with some of the division's biggest names, but this was the first time it felt more about her than Dakota Kai. Given her relative lack of experience, and how Ripley usually thrives against more technical opponents, this never felt like a natural matchup beyond the fact they were both... tall.

But the biggest compliment you can pay in this situation is that Gonzales looked every inch the equal of her more celebrated opponent. The pair put each other through a series of brutal-looking bumps, in an attempt to try and tell a story of physical escalation between the division's two biggest and baddest stars.

While it's easy to look at the loss for Gonzales as cutting the legs out from under her, simply having her go this hard and this far with Ripley is an elevation from her usual role. Previously we've seen her used sparingly to really hammer home the impact she has for Kai, but here she was front and centre and looked right at home. If the pairing isn't going to lead to a Kai title reign, then it can't be long before Gonzales is left to her own devices.

On this evidence, she'll thrive.