The summer of 2013 saw NXT crown its first Women's champion. A tournament featuring the young stars of NXT and the Divas of WWE unfolded over the span of a month or two and featured several stunning upsets. Main roster competitors such as Aksana and Alicia Fox fell in defeat at the hands of the likes of Paige and Emma, ensuring that the first champion of the next generation of Superstars would be a homegrown talent. With the finals of the tournament featuring the aforementioned Paige and Emma, there was a buzz and excitement surrounding the championship bout. Both young women were celebrated in-ring workers and had the potential to deliver a performance that elevated their stars and reintroduced women's wrestling to a company who had become far more concerned with promoting a reality show than adequately booking its Divas division. They did not disappoint. They exchanged control of the match and displayed outstanding transitions from move-to-move and very good counter wrestling. The submission wrestling was solid and the nearfalls had the fans in Full Sail University on the edge of their seats. Ultimately, it was Paige who delivered the Paige Turner and scored the pinfall victory. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAp-_FTJzu0 The match was a phenomenal way to kick off a new era of women's wrestling in WWE and the perfect way to crown the first NXT Women's champion. Nearly a year later, Paige remains champion and the standard bearer for the NXT Divas division.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
