Charlotte Flair is looking to prove she was still the best wrestler that the women’s division in WWE has to offer. After hearing constant praise for the Women of NXT, she flawlessly picked apart the dominant Rhea Ripley at Wrestlemania 36, and then wiped the floor with Mia Yim last week on NXT. But it is already time for her to defend that newly won championship, and her opponent will be Io Shirai. Io earned this shot by winning a chaotic ladder match weeks ago, and the Joshi Judas would look to prove that she can beat The Queen. Who would walk out as NXT Women’s Champion?
Equally Matched From The Start
With such high stakes combined with the nature of a first time matchup, this match would start with an expected feeling out process. Flair would lock Shirai in a headlock, be shoved into the ropes and drop her opponent with a textbook shoulder block. Flair would go to hit the ropes and Shirai would prepare to drop down and evade, but was nearly stomped as Flair knows that trick too well. Before Shirai could get up, Flair rushed in with a big boot, which Shirai dodged easily with a matrix like escape. This agility would open the door for Shirai, as she flipped across the ring before hitting a front dropkick to the chest. Even Flair was impressed by this, but her confidence didn’t waver.
Realizing she would need to be rough to get control, Flair would kick Shirai in the gut before taking her down with a snapmare. Applying a tight figure four headscissors, she would slam the face of Shirai into the mat a few times Shirai would attempt to counter this, but be slammed down due to the leg strength of Flair. She would place her opponent in the corner to hit a signature Flair chop, and continue to rain down strikes until Shirai would gain control. A basement dropkick attempt would lead to Shirai being booted across the ring, which Flair followed up with a clothesline.
Genius Of The Sky Makes A Comeback
Throwing Shirai back into the corner, she would be met with a kick to the face as her opponent quickly moved to the outside. This would be followed with a spingboard dropkick, the first big move of the match for Shirai. Having sent Charlotte into the corner, Shirai would rush in but would meet the back elbow of Flair. Mounting the second rope, Flair would be kicked again by Shirai who would follow up with a Frankensteiner from the top rope.
Flair would once again take refuge in the corner once she was vertical again, with Shirai dashing in only to be caught in a backbreaker before throwing her headfirst into the middle turnbuckle. Looking to prove she is just good a high flyer as Shirai, Charlotte would attempt a moonsault but miss her target. With Charlotte hurt, Shirai would set her up for the Tiger Feint Kick (aka the 619) before hitting a stiff double knee strike in the corner for a near fall. Then stepping over The Queen, Shirai would attempt a moonsault of her own but find two knees instead of the intended stomach, and then be run through with a Big Boot for a near fall.
Charlotte Flair Takes The Cowards Way Out
Flair would pick her opponent up for a powerbomb, but Shirai would fight out and hit a frankensteiner, sending Flair into the bottom turnbuckle before she rolled to the outside. Shirai would take to the sky for a moonsault to the outside, but Charlotte would dodge and had pulled out a kendo stick. She would hit Shirai across the back with it, and force the DQ. Shirai would get the win, but not the title. She would brutalize the previously injured knee of Shirai, and look to apply the Figure Four Leg Lock around the post. Shirai would be saved by a returning Rhea Ripley, who would drop the head of Charlotte onto the apron before sending her in the ring before Charlotte fled with the NXT Women’s Championship.
With Ripley back and Shirai being robbed of a chance to finish her match with Charlotte, the NXT Women’s Championship picture has gotten very interesting. Should Shirai get a rematch under No DQ rules, or will Ripley jump the line? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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