It’s not often we see a bonafide dream match within WWE, but that’s the case with tonight. Sasha Banks and Io Shirai are two of the best female wrestlers on the planet, but many felt they would never clash. We especially didn’t expect it to happen down in NXT, with Sasha Banks being a defined star of of the WWE Main Roster. But her co-ownership of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships brought her home, and Io Shirai removed her from what is now her ring.
The NXT Women’s Championship isn’t on the line, but a boatload of pride is. With no commercial breaks, they’d be ready to have an absolute classic worthy of NXT Takeover events. Sasha Banks has coasted off her reputation from matches with Bayley & Becky Lynch from NXT, and it’s time to show that she’s still that good. Bayley would be in her corner of course, giving an instant advantage.
Sasha Banks Takes Early Advantage
Sasha Banks would be shoved into the corner by Io Shirai, before grabbing the arm. This wouldn’t lead to much, with Banks slipping out before being dazzled by the agility of Shirai. A missile dropkick followed by a lightning quick dive would take out Banks as Bayley would be concerned at ringside. Shirai would hit double knees in the corner, and get an early near fall.
While looking for something in the corner, Shirai would be distracted by Bayley going up and honking the horn of the Dodge Viper by the stage, giving Banks control in this match for the first time. A rear chinlock from Banks, would start control, before setting Shirai up for her double knee drop to the midsection in the corner.
Banks would use her vicious submission style, attacking one arm while stomping on the hand of the other. A running meteora would follow this, to get a near fall before he’d look for another submission.
The Boss Came To Collect
A quick headscissors takedown would give Shirai brief control, before having her face introduced to the middle turnbuckle. She’d battle through this, and set up a top rope Frankensteiner, sending Banks to the middle of the ring. Shirai would get things moving, hitting a flapjack, which caused Banks to crawl to the middle rope and be hit with a 619. A springboard dropkick would but Banks down for a near fall, and a double underhook backbreaker would be attempted, before Banks would counter out.
Shirai would manage to hit a German Suplex, but not get all of it. Once back to her feet, she’d snatch a quick Banks Statement, but a rollup would force her to break the hold. Shirai would regain control, and look for her moonsault on Banks, before being stuck upside down in the corner. Banks would rush in for double knees, but Shirai would dodge at the last second. She’d go for a moonsault, Banks would dodge and quickly get on the middle rope for a diving Metora. This match had hit the next gear.
Things Descend Into Chaos, Io Shirai Takes Advantage
Being dropped on the middle rope again, Shirai would look for another 619, but Banks had it scouted now. A brawl on the apron would lead to Banks catching Shirai mid-springboard to hit a huge knee to the head. She’d follow this with a sunset flip powerbomb off the apron into the plexiglass.
Back in the ring, Banks would pay tribute to Eddie Guerrero with the Frog Splash, but Shirai would dodge and lock in the Crossface. Bayley would toss the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship in the ring to distract the referee, and hit Shirai with the Smackdown Women’s Championship. The referee would argue with Bayley, as Banks looked to grab the title to continue the attack.
Asuka would appear to foil Banks, spray the green mist into the eyes to blind her next challenger and even the odds. A rollup wouldn’t get Banks, but a moonsault to the back would. Io Shirai, with an assist from Asuka has beaten Sasha Banks.
This had the feeling of an NXT classic, but at the end, it looked more like something off RAW or Smackdown with insane interference. We still got some incredible action from Shirai and Banks, and maybe another time we’ll get a more pure match. Still an easy 4/5 match, but many will be let down by the finish.
Do you think this match should have played out without outside influences? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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