Tegan Nox recently won something she needed for a very long time, a chance. She has a chance to become the NXT Women’s Champion after beating Mia Yim, Candice LeRae, and Dakota Kai in a four way elimination match. Now only Io Shirai stands before her and her first title win in WWE. This is also the first defense of Io Shirai as champion, after winning it at NXT Takeover: In Your House. Would her reign end at 39 days, or will Tegan Nox be sent to the back of the line?
Wasting No Time
We wouldn’t even get through the introductions, with Nox getting the match started early. They’d lock up hard, with Nox remaining in control early on, showing off with her technical skills. If she could keep Shirai grounded, this match would go better for her, perhaps her only way to win. Shirai would manage to get control and grab a side-headlock. Nox would reverse pressure to get some quick pinfall attempts, but Shirai wouldn’t lose that easily.
The match would remain on the mat for a while longer, but Nox would remain in control as the pace picked up with some deep arm drags. Shirai would use her quickness and strikes to take some control, but Nox would give as good as she got. Nox would be sent outside, but Shirai would come out with a baseball slide, but miss. A PK attempt on the apron would be caught, and Nox would be sent face first, before rolling into the ring as we went to a commercial break.
Shirai would have control when we got back, holding in a rear chinlock before releasing it to taunt Nox. This got Nox fired up, who would catch a diving crossbody with a fallaway slam into a bridge of the pin. Unfortunately, she’d be put in a corner and hit with double knees, Shirai right back on top.
Io Shirai Controls The Pace
Shirai would apply another submission, neutralizing the right arm and applying a chinlock. However, Nox would counter out into a rollup, getting a quick two count. She’d go to the ropes to catch her breath, with Shirai making that hard as she applied pressure to the neck. Shirai would scoop her up and hit the slam, before going for a running elbow drop and miss.
They’d battle for control, with Shirai getting it again. The champion was now wrestling her type of match. Nox is a tough customer, and she’d use her head to attempt to get back into the match, only to get hit with a flapjack and lose the advantage just as quickly as she gained it. Another commercial break would come, with Shirai maintaining control, practically toying with Nox. She’d apply a crossface, but Nox got to the ropes as we came back. An attempted foot stomp would be dodged by Nox rolling to the outside. However, this wouldn’t work for Nox who got thrown into the steps, or so it seemed! Nox would dodge the double knees, and Shirai would go right into the steel. It was time for the comeback.
Tegan Nox Got Her Best Chance
Back in the ring, Shirai would try to maintain control but pick a terrible move as she went for the backbreaker, hurting her left knee. She’d hit a German Suplex and get a near fall, before looking for the moonsault. Nox would cut the legs out from underneath her, and hit a cannon ball for the near fall. This was her best chance yet, and she would keep control. She’d hit hard, dodge fast, and hit another cannonball in the corner. A diving crossbody would get a near fall, and she’d look for the Chokeslam. Lady Kane would get a two count off the slam, and would be shocked.
She’d rush into Shirai with some running uppercuts, before being dodged and being German Suplexed into the corner. The double knees would be hit, followed by a 619. Shirai would go up top and hit a diving front dropkick. Nox would get out at 2.9, barely kicking out of his sequence. She’d block the Tiger Driver, and hit a front suplex, before paying homage to another of her icons with the Molly Go Round. The shining wizard would be stopped with a palm strike, and Shirai would be able to ascend the ropes and hit a big moonsault for the win.
The Future Becomes Clear
This match showed just how good Tegan Nox is, her best showing in NXT yet. Can easily award this match a 3.75/5 (*** 3/4) rating. There will come a day she is champion, but that isn’t today. Io Shirai’s reign will continue, but Dakota Kai wants the next shot. She’d drop Shirai with a boot to the face as the show faded to black. It likely didn’t matter who won the match, Kai would have kicked either one with glee.
When will Dakota Kai get her shot? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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