For the past 304 days, Io Shirai has taken down any and all challengers for her NXT Women’s Championship. Rhea Ripley, Dakota Kai, Toni Storm, Tegan Nox and more have all failed to drop The Genius of the Sky. But she’s never faced someone like Raquel Gonzalez before, because she’s one of a kind.
Shirai laid this challenge down herself, and Gonzalez learned last week that Shirai doesn’t stay down, even when thrown through a wall. It’s the biggest match of her career, and will likely be one of her hardest fights yet. However, this is just another night for Shirai.
Raquel Gonzalez’s First Singles Title Match In NXT
This match started with Shirai diving onto Gonzalez, and being thrown off and run down with a big boot. Gonzalez had to press this early advantage, and he’d do everything to keep it as she blocked a running hurricanrana with pure power. Shirai would clap her legs off the ears of Gonzalez, before hitting a kick over the ropes.
Gonzalez would be fought into the corner, but blocked the double knee strike. Shirai twisted her body to send Gonzalez outside, but Kai attacked as Shirai went for a moonsault. The referee kicked Kai out instead of throwing this main event out, before Shirai hit the Asai Moonsault and drove Gonzalez into the barricade.
Shirai went for a second moonsault, but Gonzalez caught her and drove Shirai shoulder first into the corner. Back in the ring, Gonzalez slammed Shirai into the mat for a two count. Gonzalez would go for an Alley-Oop, sending Shirai right off the top rope. Shirai kicked out, so Gonzalez stayed calm and rained down elbow drops.
Gonzalez went for a suplex, and Shirai slipped out before hitting some chops. Shirai wouldn’t get far, before being locked in the modified Gory Special. Gonzalez couldn’t keep the hold, and Shirai rolled her up with a hurricanrana and hit a double stomp. Shirai missed a 619 but got an arm drag through the ropes. Gonzalez landed on the middle rope again, and the 619 hit before a missile dropkick. A Yoshi-Tonic got a near fall, before Shirai went up top for a moonsault.
Io Shirai Is Fearless
Gonzalez plucked Io Shirai off the top rope and looked for her one armed powerbomb, but Shirai countered. A crossface was applied, and Gonzalez had a long crawl to the bottom rope. Gonzalez slipped to the outside, and Shirai kept the pressure on with a moonsault to the ramp.
After this, Gonzalez looked to get some space but Shirai again rushed in with a double knee strike. Shirai would climb the set, and dive 20ft down with a crossbody. This is what makes Shirai a dangerous champion, she’s a daredevil and an accurate one. Gonzalez was dragged back to the ring, and Shirai went to the top rope for the moonsault. Moonsault landed, but Gonzalez kicked out at two somehow!
Gonzalez is the first one to kick out of this, and she’d plant Shirai on the outside with a one armed powerbomb. Back in the ring, Shirai hit a shotei but was run down with a lariat. The sky high One Armed Powerbomb would drop Shirai, and that was the end of that title reign. Raquel Gonzalez claims her first singles gold in NXT, and what a battle to get it.
Who will step up first to Raquel Gonzalez? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get TheOvertimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
Remember to stay up to date with the latest news on TheOvertimer. Don’t forget to visit Gamestingr for great videos, news, and gameplay!