Next week, we will see six women in NXT scratch and crawl to try and become the next contender for the NXT Women’s Championship. After this weekend, it could be either Rhea Ripley or Charlotte Flair. While there are five women in the match already, Chelsea Green, Tegan Nox, Mia Yim, Io Shirai and Candice LeRae, there is one slot open. To fill this, the six women who failed to qualify are getting a second chance, but they need to run the gauntlet. Shotzi Blackheart, Dakota Kai, Deonna Purrazzo Xia Li, Aliyah, & Kayden Carter would all be involved. Gauntlet matches work as followed. Two people start, and once someone is defeated, another superstar takes their place. They can be grueling, especially if you start the match.
Shotzi Blackheart & Deonna Purrazzo Need To Go The Distance
Starting a gauntlet match almost kills your chances of victory, as you need to outlast five opponents. This would be the fate of Shotzi & Deonna, who would be picked to start this matchup. Things would start quick, with Deonna pushing Shotzi into the corner and stomping her through. Deonna would use her technical prowess to try and match the high energy of Shotzi, a major clash of style Shotzi is someone who’s style would make her less likely to win, as she would use plenty of energy on what could be her first opponent of the evening. Heavy strikes and submissions would break down Shotzi, as Deonna would control the pace of the match. Shotzi would fight back, taking to the top rope only to be stopped by Deonna. She would fight her way out, and hit a senton off the top rope to continue to her next opponent.
Xia Li Gets Her Chance
Last week on NXT, it was supposed to be Xia Li vs. Aliyah for a spot in the ladder match, but Xia Li would be found hurt backstage. Io Shirai took her place and would defeat Aliyah to earn a spot. Now Xia Li would get a chance, and would meet the worn down Shotzi in the ring. Shotzi had a chance for a breather, but the martial arts expert would be a test at full strength. Not even taking off her entrance gear, Xia Li went right on the offense. Shotzi would stay hot, sliding under strikes to maintain momenteum before being shut down by a huge spin kick. The show would go to commercial, xoming back with Xia in control with huge strikes. Li went for the Robinson Special, but would miss. Shotzi showed her versitle nature, using Cattle Mutalation for a submission, now having taken out two opponents, with three go.
Aliyah Loses The Spotlight
After being blitzed through by Io Shirai last week, Aliyah gets her second chance. With two matches under Shotzi’s belt, even the longest tenured developmental talent in Aliyah had a chance to leave with a win here. She would rush the ring, quickly went for a rollup and would trade pinfall attempts with Shotzi as they rolled around the ring in a small package leaving both women dizzy. Shotzi went for another submission victory, but Aliyah fought out. Aliyah slammed the head of Shotzi into the mat for a near fall. Shotzi wouldn’t be ready to die, and would put Aliyah away with a huge Tiger Suplex, followed by another Cattle Mutalation. Three down, two to go for NXT’s resident punk rocker.
Kayden Carter Looks To Take Advantage
You don’t go through three matches and have much left, and Kayden Carter knew this. She wasted no time, giving Shotzi little time to get ready for her fourth match in a row. Notably tired, Shotzi hit a slow headscissors which Carter cartwheeled out of, and would run in with a huge dropkick for a near fall. Shotzi fought back and hit a huge facebuster before going up top for another senton splash but would get caught. A DDT out of the corner would put Kayden back in position, and she would pick up her fourth win of the night with the senton. Just one left, but it is the biggest threat yet.
Dakota Kai Still Brought Backup
With four matches done, the final segment of this match begins. A tired Shotzi Blackheart vs. Dakota Kai, who is completely fresh. Despite this, Raquel Gonzales still came down for help. The confident Kiwi claimed this would be easy, and she is vicious enough to a fresh opponent. She would brutalize Shotzi with hard kicks and choke Shotzi with her foot in the corner. Shotzi fought back but would be dropped with a single kick. After distracting the ref, Gonzales would choke Shotzi with the middle rope to help her partner further.
Kai would lock in a Abdominal Stretch, but Shotzi would slip out, only to be dropped by a pump kick. A running kick the corner would net Kai a near fall. Shotzi would rally back with a series of strikes, catching her fourth wind of the evening. Kai would slip outside after being dropped with a backdrop driver, only for Shotzi to dive onto both her and Gonzales before letting out a primal howl. Gonzales behind the refs back would try for a slam, but would be pushed into the steel steps. While getting back in the ring, Shotzi would eat a boot to the side of the face, Kai would hit Go to Kick, and that would end this match. Dakota Kai would advance to the Ladder Match.
This Was The Breakout Of Shotzi Blackheart
While Dakota Kai won in the end, you can’t take away from the amazing performance of Shotzi. She was always going to be a star for NXT, and this proved it. Four wins in one night, and only stopped due to the distraction at ringside. Kai won the battle, but Shotzi will continue the war. Should Shotzi have won this gauntlet match? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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