For months now, a feud has been brewing between the two most powerful women in NXT. Rhea Ripley & Raquel Gonzalez are as strong as they come, and would likely even show up a prime Beth Phoenix. They’ve clashed in battle royales and tag team matches, but tonight is their first singles encounter. Who would come out on top?
Raquel Gonzalez Is A Star
Given how heated their brawls have been, it’s no surprise that there was no waiting once the bell rang. These two bulls would lock horns, with Gonzalez getting the upper hand with some knees, throwing Ripley into the corner. Ripley came back with some heavy strikes, but had to dodge a powerslam.
They’d lock up again, and Gonzalez would force her into the corner for some shoulder strikes. Ripley kept throwing right hands, and when her arm was caught, she hit a headbutt. They’d exchange words before this turned into a slugfest in the middle of the ring, Ripley dodging and hitting hard, before being sent to the mat and being stomped.
Ripley would get vertical and they’d try for some suplexes, neither succeeding. She’d finally drop Gonzalez with a dropkick, sending her to the outside. A cannonball senton off the apron would lead to Ripley getting caught, before being powerbombed into the barricade.
Back in the ring, Gonzalez got a near fall before picking Ripley up and going for some boots to the chest. She’d get bludgeon Ripley with hard strikes, shutting her down every time she got back up. A submission trap the arms, as Gonzalez hit knees to the back of Ripley, forcing the former champion to fight out.
Rhea Ripley Stays In The Fight
Another strike-off lost, Ripley would find herself in a Gory Special. However, Ripley wouldn’t quit and hit a sunset flip. She went for a strike, dodged one from Gonzalez only to get a lariat to the back of the head.
Taking refuge in the corner, Ripley hit a back elbow before being dropped with a lariat. A powerbomb was set up, but Ripley dumped her over and finally got some control. She’d grab the cravate and hit some knees, before tripping the big Texan up and hitting a low dropkick.
Realizing you need to keep Gonzalez down, she’d go for the Prism Lock. Gonzalez would survive this submission and send Ripley off into the ropes, and go for a spinning powerslam for a near fall. Ripley was placed on the top rope, and a superplex was set up, but she fought the attempt off, and tried for the top rope Riptide.
Gonzalez fought free, and tossed Ripley into the middle of the ring, getting a two count. The one arm powerbomb was set up, but Ripley hit a hurricanrana out. One kick to the head and the Riptide, this one was over.
Considering how few singles matches Gonzalez has had, this was easily a career making match even in defeat. They gave each other everything they had, and Ripley hasn’t fought this hard for a win since she beat Shayna Baszler. Were you impressed by Raquel Gonzalez in this match? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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