02:44

These former best friends renew their bitter rivalry inside the squared circle.

Singer/songwriter Poppy had Io Shirai ready for battle after kicking off NXT with performances of songs “I Disagree” and “Scary Mask.” But Candice LeRae had retribution on her mind. The action immediately spilled to the outside once the bell sounded, as LeRae chased Shirai around the ring. 

The back-and-forth bout was stiff but exciting as the rivals traded knees, hard right-hands and aerial magic. Neither would give up, but after LeRae escaped the Harajuku Clutch by her tiptoes, Shirai opted to bring a chair into the picture. The official stepped in and LeRae knocked Shirai down, but the chair landed directly under The Genius of the Sky. Candice went for a moonsault, but Shirai moved and Candice got nothing but steel, making for an easy pinfall.

The victorious “Joshi Judas” attempted to add insult to injury with a post-match chair attack, but Rhea Ripley arrived to send Shirai heading to the back. 

Despite retreating, Shirai scored a pivotal win over LeRae, strengthening her résumé in the heated NXT Women’s Championship picture.