The highly anticipated confrontation between NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler and white-hot challenger Bianca Belair ended in historic fashion when Baszler put an end to The EST of NXT’s un-de-fea-ted streak to retain her crown.
Despite vowing to put a r-est to Belair’s streak, Baszler almost ate her words when Belair stunned her opponent with her dazzling athleticism and impressive agility in the early goings. But when Baszler locked onto a limb, all things spelled out danger. After pulling Belair by the ponytail and forcing her to hit the ring post head-first, The Queen of Spades clutched onto the left arm of The EST before stomping her elbow into the mat. From there, Baszler continued her domination with more limb-twisting maneuvers and strikes, but the willpower of Belair would not allow her opponent to snatch an easy win.
When Belair gathered enough strength to get back on the attack, she fought back with an unrelenting resolve. Feeling the pressure, Baszler pushed Belair into the referee, but she was soon surprised with a waiting KOD by Belair. As the pressure mounted, Baszler’s pals Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke jumped in to lend her an assist, but Belair thwarted the interference with a spear to Shafir and sit-out facebuster to Duke. The distraction was pivotal, however, as Baszler took advantage by clasping onto her undefeated rival with a Kirifuda Clutch. Baszler miraculously countered the submission hold with sheer strength by twisting Baszler into position for a suplex, but she whiffed on a 450 splash before The Submission Magician ensnared the challenger in another Kirifuda Clutch, forcing The EST of NXT to pass out in the hold and dealing Belair her first loss.