5 smart booking decisions for NXT Takeover: WarGames

#3 Nikki Cross or Peyton Royce to become NXT Women's Champion

One of the two in the back should be sent to the front of the division tonight.

Tonight, we'll see the first new NXT Women's Champion since April 1st, 2016. Whoever wins the title is going to have the tremendous shadow of Asuka looming over her, especially since she ended her reign unbeaten.

That's why it's very important that the next champion is as different from the Empress of Tomorrow as possible. In his classic The 48 Laws of Power, Robert Greene warns readers that what comes first will always seem greater, that if you find yourself succeeding someone who made a tremendous impact on the world, you have to differentiate yourself as much as possible or you'll be caught in your predecessor's shadow. You must slay that past at every opportunity, he warns. Does this sound familiar?

Kairi Sane will automatically be compared to Asuka simply because of their shared nationality, so it's important for her to be as different as possible. A win here would cement her place in the minds of fans that she's just the second, and therefore inferior, Asuka, the imitator, not the pioneer. That's a tremendous disservice to an immensely talented performer. The Pirate Princess' coronation is inevitable, but she's not ready for the throne yet. Takeover: New Orleans is the right time. A stint in the wilderness before that night is the best way to prepare her for her future responsibilities.

Similarly, an Ember Moon victory here would feel hollow, like she only won it because Asuka left, placing her in her rival's shadow as the inferior champion. Ember doesn't deserve that either. She's more than ready for the main roster, and SmackDown's women's division desperately needs a fresh face. It would be best if she's called up after tonight.

That leaves us with Peyton Royce and Nikki Cross. Either of them would be a very different champion than anything we've ever seen before.

Nikki Cross was Asuka's greatest threat besides Ember Moon, so she has that credibility behind her. Her character and matches would also be far different and very unpredictable. It would also add to Sanity's feud with the Undisputed Era, as the latter faction could potentially recruit numerous women to harass Nikki Cross, as seen recently with Taynara Conti. I'd certainly be interested in them attempting to corrupt the lovable Kairi Sane (and failing to do so, setting up a struggle to come with the future champion against their puppets).

Peyton Royce, in the meantime, would act as the perfect cowardly heel champion who, with the assistance of Billie Kay, keeps her title in undeserving fashion. It would be a straightforward path for Kairi Sane to chase into New Orleans and destiny on April 7th, 2018.

Either outcome would be more than satisfactory. Let's just hope it happens.