NXT Preview: Dream match to kickstart the show, huge title change in store? (December 18, 2019)

#3 Rhea Ripley vs Shayna Baszler (c): NXT Women’s Championship

Rhea Ripley established herself as one of the breakout stars of WWE in the concluding months of 2019. In the last few weeks, we have seen this up-and-coming star win the first-ever Women’s WarGames match, lead team NXT to victory at Survivor Series, and is now set to lock horns with Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women’s Championship.

The two Superstars share a brutal rivalry that has transpired over a long period of time and it will now see them engage in a compelling showdown for the most coveted prize in the Black and Gold brand's women's division. Ripley certainly has the potential to end Baszler’s dominant title reign.

However, the Champion will not let the task be so easy for her challenger. Ever since Baszler won the title, she has been a force to reckon with. Last month, she defeated RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley in a triple-threat match to bag the win for NXT at Survivor Series.

If this title does change hands today, it will be a huge shock and will keep the fans invested in the product when the show returns after the holidays.

About the author

Shruti Sadbhav is a WWE writer at Sportskeeda Wrestling. With a triple major in Journalism, English Literature, and Psychology, she has always been drawn to writing. As an avid sports lover, writing about sports was the finest way to combine her passion with her prowess.

Whenever she writes, Shruti puts herself into the shoes of fans to see how she would appreciate an honest account of anything related to something she follows wholeheartedly with engaging and relevant information to cater to the readers' needs.

Shruti has seven years of experience. She previously worked as a content manager at Fox Sports Asia and as an assistant manager and digital marketer at Kickstart FC. Shruti previously worked in multiple roles in Sportskeeda, where she was a WWE features writer, editor, and content manager. She has over 40 million+ reads across all her writer profiles, giving her an immensely diverse audience across WWE and football.

When it comes to pro wrestling, Shruti does not particularly remember the first match she watched. However, she recalls accompanying her brother and getting hooked when she saw The Undertaker – a fascinating wrestler that she, like thousands of others, believed in.
Her views on pro wrestling evolved as she grew older and understood the intricacies of the business. This allows her to appreciate those who dedicate themselves to the craft and, once in a while, it does become what it has always been touted to be – magical. Her favorite wrestler is Finn Balor due to his persistence.

When she is not working as a writer, Shruti loves to read, enjoy a good cup of coffee, and let Manchester City dictate her weekend plans.

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Edited by Anurag Sharma