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NXT went through an evolution of sorts in 2019, taking a prime time slot on the USA Network back in September and going to war with All Elite Wrestling. And while fans of both shows go back and forth on which show has the better roster, production, and whatnot, it's hard to disagree on the idea that NXT's women's division vastly outshines AEW's.
In fact, it could be said that NXT's women's roster is vastly superior to any other company's, and that includes WWE's RAW and SmackDown brands. NXT has been able to build several superstars in several divisions at once, keeping many talents at the top of their game despite not holding a championship.
It's the biggest strength that NXT has to offer, and that's why their women's division always manages to refill whenever they're raided by the other brands. The roster is loaded with talent just waiting for the opportunity to take over. Today, we'll look at the five best female Superstars from NXT this year.
#5 Mia Yim
Mia Yim came into the WWE with a lot of fanfare. A top talent in IMPACT Wrestling as a Knockouts Champion, expectations were high. However, it took a little while for Yim to get going.
When she did finally get some real screen time, she took the opportunity and ran with it. A pretty impressive feat that many fail to realize was that she managed to defeat Bianca Belair, with no outside interference, twice.
Considering the fact that you can count the amount of times Belair has lost a match on one hand should prove just how impressive that is.
Following that, she took the fight to Shayna Baszler in a unique fashion. In order to prevent any shenanigans taking place at their title bout at NXT TakeOver: Toronto, Yim went "Horsewomen Hunting."
Using guerrilla warfare tactics, Yim was able to incapacitate both Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir before the event, creating the one-on-one match with the Queen of Spades that very few challengers were able to get.
Unfortunately, Yim was unable to tear the NXT Women's Championship from Baszler's grasp. She continued to be a thorn in the side of the champion, though, joining forces with Rhea Ripley in an effort to defeat Team Baszler at NXT TakeOver: WarGames. Though, she was unable to compete thanks to a newly turned Dakota Kai.
Kai got the best of Yim on the December 11th edition of NXT, but it's clear that their feud isn't over just yet.
#4 Bianca Belair
When it comes to the idea of the "Total Package," it's hard to think of many names that rise above Bianca Belair. An athlete, a powerhouse, and full of charisma, the EST of NXT has everything you'd want in a WWE Superstar.
Belair knows this, which is why her cocky attitude has both gotten her in and out of a lot of tense situations throughout the year. Earning a title match in a Fatal-4-Way in December of last year, she moved on to challenge Shayna Baszler at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix. Heading into the PPV with an undefeated streak and taking on a champion who had already lost the belt once before, many assumed she'd come out on top.
That wasn't the case, though, as Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir guaranteed that the Queen of Spades remain the champion. Not to say Belair didn't put up a good fight. In fact, even though she had her arm snapped multiple times, Belair nearly put Baszler away on several occasions.
And though her undefeated streak ended that night at 367 days, it didn't get any easier to knock off Belair. In fact, she's only lost a total of 5 times in 2019, with a handful of those being multi-person matches where she wasn't actually pinned.
Bianca Belair has stayed near the top of the division since losing to Shayna Baszler. When Rhea Ripley made her move to NXT, Belair reminded her and the WWE Universe that she's still one of the best competitors on the roster.
Oddly enough, this led to Belair joining forces with Baszler to take on Ripley and her team at NXT TakeOver: WarGames, more than likely working towards a title shot should they take out the Nightmare. Unfortunately, that would not be the case for Belair.
Belair ended the year with a final victory against the debuting Shotzi Blackheart. While it was a great showing for the EVOLVE star, it proved once again that you'll need more than talent to beat Belair. You'll need a perfect night, as one small mistake is all it will take for Belair to catch you with the K.O.D.
With very few blemishes on her record and a new top woman on the roster, we can all but guarantee that the EST of NXT will be making her claim for a shot at Rhea Ripley in the very near future.
#3 Io Shirai
The Genius of the Sky may not have picked up any gold in 2019, but she definitely went through an evolution that kept her at the top of everyone's list this year. The Sky Pirates were formed shortly into the year, leading to multiple title shots for both Io Shirai and Kairi Sane.
However, neither were able to knock off the champion, partly due to the constant interference by Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke. And when Sane was brought up to the main roster, it left Shirai with little back up to call on. Thankfully, she formed a relationship with Candice LeRae, another competitor who'd been wronged by Baszler and her cronies throughout the year.
Finally, a steel cage match between Shirai and Baszler saw her snap. Though Candice LeRae did her best to keep Shafir and Duke away from the ring, Shirai failed to capture the NXT Women's Championship. Hanging on the edge of the ring, Baszler's arms around her throat in the Kirifuda Clutch, Shirai used the cage door to knock Baszler out.
Unfortunately, the Queen of Spades fell forward, landing on the floor, retaining the title despite essentially losing the fight. This was enough for Shirai to lose control. LeRae attempted to comfort her, which led to a heel turn from Shirai.
Now dubbed the "Joshi Judas," Shirai went after everyone in her path with a newfound psychotic energy that made her one of the most dangerous competitors in NXT.
"There is no human being worthy of standing next to Io Shirai."
There is a fine line between intelligence and madness, so watching the Genius of the Sky isolate herself from everyone and indulging in her insanity somehow felt...right? Looking back, there were clear signs throughout her NXT run that there was something darker on the inside. We got a real glimpse of that at NXT TakeOver: XXV when she lost control for the first time.
Since donning her "Scary Mask," Shirai has picked up impressive wins against Santana Garrett, Candice LeRae, and Mia Yim, one of which being a brutal ladder match against the HBIC to give her team the advantage at WarGames.
With the one woman she couldn't beat, Shayna Baszler, out of the title picture, one has to wonder what 2020 has in store for Io Shirai.
#2 Rhea Ripley
To really understand the year that Rhea Ripley had, the WWE Universe needed to follow her through both NXT UK and NXT. Those who haven't been watching the brand across the pond may not fully understand just how impressive she's been.
Ripley entered the year as the inaugural NXT UK Women's Champion, and though she failed to retain the title at NXT TakeOver: Blackpool, the Mosh Pit Kid and Toni Storm both proved their valor in one of the better matches of the night.
At the Royal Rumble, Ripley made her main roster debut, eliminating Kacy Catanzaro, Dana Brooke, and Zelina Vega. Sadly, she would be thrown out by Bayley, but the Nightmare definitely made her presence known and showed the WWE Universe a sign of things to come later on in the year.
Back in the UK, Ripley kicked off a feud with the recently signed Piper Niven, attempting to prove that she's the true dominant force in NXT UK. This led to a great series of matches between the two, and also to Ripley's face turn, where she helped save Niven from an attack by Jinny and Jazzy Gabert.
Shortly after, she joined NXT, and quickly set her sights on NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler.
There, Ripley did something that few women were able to do throughout Baszler's two-year run at the top. She put fear in the Queen of Spades. From the word go, Ripley lived inside Baszler's head rent free. Though Baszler escaped their first meeting by forcing Ripley's hand, getting a DQ win, it was clear that Ripley had her number.
Ripley would join the other NXT stars in the war against RAW and SmackDown, even becoming the sole survivor at Survivor Series in the 5-on-5-on-5 Women's elimination match, but not before running through Rhea Ripley's crew at NXT TakeOver: WarGames.
Down two teammates, thanks to the vile actions of Dakota Kai, Ripley was left in a 2-on-4 situation, with only Candice LeRae by her side. Still, the duo were able to overcome the odds, beating Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Io Shirai, and NXT UK Women's Champion Kay Lee Ray.
Cut to December 18th where Rhea Ripley made history. Shayna Baszler's Nightmare came true as she finally lost her championship, making Ripley the first Superstar to hold NXT UK and NXT gold, and the first woman to be the NXT UK Women's Champion and the NXT Women's Champion. The fact that she pulled this off in the same calendar year just made that feat even more impressive.
We're heading into 2020 with a brand new Queen in the throne. What does the new year hold for Ripley? We're not sure yet, but we can be sure that whatever may come, whoever steps up will have to put on an all-star performance to turn the tide against the 23-year-old champion.
#1 Shayna Baszler
Did any woman have a better two-year run than Shayna Baszler?
Actually, scratch that. Has any competitor, male or female, had a better two-year run than the Queen of Spades? Shayna Two-Time absolutely dominated the entire NXT women's division since her debut for the WWE back in 2017 at the Mae Young Classic, where she was only barely edged out at the finals by Kairi Sane. Baszler quickly went on to shoot to the top, capturing the NXT Women's Championship twice in 2018.
Baszler only became more dangerous in 2019, especially with Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke at her side. In fact, she was able to defeat every woman on this list this year, not to mention Deonna Purrazzo, Isla Dawn, Kairi Sane, Candice LeRae, and her long-time rival and living punching bag Dakota Kai.
It wasn't just the black and gold brand where the Submission Magician reigned supreme. NXT invaded RAW and SmackDown throughout November to set up the first-ever three-way brand warfare show at Survivor Series 2019. Over the course of the month, Baszler set her sights on both RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch and SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley, and...well...anyone else that got in her way.
Baszler, along with nearly two dozen NXT talents, showed up on the SmackDown after Crown Jewel, running roughshod through countless top talents. Sending Sasha Banks into the ring post, she followed up by dumping Nikki Cross to the outside before laying waste to Bayley.
At Survivor Series, all of Baszler's attacks and trash talk was backed up by the sheer brutality she bestowed upon Becky and Bayley in a Champion vs Champion vs Champion match.
Shayna Baszler, without a doubt, was the best female Superstar, not just in NXT, but in the entire WWE this year. In fact, I believe the proof is there that Baszler could be considered the most dominant Superstar of 2019.
