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Shotzi Blackheart cut a promo on Shayna Baszler, claiming she was too unpredictable to be defeated by the Queen of Spades. Last week she eliminated the former champion from the battle royal to declare Rhea Ripley's #1 contender. Later on tonight, she looks to defeat her in the middle of the ring.
Next up was Toni Storm taking on Io Shirai in another exciting dream match presented by NXT. Both women have a claim to the title, they believe. A victory for either one tonight would put them one step closer to Ripley.
Toni Storm vs Io Shirai
Storm got into Shirai's head for a moment, but the Joshi Judas was able to take out the former NXT UK Champion with a dropkick following a pair of backflips. Always impressive.
Shirai pelted Storm with a series of knife-edge chops before bringing her to the mat with a side headlock. She continued to build momentum as we went into a commercial break.
As we came back, Shirai was stomping a mudhole in the corner. Storm managed to counter a running knee with a boot before dumping Shirai on her head with a German suplex. Following a lariat, Shirai kicked out.
Storm Zero was blocked, but Shirai was met with another nasty lariat that turned her inside out. Before we could get an ending to this match, though, Bianca Belair attacked both women, looking to send a message to Rhea Ripley.
Results: No contest.
Ripley made her way to the ring where a waiting Belair took her to the mat with a double-leg takedown. Ripley turned it around, only to be taken out by Shirai. Belair and Ripley were taken to the floor where an Asai Moonsault from Shirai connected.
As she was celebrating, Toni Storm launched herself into Shirai, ending the segment as the only woman standing. The crowd was none too pleased with her holding the NXT Women's Championship.
Backstage, the Era were fuming over their loss to the Grizzled Young Veterans. Adam Cole got everyone on the same page, reminding them that Keith Lee was the target tonight, and Imperium would pay for what they did when the two groups met at Worlds Collide this Saturday.
Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE
