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Next week, the Breakout Tournament continues, with Isaiah "Swerve" Scott facing off against Cameron Grimes in another first-round matchup. We'll also see the Messiah of the Backbreaker Roderick Strong, in action as he goes one-on-one against Prince Pretty Tyler Breeze.
NXT Women's Championship: Io Shirai vs Shayna Baszler (c)
Shirai rushed Baszler but the champ avoided the attack, countering with kicks to her legs and a punching combination. Shirai fought out of a submission hold, but was quickly brought to the ground with a headlock. Baszler turned around, mounting Shirai's back and looking for the Kirifuda Clutch.
Shirai escaped, only to have her leg picked by Baszler, who stretched out the Genius of the Sky before stomping her face into the mat. Shirai tripped her up before she could make it to the door, sending Baszler to the mat with a dropkick afterwards. A palm strike left Baszler stunned on her back, but she quickly made it to her feet when her challenger tried to escape the cage.
Baszler launched Shirai face first into the steel, then tossed her into it a second time, this time working on the lower back. Shirai tried to break out of a side headlock, only to be driven into the cage one more time, cutting her off completely. Shirai managed to roll her up, but Baszler kicked out, slamming her face first into the steel cage again.
Set up between the cage and the ropes, Baszler delivered a series of punches to her midsection. She considered walking out the door, but decided to continue punishing Shirai. The challenger was tied up in a unique hold, but escaped and caught herself on the ropes before avoiding an attack from Baszler, sending the champion into the steel instead. A pair of dropkicks caught Baszler, sending her into the steel two more times.
A running knee sent her face first into the cage, and a German suplex almost saw Baszler lose her championship. The Queen of Spades broke out, though. A second German suplex set her up in the corner, where she was met with a double running knee strike. Shirai made it to the top of the cage, but Baszler managed to climb faster and bring her back inside, locking tin the Kirifuda Clutch in the process.
Baszler tossed Shirai down to the mat, assuming she'd been choked out. Shirai then leapt to her feet to bring Baszler down on her neck with a super German suplex. Baszler managed to kick out, partly due to the amount of time Shirai took to recover from the landing. As Shirai made it to the door, Shafir and Duke rushed to the ring, blocking her escape.
Shirai escaped another Kirifuda Clutch attempt, connecting with a double foot stomp. Shafir locked the cage door after the outside referee was wiped out, and attempted to prevent Shirai from escaping over the top. Candice LeRae rushed to the ring, saving Shirai and knocking Shafir to the ground. Jessamyn Duke quickly opened the door and tried to pull Baszler out.
LeRae dove onto Shafir, but was met with a running knee from the champion. As she turned around, an incredible moonsault from the top of the cage took Baszler out. Following this, Shirai tried to crawl towards the open door. Baszler pulled her away and went for the same approach. Shirai then dragged her back and launched Baszler backward. As she was halfway out the door, Baszler locked in a Kirifuda Clutch through the ropes.
Shirai broke it up the first time, and the second attempt was ruined thanks to her ramming the cage door into Baszler's head. This proved to be her undoing, however, as this led to Baszler collapsing through the ropes, landing on the outside and winning her championship.
Results: Shayna Baszler retained her NXT Women's Championship.
Following the bout, Shayna Baszler was escorted to the back by Duke and Shafir while Shirai was tended to by LeRae. Shirai lost it at this point, leveling her with a punch and kicking her. She stopped herself, though, seemingly cooling off.
However, it was only so she could grab a steel chair and mercilessly beat her former ally. A suplex on the chair left LeRae crumpled in the middle of the ring as a chorus of boos rained down upon Shirai.
