WWE NXT has been home to some of the greatest women’s wrestlers in the world today, so let’s take a look at the ten greatest women’s title matches in the history of WWE’s third brand.
Throughout its relatively short history, the WWE NXT brand has forged an identity dependent on a few key elements, and its women’s division is very much one of them. It was in NXT, of course, that the ‘women’s revolution’ begun and in a short time, an impressive female match catalogue has been built. More specifically, the division’s title is one that’s lineage is rich in elite talent and for that reason alone, a number of memorable encounters have taken place with that crown on the line.
Names like Bayley, Sasha Banks and Asuka have become iconic within NXT’s history and their famous title tilts are why. In fact, it’s arguable that the majority of the brand’s most pivotal moments and matches occurred in its continually evolving women’s division, which is indicative of its quality. This week on NXT TV, Ember Moon and Shayna Baszler continued their feud – and in doing so, attempt to further the belt’s legacy as one the most prestigious in wrestling right now. That’s something rather impressive for a belt under five years into its existence.
In professional wrestling though, we can’t just enjoy things. We have to rank them, too. So with that being said, here are my top 10 NXT Women’s Title matches of all time…but first, let’s take a look at some honourable mentions.
DISCLAIMER: You all are almost certain to disagree with my list, but just know that I have a proven history of being wrong so don’t worry yourself too much.
Honourable Mentions
Paige vs. Emma (NXT TV 7/24/13)
The first NXT Women’s Title match of all time, Paige’s triumph over Emma holds a fond place in many fans’ memory. It was the original and certainly worth respecting but when compiling this list it fell a little short for me from a quality perspective as I feel it’s been overtaken by what has since followed. That’s how these things often work though so I completely understand why many would feel it still belongs on the top 10 list. Either way, it’s a match that began the belt’s lineage and it did so in a positive fashion. For that reason alone it deserves a mention.
Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks (NXT TakeOver: R Evolution)
In a match that gave us a look into the future, Charlotte’s successful title defence opposite Sasha Banks was an important one for both young talents. After winning the title six months earlier, Charlotte was fresh off a babyface turn and that shift was made much smoother by Banks, who was just hitting her stride as a stand-out villainous foe. The match itself was a strong one that accentuated both women’s developing skill-sets and very much highlighted Sasha’s undeniable star potential. As the top 10 will show though, this was just the start for Banks as NXT’s featured female.
Ember Moon vs. Shayna Baszler
With arguably the best babyface performance on this whole list, Ember Moon was quite masterful in her TakeOver title defence against Shayna Baszler. This is the most recent match on this list and its one I very much appreciated but by design, it was set up in a fashion that hinders its overall quality slightly. This was a match that in many ways felt like just the start of an emerging rivalry and for that reason, it was booked smartly to protect Baszler at all costs whilst still keeping the belt on Moon.
Considering that, there’s a lot to like about this and Moon’s performance was especially exceptional but even still, it falls just short of the top 10 list.
10. Charlotte vs. Natalya (NXT TakeOver)
Following Paige’s main roster debut, her NXT title was vacated which led to an 8-woman tournament. The line-up has aged well and featured now main roster mainstays Banks, Bayley and Bliss but at the time, Charlotte and Natalya made it to the final and went on to have a match absolutely vital in ‘The Queen’s young career. There was no denying Charlotte’s athletic ability but Natalya was the first opponent to really channel it into a standout wrestling match worth admiring. She simply had to deliver and with the experienced Natalya opposite her, she did just that.
With a quite unique match layout, refreshing physicality and a lengthy match time, this one holds up well even with all the great action that’s followed since. Add in Ric Flair and Bret Hart at ringside and you have a genuinely memorable encounter. It’s important to note that whilst this is undeniably a key match in Charlotte’s growth as a performer, it also may well be the best showing of Natalya’s career too. Probably a victim of timing at times, I’m unsure Natalya has ever been able to top her effort here but it’s one reflective of why she’s so admired by peers.
Speaking of such, it’s frustrating that these two have never been able to truly recreate this match on the main roster stage but for a variety of reasons, it’s just never happened. The approach was often different and the focus always scattered but regardless, this match is a worthy #10 in my view and it also led us into the ‘Four Horsewomen’s time on top of this division. Considering the timing and what followed, this really was a huge match for all involved and that’s why for me, it gets this top 10 list started.
9. Asuka vs. Mickie James (NXT TakeOver: Toronto)
Though stop-start booking has hindered Mickie James’ WWE return, it has brought a couple of memorable moments and none more so than this quite bizarre but intriguing clash of styles that battled over NXT gold. Coming in as a one-off opponent for Asuka, there was certainly a lot of pressure on James and that likely wasn’t helped by having to follow DIY’s classic opposite The Revival but even still, these two gelled nicely to create a very good match quite distinct in style and approach.
With real experience and a tremendous understanding of psychology, James thrives in matches with genuine gravity and that showed here, as she elevated the match’s meaning with every mannerism and facial expression. She was simply desperate to shock the world and that was a simple story but one worth watching as it that allowed for an action packed title match, even if one not overly lengthy or spectacular in its design. It was just a rock solid wrestling match with two assured performers very clear on what they planned to achieve.
For James it was the start of her eventual main roster return and though she’s probably not yet matched this effort, I’d imagine it’s still been a very fulfilling run at times. I don’t mean to ignore Asuka’s part in all of this either as she was exceptional as usual. But there will be more on ‘The Empress of Tomorrow’ soon.
8. Asuka vs. Bayley (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II)
After a solid but somewhat disjointed match in Dallas, Asuka had dethroned Bayley as the NXT Women’s Champion and after defending the title against Nia Jax, was now ready for the inevitable rematch. As was shown by that first bout’s weak points, this wasn’t the easiest match to handle without simply turning Asuka heel and considering that wasn’t yet the direction, the NXT brass were relatively limited in their potential approach. For this rematch though, they found the correct path and in-ring that showed as these two NXT centrepieces put together a very strong title match.
After waiting quite some time for her shot at redemption, Bayley was desperate to end the streak and it translated to a refreshing defiance both on the mic and in the ring. Bayley was able to represent her respect and hesitation early before firing up and fighting back with real aggression. She simply refused to wilt and pulled out all the stops but just couldn’t put the champion away. This in turn put Asuka’s dominance over even more as overcoming the valiant Bayley was a key moment to building her NXT title reign. The story told here simply couldn’t have been more perfect.
This match is even more memorable considering that it was the last of Bayley’s NXT career. Whilst her main roster run has been inconsistent to say the least, Bayley really was incredibly important in helping NXT’s growth and if nothing else, that’s a very respectable legacy to have. This was a fitting final chapter to her story there too as she went out fighting before bidding farewell to the NXT Brooklyn crowd that even included her fellow Horsewomen. The end of a special era, this was an excellent title match and one that upon re-watch, probably deserves more love.
7. Last Woman Standing: Asuka vs. Nikki Cross (NXT TV 6/28/17)
If you look hard enough, you can probably see quite a few stylistic similarities between many of the matches on this list. However, if there’s one that stands alone on here it’s this one. Now champion for over year, Asuka had been seemingly in the midst of a heel turn but whilst she waited for an inevitable rematch with Ember Moon, ‘The Empress of Tomorrow’ needed a foe that people could believe in. That foe would quickly come in the form of Sanity’s Nikki Cross.
Since making her debut with the then villainous faction, Cross had hovered around the title picture but now found herself embroiled in a wild feud with the champion, a rivalry that culminated in this very match. For the first time in WWE history, we saw a now famous ‘Last Woman Standing’ match and unsurprisingly, the stipulation took the action’s intensity to a whole new level. It all had a real feel of violence to it, with trash can kicking and even a powerbomb onto steel chairs particularly standing out in my mind.
Aside from the weapon shenanigans though, what made this match particularly dynamic to me was the actual quality of all the physicality seen. Asuka’s striking may have been better than ever here and Cross matched her all the way, creating a quite special feel and atmosphere…even if not amongst this tired Full Sail crowd. The finish fittingly reflected the bout’s whole style as Asuka unforgettably suplexed Cross off a ladder and through the announce table. A memorable end to a tremendous match.
Honestly, this could be higher for you if the match genre is more suited to your tastes but even still, it stands out for me as a one of the great NXT TV clashes. In fact, taking into account Asuka’s whole reign, I’d say that it helped none of her opponents more than this feud and match helped Cross. She may not have won but she was everything she’d claimed to be and as is now clear, that was worth cheering.
6. Charlotte vs. Bayley vs. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks (NXT Takeover: Rival)
There have been quite a few multi-woman NXT title matches throughout history but only one makes this list and that’s of course this famous 4 Horsewomen battle. This match came after the aforementioned R Evolution singles bout between Charlotte and Sasha and was the pay-off to a nicely told story involving all four women. Respect had brought Charlotte and Bayley together which in turn put them opposite the Team B.A.E (yep) duo of Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch.
However, tension quickly emerged between the villainous pair, most visibly after Lynch got Banks disqualified in a title match against Charlotte. All of these elements combined to give this 4-way match quite a bit of gravity and the physicality absolutely delivered with all four women getting the time needed to show-off their own individual skill-sets. For Lynch in particular it was a real chance to shine as she was the least tenured women as far as NXT and this was her first real major match for the brand. She made the most that opportunity too, having a standout performance that raised her stock tremendously.
The match’s winner was Banks, who’d finally secured the NXT title after a quite lengthy chase. It was certainly well-deserved too, she’d been on fire for quite some time and as is now clear, would now reach a new level with the title over her shoulder. A big year would follow for ‘The BOSS’ and much of it took place with these three women as her key opponents. She may not have been the first choice but Banks had become undeniable and this match’s result very much showed that.
5. Asuka vs. Ember Moon (NXT TakeOver: Orlando)
Right from the start of her NXT career, Ember Moon felt like a potential Asuka conqueror and at TakeOver: Orlando, that’d almost come to fruition. Though the pre-match build fell somewhat flat, there were few doubts about this pair’s ability to shine in-ring and that confidence was supported here by a brilliantly worked title match. It wasn’t a particularly long match but that allowed the action to come thicker and faster as both women traded slick and explosive offence for near-falls.
The eventual finish was a perfect one too, as Moon seemed set to end the streak before Asuka took a shortcut, launching the referee into Ember just as she looked to hit The Eclipse. She then latched onto the opportunity, retaining her title with a swift head kick. The work here was sublime and from a physicality standpoint, this may be the finest match on this whole list. The story told was neat too as Asuka had finally met an opponent capable of beating her and rightly or wrongly, did what she had to do in order to maintain her grip on the title.
My only gripes with this match really come with what happened both before and after. Though she was eight months into her NXT run, Moon had yet to really connect and seemingly struggled to find a direction whilst she was waiting for this inevitable title match. Don’t get me wrong, this crowd liked her but they didn’t have the same kind of emotional investment that the matches above this did and that hinders it slightly by comparison. I also feel that the storytelling done here was slightly wasted by what followed as Asuka’s overness stopped them from ever fully committing to a heel turn
Nonetheless, the actual work was exceptional and so great in fact that this match demands a spot on the list. Genuinely excellent stuff from both women.
4. 30 Minute Iron Man: Bayley vs. Sasha Banks (NXT TakeOver: Respect)
The famous sequel to Banks and Bayley’s Brooklyn battle two months prior, no women’s match in NXT history has been treated with the level of importance that this one was. After making magic in NYC, Sasha and Bayley had raised their stock exponentially and before Banks left for good, the NXT audience simply demanded a rematch. They’d get it too as the pair agreed to a historic 30 minute iron man match, a bout that’d main event TakeOver: Respect….something still not replicated in NXT to this day.
As I’m sure you’ve already guessed, the aforementioned Brooklyn match will be discussed in more detail but I must say, there are genuinely elements of this rematch that I prefer to its Brooklyn counterpart. Firstly and likely most memorably, Sasha’s heel antics. This was a match built on ‘history’ and ‘respect’ but in-ring it very much hit its peak when Banks found her mean-streak and got real nasty, cheating for the first fall and then snatching poor Izzy’s headband in one of the great heel moments in recent memory. It wasn’t easy but in the midst of this match, Sasha managed to make much of Full Sail hate her once again.
In many ways, this match is the opposite of #5. The work is good and I don’t want to underestimate that aspect but at heart, these matches are built on the audience’s investment in both characters. For example, this Full Sail crowd was red hot before a move had been made and that’s not a knock as they’d earnt that response, it was built up over a period of standout performances and memorable moments. This match only created more and will likely forever stand out in both women’s careers, no matter what they do or have already done on the main roster.
The post-match stands out too and is certainly one of the most heart-felt moments in NXT history. A whole roster stood for both women in an instance of genuine respect, a celebration for what both had achieved in that short but undeniably special period. If there was any doubt before, Sasha and Bayley had shown that the women could main event any show and slowly but surely, that trend looks likely to expand in the coming years.
3. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch (NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable)
In the pay-off to their aforementioned alliance, Becky Lynch challenged Sasha Banks for her NXT title and in doing so, catapulted her career to new heights. ‘The BOSS’ wasn’t long into her title reign but this first TakeOver defence set the tone for what followed as together, her and Lynch combined to create a quite enthralling affair. Physically, this may have been the smoothest match Banks ever wrestled in NXT and for Lynch, it’s undeniably the best her style has ever translated to genuine match quality.
Technically, these two women did some legitimately tremendous stuff, trading holds back and forth and even busting out some incredibly innovative offense. For me, the most lasting memory of the actual match itself came as Sasha worked violently over Becky’s arm. Contorting and twisting without a care in the world, that portion of Banks’ control segment very much encapsulates what made her such a brilliant heel in NXT. There was a believability to it all, a real aggression and sheer spite that’s too rare in wrestling’s current landscape of amazing athleticism and silky smooth sequences.
Don’t get me wrong, all that stuff is great and this match featured moments like that too but for me, wrestling is built on emotion at its core and nothing can capture that better than a heel focusing in on a limb with the kind of hate and nastiness that Banks did here. That vibe was spread throughout a lot of this match actually and it gave the whole thing a big match feel. That’s simply inevitable when the participants involved treat everything with this level importance and wrestle with such desperation so credit to them both.
In my personal opinion, this was the first truly great 1-on-1 women’s title match in NXT and within a couple of months, both women (as well as Charlotte) found themselves on the main roster. Lynch has yet to really reach these lofty heights since and technically, I’m not really sure Sasha has either but this match will forever stand out in NXT’s history and rightly so as honestly, an argument could be made that this is a potential #1, it really is that good.
2. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn)
I know, I know…many of you are probably already very upset and I understand why. This may be the most famous match in NXT history and for a lot of people, would be this list’s undeniable #1. There’s certainly an argument and it’s not one I’ll really debate much but even though it isn’t topping my list here, I can’t stress enough how highly I really do rate this match. It was incredibly important for this brand and considering the already discussed main event sequel, it played a pivotal part in establishing women as a main event act in WWE.
Everything from the pre-match video package to the entrances set the table too, it really was a perfect storm of a range of elements all coming together at once. Just as with all their matches together, these two used the contrasts in their characters to tell a strong story as Sasha’s overconfidence clashed with Bayley’s forced fiery aggression early. Once again, moments of Banks’ heel work stand out even looking back now and the clearest example of that here was her crushing Bayley’s previously injured hand in the steel steps.
Her heel work here wasn’t as consistent as it was against Becky as Sasha brought out more flashy offence at times but that may have elevated the match’s overall importance which is fair enough. Either way, Sasha violently stomping on Bayley’s hand mid-Bank Statement certainly brought her heel antics back up a level anyway. Some tremendous action followed and that now famous finish eventually arrived as Bayley reverse rana’d Banks off the top rope and hit Bayley to Belly for the title win.
Whilst I appreciate that it’s a topic very much discussed enough at this point, I personally felt the post-match Horsewomen embrace was a moment worth doing just for the final visual. From start to finish, this was just perfect and without it, who knows how different things would possibly be.
1. Asuka vs. Ember Moon (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III)
Yes indeed, controversial or not this is for me, the greatest women’s title match in NXT history! After being sidelined by injury, Moon’s road to redemption wasn’t a smooth one but in the end that seemingly brought out a brand new verbal fire which in turn, allowed for her strongest promos yet as she did a quite tremendous job building this match. For Asuka, this looked like a very feasible finish to her NXT run. She’d beaten everyone and if it wasn’t Moon, who would it be? A combination of all these factors made for a big match feel and unlike last time, an invested live crowd.
Moon’s aggression from the outset still stands out in my mind as it perfectly fit not only this match’s importance but moreover it replicated Ember’s verbal aggression since their last bout. Things then transitioned into Asuka working over the challenger’s shoulder and though this made for a brief lull in action, it added a pivotal layer to the match and gave things a genuine emotional hook as Moon sold miraculously, fighting through pain valiantly. Just like in their initial encounter, the actual work was incredibly sharp and crisp but the aforementioned injured shoulder aspect gave things a whole lot more gravity.
Things really escalated though when Moon hit The Eclipse. This match’s whole build-up and story was built on that move and the ideology that if it hits, it ends the streak. Asuka kicked out though and in that moment, this match reached a new level as shock and horror emerged on Ember’s face. Now panicked and desperate, Asuka once again attempted to take a shortcut but it failed and Moon hit a superb looking superkick for another false finish.
In the end, the champion retained her crown with the Asuka Lock and would then move up to RAW undefeated. Regardless of your thoughts on the match’s chosen winner, its actual finish was perfection as all of Asuka’s prior work on Moon’s shoulder paid off in the end. This match and #2 are different, so for that reason, I completely understand if you prefer the latter. But for me, this was the perfect blend that all elite pro wrestling strives for.
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Physically slick and smooth whilst still explosive and aggressive – but also emotionally engrossing with truly captivating character work. This rivalry’s impact is best represented by the crowd’s response to their recent Royal Rumble staredown. It took a while but in the end, this all really did connect with people. A fabulous title match and a fitting end to Asuka’s NXT run, I have nothing but praise for this memorable Brooklyn encounter and for me, it’s a more than worthy No. 1!