WWE NXT: Who will win championship gold in 2019?

Credit: WWE.com

NXT Women’s Championship

Heading into 2018, the NXT Women’s Championship was held by Ember Moon. After struggling to topple Asuka in 2017, Moon managed to capture the title after Asuka moved up to the main roster. She defended the title until NXT TakeOver: New Orleans where she was dethroned by Shayna Baszler. Moon quickly departed for Monday Night Raw, and Baszler took control as the leader of the NXT women’s division. She held tight to the title for 133 days, but came up short against Kairi Sane at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4. The finals of the inaugural Mae Young Classic had evolved into NXT’s Women’s Championship picture, but it was Shayna Baszler who left WWE Evolution with the gold. With Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke at her side, how much longer can Baszler stay at the top?

Bianca Belair

I’m starting with the obvious choice and the woman who is set to challenge Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix in less than a month. In case you haven’t heard, Bianca Belair is still UN-DE-FEA-TED in NXT, and that streak has now landed her in the spotlight with her first chance at gold.

Belair has gone from a respected athlete to one of the key players in the NXT women’s division. After strong wins in 2018 against Lacey Evans, Candice LeRae, Aliyah, Dakota Kai, Deonna Purrazzo, and the huge Fatal 4-Way win over Evans, Mia Yim, and Io Shirai, Shayna Baszler is just the next step for Belair to become the second WWE NXT Women’s Champion to be UN-DE-FEA-TED.

Io Shirai

The runner-up in the second Mae Young Classic has kept herself relevant in the NXT Women’s Championship scene by virtue of her desire to protect her friends. Whether it’s Kairi Sane or Dakota Kai on the receiving end of punishment from Shayna Baszler and friends, Io Shirai tends not to be far behind.

Shirai has interrupted beatdowns led by Baszler, which has also put her on the champion’s radar. It wouldn’t be the first time a MYC runner-up captured gold, as some fans will remember that Baszler herself lost in the finals of the inaugural Mae Young Classic to Kairi Sane. With former champions like Sane and Asuka, Shirai is in good company looking to be the third joshi wrestler to capture the NXT Women’s Championship.

Mia Yim

My third pick to win the NXT Women’s Championship in 2019 is none other than “The Blasian Baddie” Mia Yim. The nine-year veteran and former TNA Knockouts Champion arrived on the NXT scene after competing in this year’s Mae Young Classic. Yim picked up strong tournament wins over fellow former Knockouts Champion Allysin Kay and over former WWE Divas Champion Kaitlyn.

Unfortunately Yim came up short in the quarterfinals against eventual winner Toni Storm, but those three strong matches had already endeared Yim to the NXT and WWE fans. While Yim came up short in a single contest with Belair and in the Fatal 4-Way to determine Baszler’s challenger in Phoenix, there’s no doubt that Yim’s grit and skill will make her NXT Women’s Champion by the end of 2019.