WWE NXT: In Your House Results, grades and analysis: We have a new NXT Women’s Champion

https://twitter.com/WWENXT/status/1269802298169057280

Charlotte Flair vs Io Shirai vs Rhea Ripley- Triple threat match for the NXT Women’s championship

All 3 women enter the ring with solid crowd reactions from the dozens and dozens of performers around ringside. Rhea Ripley has been involved in eight title matches, Io Shirai has wrestled in one title match, tonight being number two. Charlotte Flair is competing in her 66th title match in the WWE/NXT, my goodness.

All 3 women circle the ring. Flair rolls to the outside and starts egging on the crowd. They chant “You don’t go here” Ripley and Shirai tussle while Flair sneaks in pulls Ripley’s hair. Flair gains control with a swinging neckbreaker to Ripley and a fall away slam to Io.

Charlotte follows up with a series of chops to both women, grabs both women by the hair. Both Ripley and Shirai counter and Ripley tosses Shirai into the corner. Ripley takes Flair off of the apron and attempts a rolling senton which Charlotte steps. Flair proceeds to throw Ripley into the guardrail.

Shirai appears and hits a Frankensteiner on the outside to Charlotte Flair. Both women roll into the ring and Charlotte regains control and hits a Boston Crab on Io Shirai. Io’s flexibility allows her to escape the submission hold. Rhea Ripley runs into the ring and hits Flair with a series of knees and a running kick.

Io Shirai regains momentum. She throws Ripley outside and hits a 619 on Charlotte. Ripley reappears and she slugs it out with Shirai in the middle of the ring. Both women collapse in the middle of the ring after they throw a barrage of punches to one another.

Flair regains consciousness and hits a running double spear to the other women. Flair rolls them side by side and climbs the top rope. She misses the moonsault as Ripley counters with her knees. Io Shirai counters the Riptide and hits Charlotte with spinning arm bar. Ripley stands back up, counters the Natural Selection and tosses Flair to the ground.

Io Shirai stands back up and hits Ripley with a Springboard dropkick. As Shirai hits a running move in the corner to Ripley, Flair counters Shirai with a move of her own. Shirai goes for a backslide two count, which Charlotte counters with a figure four leg lock. Ripley breaks the hold and pulls Flair outside.

Shirai runs and hits a plancha to noth women on the outside. Flair stands back up and throws Io threw the house stage! Ripley and Flair battle it out on the grass of the IYH set, Flair slams Ripley’s head against the glass and looks for more. Io Shirai is now shown on top of the set and hits both women with a top of the house crossbody block!! All 3 women are down and the crowd chants “This is awesome!”

https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1269800462074683393

Shirai rolls Charlotte back into the ring and climbs the top rope. Ripley greets them both with forearms. Ripley climbs the top rope and looks for a super-plex which Io counters effectively. Shirai slides underneath and attempts a top rope Frankensteiner which is blocked by a returning Charlotte Flair.

Ripley counters and hits the Riptide from the top rope on Flair for a two count which is broken up by Shirai!! As Ripley goes for a submission, Flair emerges in the ring with a kendo stick and clubs both women. She spears Ripley and locks on the figure four leglock, she bridges up to a figure 8. Io Shirai is on the top rope and breaks up the Figure 8 with a moonsault onto Ripley for the 1-2-3 and Io Shirai is your NXT women’s champion!!

Streamers fall from the sky as Io celebrates with the title on the top rope.

Winner and new NXT Women’s champion: Io Shirai

Grade: A 

This was such a fast paced encounter that made all 3 participants look strong. Shirai had the more memorable moves during this bout. Ripley took the pin, Flair lost the title without being pinned or submitted. Lastly, Io Shirai gets to begin her reign atop the NXT women’s division. The match was an incredible display of back and forth offense, counters and psychology. 

This will likely launch the Charlotte Flair-Rhea Ripley feud on RAW going forward. Or Charlotte retreats back to RAW on her own and we see Io Shirai and Rhea Ripley tussle for Shirai’s first NXT championship program. Either way, the women’s main event was the best match on the card.

Final Grade: A-

All things considered, this was a very good set of matches and an excellent Takeover considering the lack of a packed house. Finn Balor looked awesome and may be primed for an NXT title match. Adam Cole and Keith Leea are continuing their dominant championship reigns.

Karrion Kross looked dominant and is ready for another high profile program moving forward. I feel Velveteen Dream and Rhea Ripley are headed to the main roster. Dream permanently, Ripley is up in the air.

Io Shirai looked spectacular in the main event. The Genius Of The Sky who was the best wrestler in the World with the STARDOM promotion has stamped her claim as one of, if not the best women’s wrestler in the World today.