NXT Takeover Phoenix Review: Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Bianca Belair (NXT Women's Championship)

Introduction

This is the 4th match of my NXT Takeover Phoenix Review.

This is the match I'm least looking forward to. Shayna Baszler has been a dominant and fun to watch champion, but as I don't watch NXT from week to week, this is my first time seeing Bianca Belair. From the video package, she seems a little too much like the divas from a few years ago, or that her gimmick is Sasha Banks' The Boss-lite. That is a mighty fine ponytail though.

I'm looking for Shayna to retain her championship in dominant fashion.

Moments

• Baszler uses Bianca's hair to pull her face and shoulder into the ring post.
• It takes until the 9 count for Belair to crawl back into the ring.
• Baszler in a full mount starts unloading on Belair.
• Baszler has Belair's arm at a nasty angle with her hand trapped underfoot. Baszler jumps up and stomps down hard on Belair's elbow. Belair screams and flails around in pain.
• Baszler with an armbreaker to the already injured arm.
• Baszler gets in Belair's face and calls her overrated. Belair delivers a thunderous slap.
• Belair is standing, Baszler on the ground. Baszler is trying to lock in an armbar. Belair stomps a mudhole through her.
• Baszler with a step-up knee strike. 1,2, no.
• Belair uses her hair as a whip? Well... that's silly. It left a nasty welt on Baszler's midsection too.
• Baszler reverses a double chicken wing attempt. Ref bump.
• The KOD from Belair (her finisher), but there's no ref to make the count.
• Baszler's goons get involved. Belair fends them off.
• Baszler locks on a Kurobuta clutch.
• Belair stands up while still in the hold and turns it into a suplex.

Finish: Belair launches into a top rope 450 splash, but Baszler catches her and locks in the Kurobuta clutch again. Belair tries to stand up in the hold again. She crumbles to the mat. Belair pulls herself to her feet once more, and then falls over. The ref calls for the bell. Baszler retains.

Thoughts

Belair showed a lot of guts and heart. The standing up while still in a painful hold was great, and I liked how the finish reflected that you can only do that so many times. The hair whip was ridiculous, and the ref bump and interference was unneeded.

Rating: 6/10

The next match is the main event. Tommaso Ciampa vs Aleister Black for the NXT Championship.