Rhea Ripley is the new NXT Women’s Champion

Ripley defeated Shayna Baszler Wednesday night on NXT.

December 19, 2019

Wednesday evening Shayna Baszler’s 416-day title reign came to an end when Rhea Ripley defeated her to become the new NXT Women’s Champion.

With her victory on NXT Wednesday night, Ripley has become the first woman in WWE history to hold both the NXT UK Women’s Championship and the NXT Women’s Championship.

The Nightmare and The Queen of Spades main event match has been highly anticipated ever since it was announced. The two women are acknowledged as being two of the most physical, brutal, and dominant individuals in women’s wrestling today.

Fans were more than spoiled with this match. Those watching witnessed a TakeOver quality contest happening on a regular Wednesday night taping. During the bout Ripley fought off Baszler’s henchwomen, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir, single-handedly. She suffered an injury as a result of being outgunned and overpowered, but waived off medical staff and continued the match.

Oh but it gets even better from there.

Due to more shenanigans from Baszler, the referee was incapacitated when Ripley hit her finisher on The Queen of Spades and the crowd counted to nearly eight before Ripley saw trying to pin was fruitless. But she didn’t give up.

No not Rhea Ripley. Even after Shayna’s Kirifuda Clutch submission hold was locked in tight, a move that has finished countless other challengers for the NXT Women’s Championship multiple times, The Nightmare somehow managed to find the will to fight on, and grabbed the referee by his shirt just as he was about to stop the match.

From there there was no stopping Ripley. The young Aussie star baited her opponent into a trap with some trash talk only to shock her with a vicious headbutt followed by a Super version of her finisher to become the NEW NXT Women’s Champion!

Triple H took to Twitter to offer his congratulations to the new champion.

An incredible main event and a new champion. One of the most dominant reigns over the @WWENXT Women’s division comes to end and another begins. @RheaRipley_WWE will be the one to lead #WWENXT into the new year… Congratulations. #AndNew pic.twitter.com/wXzZlWZIso

— Triple H (@TripleH) December 19, 2019

Below you can see The Nightmare’s first interview as Women’s Champion with Jon Quasto.

Congratulations to Rhea Ripley on an incredible match and a tremendous achievement.

Do you love wrestling? Do you have strong opinions on AEW, WWE, NJPW, Impact, ROH, and the independent scene? Do you like to write about wrestling? Then we want you on our team. AIPT is currently recruiting wrestling writers. Apply to write for AIPT today!