NXT's move to TV has seen the show stake a claim as a legitimate third WWE brand and there are now major developments afoot as it relates to main-roster affairs. It's even been rumored that NXT will be heavily involved in next year's WrestleMania, which would present quite the event.
Next week is set to be a huge week for the black and yellow as it's poised to put on its biggest TV show to date and is already tipped to beat AEW Dynamite in ratings due to two top matches.
NXT Champion Adam Cole will be defending his title against newcomer Finn Balor. And, while that's as good as the brand could do in terms of giving fans the best match possible, there's also the scheduled title match between NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler and Rhea Ripley.
The latter is set to be hyped through a 30-minute special on the WWE Network and it's suggested that Ripley will walk away from the fight championship belt in hand. She is being strongly pushed as of late and WWE brass - Triple H included - considers her to be the future face of NXT.
According to the Wrestling Newsletter's Dave Meltzer, there has been talk of Baszler moving to the main roster to begin a feud with Raw Women's Champion Becky Lynch. If that's the case, things are already in motion following Lynch putting Baszler through the announcer's table at the end of Survivor Series last month.
Paul Davis of Wrestlingnews.co also claims to have heard that WWE wants Lynch vs. Baszler at WrestleMania next year if Ronda Rousey isn't back in time for a lead-up feud. The former Women's Champion has been out for a while and is in no hurry to come back so it will be pretty interesting to see what happens. But she happens to be the bookies' favorite to win the next Women's Royal Rumble.
Meanwhile, Lynch is set for a match against Asuka at the Rumble, one that's riding on the story of Lynch never having pinned Asuka.
She's Had It Coming
Meltzer says Baszler's move to the main roster has been in the works for some time and she's certainly deserving of more exposure given the way she's carried about her business at NXT.
She'd also make a great WrestleMania opponent for Becky and we certainly wouldn't mind seeing the animosity carry over from Survivor Series up to 2020's main event.
Source: Wrestlingnews.co