Shayna Baszler Was Not Supposed To Lose NXT Championship To Rhea Ripley

On the December 18 episode of NXT TV, Rhea Ripley defeated Shayna Baszler to capture the NXT Women’s Championship. By defeating Baszler, Rhea ended the former MMA star’s impressive 41 day reign as champion.

However, while speaking to Flash Morgan Webster, Ripley has revealed that Baszler was actually supposed to go over on the December 18 title match, meaning Ripley would have had to have waited longer for her title win.

According to Ripley, plans changed at the last minute, but the original plan for the 12/18 show saw Shayna defeating Rhea Ripley to retain her championship. The match proved to be one of Baszler’s last on NXT TV before she moved up to the main roster to feud with Becky Lynch.

There is no word on what would have happened if Baszler retained the title. She could have continued her feud with Ripley, dropping the title to the Australian at NXT TakeOver: Portland in February, however, another option would have seen her defending her NXT Women’s Championship against Royal Rumble winner Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania.

Speaking of plans changing, before Becky Lynch’s pregnancy, original plans for Money in the Bank reportedly had “The Man” defending her Raw Women’s Championship against Nia Jax, with Shayna Baszler winning Money in the Bank instead of Asuka.

• shayna baszler
• rhea ripley
• nxt
• wwe

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