Predicting the next 5 NXT Women's Champions

#3 Deonna Purrazzo

Different belt on the way.

While Io Shirai has the most buzz heading into this year's Mae Young Classic, another name has been quietly spoken of as one of the favorites to win the tournament.

Triple H has expressed regret about not adding Deonna Purrazzo, who was one of last year's alternates, into the Mae Young Classic. She's joined Io Shirai in the latest class of recruits into the Performance Center, and reportedly, The Game has massive plans for her. In fact, the company has already begun exposing her by having her do a video interview before the tournament begins, which no other competitor has done.

Toni Storm might be better known, but with her likely to become the inaugural NXT UK Women's Champion and compete for that title at Evolution, no other name has a bigger chance of competing against Io Shirai in the final than Deonna Purrazzo.

That won't be the last time they meet in battle.

Firmly settled atop the NXT women's division, Io Shirai will rule it differently than her predecessors. It won't be as an outright bully like Shayna Baszler, a gladiator who dares opponents to come at her like Asuka, or a snappy boss like Sasha Banks. Instead, she resembles Drew McIntyre in temperament. She disdains people who aren't motivated and demands perfection. Those who can't meet her standards will face her wrath.

But Io Shirai, like Shayna Baszler and Sasha Banks before her, will eventually begin to believe her own hype. Deonna Purrazzo will step to the challenge. She'll demand respect and tell Io that her standards aren't necessarily the right ones.

At some point in mid-late 2019, the two will do battle. Deonna will be pushed harder than ever before, but somehow, someway, she'll prevail to become the 10th NXT Women's Champion.