5 Things that must happen on WWE RAW, NXT, and SmackDown this week

#3 Dakota Kai defeats former WWE NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley

Are ya ready for some BRUTALITY, @DakotaKai_WWE?!#WWENXT pic.twitter.com/4qKmK3vgSy

— WWE (@WWE) July 30, 2020

With NXT TakeOver XXX creeping up, the big question on everyone’s mind was who’d challenge NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai at the big event. While WWE had a few directions to go with, they’ve decided to book a #1 contender’s match between Dakota Kai and former NXT Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley.

While Kai has been dancing with Shirai in recent weeks on television, Ripley was in a storyline with Robert Stone who tried hard to get the NXT Superstar to join her. While Ripley did not join Stone no matter how hard he tried, it was Mercedes Martinez who made a big return to WWE NXT and ended up joining the Robert Stone brand.

This week, Kai and Ripley will compete for a chance to face The Joshi Judas at NXT TakeOver XXX. While Ripley is the bigger WWE Superstar in this match, and Kai has already competed in a few NXT Women’s Championship matches earlier, WWE must allow Kai to pick up the victory.

Whenever #WWENXT #WomensChampion @shirai_io is ready, @DakotaKai_WWE will be waiting. pic.twitter.com/V3Dhe3cyMq

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) July 23, 2020

This could be done by booking an interference from either Raquel Gonzalez or having Martinez attack Ripley behind the referee’s back during the match and causing her to lose. This could lead to Ripley teaming up with Shotzi Blackheart to take on the Robert Stone brand at NXT TakeOver XXX, while Kai could get another shot at the WWE NXT Women’s title.