5 Things that must happen at NXT TakeOver: Portland

#2 The Nightmare continues

The Nightmare is just getting started

Shayna Baszler was an unbeatable force on NXT until Rhea Ripley decided to invade the brand. The former NXT UK Women’s Champion wasted little time on the brand and on the December 18 episode of NXT, defeated Baszler to win the NXT Championship.

Since then, we’ve watched her defend her title against NXT UK’s Toni Storm at Worlds Collide and even head over to RAW to challenge the Royal Rumble winner Charlotte Flair to fight her for the title at WrestleMania 36.

While Ripley has big hopes and dreams, Battle Royal winner Bianca Belair has other plans as she will be the first woman from NXT who will take on Ripley for the NXT Championship.

The two will meet at NXT TakeOver: Portland, and Belair seems confident enough to defeat the Champion, take her title, and head over to TakeOver: Tampa Bay and WrestleMania with it.

While Belair is a good prospect, NXT should keep their focus on Ripley and at building her rivalry with Flair which is garnering a lot of fan interest.

At TakeOver: Portland, the brand should allow Ripley to retain her title against Belair after a hard-fought match. Belair should not lose too easily either, and NXT could use the stage to allow Flair to interfere during the match and cost Belair the title, possibly setting up a match between Flair and Belair before Flair accepts Ripley’s challenge for WrestleMania.