NXT TakeOver: New York predictions

#4 NXT Women's Championship: Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Io Shirai vs. Kairi Sane vs. Bianca Belair

Shayna Baszler's fall is imminent. She was likely to depart to the main roster regardless, but her rampant attacks on everyone else in the division beg for comeuppance. The real question to ask in this match is: "who will succeed her?"

Bianca Belair appears as the least likely option. Her match in Phoenix revealed her limitations and it's clear she still has a ways to go before she's in position to lead a division. She also doesn't have much momentum now and sounds increasingly deluded about her "undefeated is a mindset" mantra.

She's also scheduled to appear in Triple H's latest Worlds Collide special, taking on Nikki Cross and Toni Storm in a triple threat match. With Toni Storm already being a champion, I don't think that match needs more gold. A champion vs. champion clash would get much more promotion.

Io Shirai is the one with all the momentum at the moment, having pinned Shayna Baszler and flattening her most of the other times they've met. However, there's the argument to make that Io is being booked too strong.

While that didn't hurt Asuka or Shayna in their quests for gold, the fatal four-way scenario is a unique situation, and there's arguably a better story to be told if Io falls short. Besides, Io is also scheduled for the Worlds Collide special, taking on Sonya Deville.

While that should be a good match, I don't think NXT would book their women's champion for it. It just doesn't seem big enough.

That leaves us with Kairi Sane. She has a more personal history with the champion than anyone in the match, stretching all the way back to the Mae Young Classic in September 2017. She has since been screwed out of her title by Shayna's friends twice and there's a real desire to see her get her final revenge.

Tellingly, Kairi isn't scheduled for the Worlds Collide special. Furthermore, we've already gotten hints about a coming rivalry with Bianca Belair, and NXT has explicitly asked how this match would affect her friendship with Io Shirai. Kairi winning the title suddenly, just as Io was on the verge of victory, could start tensions between them.

We know the two will collide at a TakeOver at some point this year. NXT would be mad not to do such a match with their rivalry in Stardom being so acclaimed. The rivalry works better if Kairi wins the title first and unexpectedly. With two feuds already being lined up for her, I think this is the likeliest outcome.

Winner: And new NXT Women's Champion, Kairi Sane.