NXT TakeOver XXV: Ranking the matches according to their buildup

#2 NXT Women's Championship Match: Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Io Shirai

Is Io Shirai the woman to end Baszler's second reign of terror in NXT?

Like the matches involving Riddle and Gargano, this feud has featured a lot of outside interference from Baszler's friends, Marina Shafir, and Jessamyn Duke. They factored into a lot of Baszler's defenses and will likely play a part in the match Saturday.

During the go-home show this week, Candice LeRae said that she would be in Shirai's corner during TakeOver. That's all well and good, but it still leaves the challenger's camp a person short.

I could be looking into things a little too much, but I think there was a reason that Shirai came to the ring with a Kendo stick last week. I think this is the first match between Baszler and Shirai and for that reason, I have the champion retaining.

Shirai and Baszler have been at each other's throats ever since 'the Genius of the Sky' debuted in NXT. The feud didn't just emerge recently in order to build to a match at a random show. A lot of the feuds (Ember Moon vs. Asuka, Baszler vs. Kairi Sane) over the NXT Women's Title have spanned multiple TakeOvers, and this one has followed suit.

I expect it to drag out to at least SummerSlam. Shirai is the most logical person to dethrone Baszler due to her notoriety and her in-ring ability. Those two factors put her far above most of the other potential challengers.