Predicting Kairi Sane's voyage as NXT Women's Champion

While NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 4 saw Tommaso Ciampa secure his grip on power, it also saw the emergence of his polar opposite as the new queen of NXT. Kairi Sane put an end to Shayna Baszler's reign of terror and ushered in a new era for the NXT women's division.

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How will Kairi Sane's time as queen go? What will the NXT women's division look like under her reign? With old threats still lingering and new ones about to emerge in the wake of the Mae Young Classic, she'll certainly have rough seas ahead in her voyage.

After boarding her ship in Brooklyn, Kairi Sane has set sail for WWE Evolution on October 28th, and TakeOver: War Games II not too far behind it. What wonders and perils will she find on her journey? What about the journey beyond?

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#1 "The better fighter"

One more round

We can first expect Kairi Sane to have a warmup title defence against the likes of Vanessa Bourne or one of the newly-arrived heels from the Mae Young Classic, but those calm waters won't last for long.

Sane's voyage as NXT Women's Champion won't be very old when Shayna Baszler attempts to board her ship.

Though the main roster call-up appears imminent, Baszler will nevertheless want her title back, reiterating that Sane didn't actually prove herself the better fighter in Brooklyn.

Again, NXT doesn't usually do rematches anymore, but with Kairi Sane set to defend her title at Evolution, no challenger appears more likely than Shayna Baszler, especially with the way the match ended in Brooklyn.

This time, however, the winner won't be in doubt. With Baszler off to Raw to do things with Ronda Rousey, The Pirate Princess will best her nemesis one last time.

#2 No rest for the weary

"Remember me?"

As she's fighting off Baszler, Sane will also face a formidable threat on her flank. Bianca Belair continues to rise in the NXT women's division.

She's been proudly proclaiming her undefeated status while vowing she'll "get what she deserves" after being left out of the match that saw Kairi Sane become the No.1 contender for TakeOver: Brooklyn 4.

A battle between Sane's fleet and the armada of Belair is inevitable. The two flotillas will collide in the waters of the appropriately named TakeOver: War Games II.

Bianca Belair will clearly have the champion outmatched in terms of raw athletic power, but her arrogance and the combination of Sane's experience, unique offence, and fighting spirit will cost her. Sane will defeat Belair as she did in the Mae Young Classic.

While Bianca has made tremendous strides, she still isn't ready to hold a title. This will be the match of her life, however, and the next step in her career.

#3 Various feuds and a burgeoning alliance

How long will it last?

After dispatching Belair, Sane will find herself faced with various contenders such as Lacey Evans and some of the more prominent heels from the second Mae Young Classic like Rhea Ripley.

When these heels attempt to gang up on Sane, she'll have some help from an old friend.

Io Shirai will certainly have debuted by then. If she hasn't yet established an alliance with Kairi Sane, who she shared tag team championship gold in Japan with, she will by the end of the year.

With Shirai as her first mate, Sane's voyage will finally appear less perilous. However, there will be some signs that the alliance isn't as secure as might ordinarily be believed. Shirai isn't the type of woman who will be satisfied for long with simply being the champion's BFF.

#4 A storm brews

One more Mae Young Classic redo

In the wake of the Mae Young Classic finals at Evolution, another new name will emerge on the scene of NXT. Though she's on a UK contract, Toni Storm will certainly make some appearances on the main NXT brand, much as Pete Dunne does now.

She'll emerge as the No.1 contender at TakeOver: Phoenix for her performance. It will be a hard-fought rematch of the 2017 Mae Young Classic semifinals where Storm will be incredibly protected in defeat.

It will be a match that makes Kairi Sane's battles with Baszler and Belair look tame.

Yet, Sane's fighting spirit will somehow see her through.

#5 Purple hurricane

Friends no more.

After her incredibly tough match with Toni Storm, Io Shirai will emerge to seemingly assist Kairi Sane to the back. It will be a ruse, however. Incensed with rage and jealousy at the champion's success, Io Shirai will turn her back on her friend.

Not only did Kairi Sane win the Mae Young Classic that was originally hers to win, but now Io Shirai will have to witness her "buddy" once again defeat the woman who had previously bedeviled her, Toni Storm. It will be the straw that break's the camel's back.

The turn will be one of the most shocking moments in the NXT women's division's history. The crowd will instantly turn on Shirai in favour of the lovable Sane, but she won't care.

Io Shirai is considered the best in the world. She knows it and she's tired of playing second-fiddle to Kairi Sane.

From there, only one voyage awaits - a showdown between the former friends at TakeOver: Brooklyn 5.

The name is fitting because Shirai means "purple thunder" in Japanese. In the very building that Kairi Sane first won the NXT Women's Championship and began this Odyssey, Io Shirai will act as Zeus did against Odysseus, splintering her ship with a bolt of purple lightning.

Kairi Sane's reign will go down in flames as Io Shirai proves to everyone that she is indeed, the best in the world. The hurricane winds and turbulent waters will in turn take Kairi Sane to a foreign land - Raw or SmackDown - where an unknown fate awaits her.

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Will Sane have a successful reign as NXT Women's champion? Sound off your opinions in the comments section below!