Ranking the top 10 NXT Women’s Championship reigns

#1 Asuka

Asuka winning the belt

A list of NXT Women’s Champions would not be complete without Asuka at the top. Asuka was a force to be reckoned with from the day of her NXT debut, and was quickly thrust into the title picture. Asuka defeated Bayley to become the new champion at NXT TakeOver: Dallas, winning by submission.

Asuka defended the belt against Nia Jax, before resuming her feud with former champion Bayley, who she crushed in their match-up. Asuka also managed to keep a tight hold on her title against Mickie James, before fending off Billie Kay, Peyton Royce and Nikki Cross in a fatal four-way to again remain champion.

It was during this time that Asuka’s reign broke the record for being the longest NXT singles reign at the time, with The Empress of Tomorrow remaining undefeated.

Also around this time, Asuka was becoming established as more of a heelish character than before. The Empress of Tomorrow began a lengthy feud with Ember Moon, with them both delivering exceptional matches together.

Asuka defeated Ember at NXT TakeOver: Orlando, and during Ember’s time away from NXT due to injury, she took part in the first-ever NXT Last Woman Standing match with Nikki Cross, another fantastic title defence that Asuka won.

Upon the return of Ember Moon, Asuka once again successfully kept the belt in close grip against her at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III – another memorable clash for the pair. Unfortunately, Asuka suffered an injury during the match and had to relinquish the title, ending her reign at a record-breaking 510 days.

Asuka’s time as NXT Women’s Champion still holds the record for the longest reign ever. Over the 510 days of her championship, she had one of the lengthiest undefeated streaks in WWE history, lasting 914 days, until her defeat at the hands of Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34.