Ranking the top 10 NXT Women’s Championship reigns

#3 Shayna Baszler (2nd reign)

Shayna wins at Evolution

Shayna Baszler won the Women’s Championship twice during her time in NXT. The reign that made the biggest impact is her second, which lasted an impressive 416 days. From Shayna’s debut, she was a dominant force in NXT and often deployed her allies Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir, to aid her with underhanded tactics.

Shayna Baszler snatched up the title on the Black and Gold brand not long after her Full Sail debut. After a shorter reign, the title was dropped to Kairi Sane, however, The Queen of Spades snared the title back at Evolution, becoming the first-ever two-time NXT Women’s Champion.

At the start of Baszler’s lengthy second reign, she became entangled in a feud with Bianca Belair, defending her title against her in two matches. Following on from this, she then began to build a rivalry with future champion Io Shirai and put the title on the line against her. Later in her reign, she also defended against Mia Yim and Candice LaRae, staying on top each time.

The Queen of Spades again proved dominant during the lead up to Survivor Series when she became the first NXT wrestler to invade SmackDown, attacking the Women’s Champion Bayley as well as Sasha Banks and Nikki Cross. At Survivor Series, Baszler again displayed her power when she main evented against RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch and SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley in a triple threat match.

Baszler won by using her signature submission move, the Kirifuda Clutch, on Bayley, forcing the Role Model to tap out. Post-match, a rivalry between Baszler and Becky Lynch was hinted towards when Lynch made an onslaught on her and smashed her through the announce table.

Not long after Survivor Series, Baszler dropped the title to Rhea Ripley, after a bitter feud that captured the attention of fans. During her match against Ripley, Baszler tried to use the Kirifuda Clutch again - the move that had won her most of her title defences - but Ripley was able to counter this.

Although the Queen of Spades had dropped the title, she remained powerful, decimating Shotzi Blackheart in her final NXT match, and tying with Bianca Belair for the most eliminations in a women’s Royal Rumble match shortly after. Baszler’s NXT Women’s Championship reign was one of the longest, and certainly, one of the most commanding overall reigns in the last few years, which catapulted her straight into the RAW Women’s Championship picture shortly after her loss to Rhea Ripley.