The Great Eight: Top 8 NXT Women’s Champions

A big part of NXT’s legacy is that it is the place that gave women wrestlers a place in the mainstream US scene, to show what they could do. That doesn’t take away from Japan’s Joshi scene, SHIMMER/SHINE, Luchadoras, or the TNA Knockouts. It’s just a matter of fact that the WWE had the biggest reach of any company at that time.

Because NXT gave the women a chance to shine and prove they deserve the same platform as the men. The fans forced Vince’s hand to do the same on the main roster. So, let’s look back on some of the best of the best, the top eight NXT Women’s Champions.

Fun Facts:

Since its inception in June of 2013, there have been 25 reigns between 21 champions. Tatum Paxley has the shortest reign at 24 days. Paige is the youngest champion, winning it at the age of 20. While Shayna Baszler is the oldest, winning it at 38. There is a four-way tie for most reigns; Charlotte Flair, Shayna Bazler, Roxanne Perez, and Jacy Jane all have two.

Ranking Explanation:

As with other championship rankings. The Rankings are based on longevity of reigns, number of reigns, and the quality of matches while champion. Also, because I am sure a few will ask. Ripley is only an Honorable Mention, because even though she is clearly one of the top three most popular wrestlers now. Her time as NXT Women’s Champion was short.

Perez and Jane got edged out, because even though they have had long reigns and are both two-time champions. I feel that their reigns are overshadowed by the ones who came before them.

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Disclaimer:

This is my list; if you don’t like it or have a different list, awesome! Please share your own list and opinions in the comments section. I welcome open discourse about this wacky art we all love. It is an art form, so it is subjective; we all have our opinions on it, and all of them are valid. So, if you want to share your thoughts and opinions, don’t insult others for their opinion. There is already enough negativity in the world; let’s not add to it. And with that, on to the list!

The List

Honorable Mentions:

Ember Moon, Rhea Rhipley, Raquel Gonzalez, Roxanne Perez, Jacy Jane

8: Paige

The youngest and the first, Paige, was one of the women who helped push for how women were viewed in the WWE. At just 20 years old, Paige beat Emma in the finals of the tournament to crown the first NXT Women’s champion.

She would hold the title for 308 days (273 by the WWE’s count).  During that time, she would defend the title against Summer Rae, Emma, Natalya, Charlotte, Bayley, Alexa Bliss, and Tamina.

Paige is one of only three women to have never lost the NXT Women’s Championship. NXT General Manager, JBL, would strip her of the title after she won the WWE Divas’ Championship.

While her career has had a rocky road since her time in NXT, Paige helped to set the tone for so many women who came after her. And while she may have been surpassed, she is more than deserving of her spot on this list.

7: Mandy Rose

When you think of long-term champions, you probably don’t think about Mandy Rose. But here we are, the third-longest single reign in NXT Women’s Championship history.

Returning to NXT in July of 2021, Rose would start Toxic Attraction with Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jane. She would beat Raquel Gonzalez in a Trick or Street Fight to win the NXT Women’s Championship. Not only was this her first NXT Women’s Championship, but it was also her first title ever in her wrestling career.

For 413 days, Mandy Rose would benefit from Toxic Attraction’s help to defend the title against several women. Cora Jade, Raquel Gonzalez, Kay Lee Ray, Io Shirai, Dakota Kai, Wendy Choo, Indi Hartwell, Nikkita Lyons, Roxanne Perez, Zoey Stark, and Ivy Nile.

She would also beat Blair Davenport and Meiko Satomura to unify the NXT Women’s Championship with the NXT UK Women’s Championship.

Near the end of her reign, she would have a great feud with Albra Fyra, which included a Last Woman Standing match. She would then lose the title to Roxanne Perez before being let go the next day.

While she was never a great wrestler, Mandy Rose played a great heel and was a bridge during the transition from NXT to NXT 2.0. She carried the championship while the new women worked to get themselves established. And for all of that, she deserves this spot on the list.

And honestly, the only thing keeping her from being further up is the absolute legends coming up.

6:  Sasha Banks

Sasha Banks gets a lot of flack nowdays, but in 2015, she was one of the most celebrated women on the NXT roster. She was one of the Four Horsewomen, a group of women going out every night and showing the world why they belonged.

Her matches with and against Charlotte Flair, Bayley, and Becky Lynch are held in high regard for a reason. When the Fatal Four-Way happened at TakeOver: RIval it was a thing of beauty to see. It’s a match I often show new fans.

Sasha Banks would hold the title 223 days, defending it against Charlotte, Alexa Bliss, and Becky Lynch. She would drop the title to the next woman on our list. And while her time with the title wasn’t as long as others on this list, the quality of work she put in more than solidifies her spot on this list.

5: Io Shirai

Quick side note, I always look back at this era of Ripley and laugh, because people used to tell me I had poor taste for thinking she was attractive.

Tangent aside, Io Shirai has long been one of the best wrestlers on the planet. When she came into NXT, she was already a huge star in Japan, having won pretty much every championship in Stardom.

She would make her debut in the 2018 Mae Young Classic, and while she would ultimately lose to Toni Storm in the finals. She showed the WWE audience why she was one of the best.

At TakeOver: In Your House, in June 2020, Shirai would beat Charlotte and Ripley in a Triple-Threat to win the NXT Women’s Championship. She would go on to hold that title for 304 days. Defending it against Dakota Kai, Candice LeRae (including a Tables, Ladders, and Scares match), Rhea Ripley, Toni Storm, and Mercedes Martinez.

Her reign would end at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver 2021, when she lost the title to Raquel Gonzalez. Her time as champion would be the first of many titles in the WWE. She has gone on to be the tenth Women’s Triple Crown Champion and seventh Women’s Grand Slam Champion. And she still holds an undefeated record against one of the most popular wrestlers on the planet.

4: Bayley

When the Women’s Revolution happened, Bayley was the only one of the Four Horsewomen to stay in NXT. In hindsight, it makes sense; you needed a solid hand to hold the division while new women were built up. At the moment, I was frustrated with her being left behind.

But being left in NXT allowed Bayley to carve her own identity away from the others. She would finally win her first NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn. Beating long-time rival Sasha Banks.

And for the next 223 days, Bayley would take on all comers and leave everything in the ring to prove she belonged not only on the top of NXT, but on the top of the WWE.

She defended the title against Alexa Bliss, Emma, Sasha Banks (in a fantastic 30-Minute Iron Woman Match), and Eva Marie. Before finally losing the title to Auska at TakeOver: Dallas. She would hang around NXT for a while longer, finally moving up in the latter half of 2016.

Her reign as champion was marked by the first big transition in the NXT women’s division. Most of the biggest names all moved up, leaving Bayley to sneak or swim as the veteran hand. It was a role she did an amazing job with, and when she finally moved up, the roster was in a great place.

3: Charlotte

I’m honestly surprised that the WWE doesn’t have the full match for either of Charlotte’s NXT Women’s Championship wins on YouTube.

Whether you love her or hate her, she deserves your respect. She, along with the other Four Horsewomen, helped build on the foundation that Paige set. Charlotte was the chosen one from the beginning. She had the pedigree, the athletic ability, and the in-ring talent to carry the division to new heights.

The rivalry among the Four Horsewomen was a huge selling point for the early years of NXT. Yeah, they had a lot of great talent carrying the men’s division. But getting to see these women tear the house down night after night kept us tuning in for more.

Charlotte’s first run of 258 days and the quality of her work are enough to put her on this list. Being the second woman to hold the title twice, and her legacy as a trailblazer for how women areviewed in the WWE. Puts her in the top three.

2: Shayna Baszler

If it weren’t for Kairi Sane, Baszler probably would be the longest reigning NXT Women’s Champion and longest reigning Champion in NXT history. But, as a consolation, Baszler is the first woman to win the championship twice.

When Baszler beat Ember Moon at TakeOver: New Orleans, she looked unstoppable. Honestly, she was everything the WWE wanted Rousey to be. A legit bad ass who looked like a killer, but also knew how pro wrestling works and was willing to put others over.

How they missed the boat on her on the main roster is beyond me. Regardless, her first reign would end with a loss to Kairi Sane at TakeOver: Brooklyn 4. But revenge wouldn’t be far away, as Baszler would get the title back at Evolution.

This would be the start of a 416-day reign of terror for Baszler, as she dominated the women’s roster in NXT.  She would beat Sane again at TakeOver: WarGames, beat Bianca Belair by referee’s decision at TakeOver: Phoenix, and beat Belair, Shirai, and Sane at TakeOver: New York. After beating Shirai twice, she would stop over in NXT UK and beat Isla Dawn.

Ultimately, her run would end when she faced Rhea Ripley in December of 2019. The trail of bodies left in her wake, having the second-longest single reign, and having the most days as champion are all more than enough to put her at number two on this list.

1: Asuka

Was there any doubt on who would top this list? whether you take actual days, 510, or the days recognized by the WWE, 522. Asuka is not only the longest-reigning NXT Women’s Champion, but the longest-reigning champion in NXT history.

Hell, if she hadn’t injured her collarbone, she would probably still be champion today. Because no one is ready for Asuka! And as an additional credit, when McMahon was calling people up, Triple H begged him to let him keep Asuka. because he knew if he had Asuka, he could rebuild around her.

Like Io, Asuka came in with an impressive resume. She built her name in Japan, including winning DDT’s Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship five times. Which isn’t a lot for that title, but still an interesting tidbit.

Asuka was the first woman to jump from the Joshi scene to NXT. She came in and showed the WWE that women’s wrestling wasn’t just started in NXT. It had been a thriving scene in Japan for decades.

She tore through the roster and ended Bayley’s run at TakeOver: Dallas by referee’s decision. She would have great matches with Mickie James, Nikki Cross (including an underrated Last Woman Standing match), and Ember Moon. She was also able to pull out decent matches from a very green Nia Jax,

As I said, she was never defeated for the championship. A collarbone injury forced her to vacate the title. As it stands, her run as champion probably did more to establish its prestige than any of the champions before her. She took on all comers and brought out the best in every opponent she had. That is more than enough to qualify her as the best NXT Women’s Champion of all time.

Preview:

Tune in next week, when we look at the top eight WrestleMania opening matches.