NXT Takeover: New York recap — Be still, our Rebel Hearts

Shayna Baszler defeats Bianca Belair, Io Shirai, and Kairi Sane to retain the NXT Women’s Championship

In what was the biggest surprise of the evening, the Queen of Spades retained her championship in a great fatal four-way match. The ladders (which were rumored) were unfortunately nowhere to be found.

The finish came with Shayna Baszler forcing Bianca Belair to tap out with the Kirifuta Clutch. There were several opportunities throughout the match for all four women to walk out with the title, but a fatal four-way match requires everyone to worry about the three other competitors in the match, not just one. The three challengers learned that the hard way.

What’s next for those challengers? Belair has lost to the champion twice and should now find herself out of title contention. She’s not ready for the main roster yet so it’s most likely to the back of the line for her. The Sky Pirates, Io Shirai and Kairi Sane, were not pinned or submitted in this matchup and one would think Shirai is certainly deserving of another title shot against Baszler, but maybe a run at the Women’s tag team titles are in their future instead.

As for Baszler, there is no end to the number of enemies the champion has made in the NXT women’s locker room. If Shirai is preoccupied with the women’s tag titles there are plenty of other women on the black and yellow brand ready and willing to step up to knock the Queen of Spades off of her perch.