From the WWE Rumor Mill: Possible plans for NXT Women's Title match at TakeOver: Houston
What's the story?
The NXT Women's Title needs someone to carry it around. Some really cool things could be on the way and Bryan Alvarez discussed it in some detail on Wrestling Observer Live.
In case you didn't know...
When Asuka vacated her NXT Women's Title it was a sad day. But it also opened up a plethora of possibilities for all the other women eager for a chance to hold the top prize for NXT's Women's Division.
Kairi Sane won the Mae Young Classic so she gets a shot at the title. But what kind of match will she be having?
The heart of the matter
Bryan Alvarez opened up on Wrestling Observer Live about the Mae Young Classic Finale where he addressed theories saying the finish of the tournament was changed. He also went to provide some insight about how the tournament might have been very different if Ronda Rousey wasn't involved.
Thanks to Still Real To Us for the transcription.
"I can tell you one thing for sure. Kairi was always gonna win this tournament. Shayna was never gonna win the tournament. Shayna was I guess moved to the finale, she went all the way to the end basically because they are going to do something with the Horsewomen even though they didn't do anything with the Horsewomen last night on the show. They're going to do something at some point, I don't know when. But that's why Shayna ended up in the finals. It probably was going to be Kairi vs Toni Storm in the finals had they not gone all the way with Shayna."
But even though Kairi Sane is getting a chance to win the NXT Women's Title at TakeOver: Houston, Alvarez went on to speculate how she probably won't be winning the title.
"Now because they didn't put the title on the line in this tournament and because Kairi is getting a title shot my guess is that the next NXT Women's Champion is not Kairi Sane. Otherwise, they would have given the belt to her here in the tournament."
Alvarez also mentioned a tweet from Pro Wrestling Sheet's James McKenna saying the match for the NXT Women's Championship will be a multi-woman match of some kind.
What's next?
The odds are Kairi Sane might not win the NXT Women's Championship at NXT TakeOver: Houston. Especially if there's a gang of hungry NXT stars ready to become the next champion. But Kairi was apparently handpicked to win this tournament from the get-go so WWE must have some big plans for the Pirate Princess.
WWE also has some big plans for Shayna Baszler or they wouldn't have let her get as far into the tournament as she did.
Author's take
No matter who wins the NXT Women's Title in Houston they're going to have the huge shadow of Asuka hovering over them. It might sound scary, and it should be absolutely terrifying because The Empress Of Tomorrow is very dangerous. Asuka is also incredibly talented and she left an impression on that title which will live on then, now, and forever.