Bianca Belair is next in line to challenge either Rhea Ripley or Toni Storm.
In the main event of tonight’s NXT, Belair won a battle royal to determine who will challenge for the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver: Portland. The match came down to Belair and Io Shirai, with Belair eliminating Shirai by throwing her out of the ring with the K.O.D.
Storm is challenging Ripley for the NXT Women’s Championship at Worlds Collide on Saturday, January 25. That will be Ripley’s first televised title defense since winning the championship from Shayna Baszler last month.
Baszler was a surprise entrant in tonight’s battle royal but was eliminated by Shotzi Blackheart, who came back into the ring after having not been eliminated. Belair then eliminated Blackheart to bring the match down to its final two wrestlers.
The returning Kacy Catanzaro was also a surprise entrant.
The battle royal was the first time Mercedes Martinez has wrestled for NXT since signing with WWE. She was eliminated by Baszler.
Tegan Nox was in action for the first time since the angle where Dakota Kai turned against her at TakeOver: WarGames. Kai wasn’t an entrant in the battle royal but got involved and caused Nox to be eliminated.
The Moda Center in Portland, Oregon is hosting TakeOver: Portland on Sunday, February 16. Finn Balor vs. Johnny Gargano is also set for the show.