It felt like more of an upset at the time it was filmed than it does now after all of her star-making performance in the 2018 Mae Young Classic (and epic trolling of one of the wrestlers she defeated, the injured Teagan Nox) has aired. But back in August, Rhea Ripley pinning Toni Storm to become the first ever NXT UK Women’s champion was a bit surprising.
Spoiler readers have had plenty of time to let it sink in, however, and those that followed along with the tournament as WWE Network subscribers had some, too. But the accelerated broadcast schedule meant that Storm vs. Ripley in the finals aired just a couple weeks after the field was announced.
Fans across the world got to see that match today (Nov. 28), a hard-hitting 10 minute affair which saw Storm fight through attacks targeting her back after she was dropped on it during an apron melee. In the end, the damage prevented Toni from hitting her Storm Zero finisher however. Rhea, on the other hand, had no problem hitting Riptide.
Here are some highlights:
WWE’s also released a half in/half out of character post-show interview:
And the Australian’s first photo shoot with her new prize:
Now we’ll look toward TakeOver: Blackpool, where Ripley will presumably defend the belt - if she can keep it until Jan. 12, 2019. Whoever might she face (click here if you want to know)?