Over a year ago in October 2018, Shayna Baszler became the first-ever two-time NXT Women's Championship, taking the belt back off Kairi Sane at WWE Evolution.It was the first time the company had produced an all-women's event and it was a huge platform for NXT to be on that card.Another woman who competed at Evolution, albeit in a match before the event kicked off, was then-UK Women's Champion Rhea Ripley.A few months prior, the Aussie got all the way to the semi-finals of the Mae Young Classic, being defeated by Io Shirai, and not long later she would become a part of the new NXT UK brand and become their inaugural female champ.She offered something completely different to anyone else in the women's division, that being across every brand, and you could just tell that WWE were grooming her for a top spot, and that was recognised back in August this year.

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Ripley interrupted Baszler on the August 29 episode at Full Sail, saying that she would do what no-one else has been able to do for the last year - defeat the Queen of Spades for the NXT Women's Championship.

And after pinning her in the WarGames match last month, Ripley was finally given her opportunity on the final live NXT show before Christmas last night.

Baszler's Horsewomen back-up Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir tried to assist her, but they were swept up by the challenger, but it looked like after a referee bump, Baszler would be continuing her reign.

It wasn't to be though - Ripley broke out of the deadly Kirifuda Clutch, and moments later, she hit her Riptide finisher off the second rope, and that signalled a change in the pecking order of NXT's women's division.

Fans flooded into the ring to lift Ripley above their shoulders in celebration, who in the space of a month has become an absolute sensation.

Baszler had defeated all comers for the belt - Shirai, Sane, Bianca Belair, Candice LeRae, Mia Yim, all defeated by the former MMA star - but Ripley was a bridge too far.

After what transpired at the end of Survivor Series, you'd have to think a feud with Becky Lynch on the main roster is waiting for Baszler, and perhaps that could begin if she wins the Royal Rumble match next month.

But for Ripley, her time is now and she's set to lead NXT forward into 2020.