While Nia Jax makes her ring walk, the announcers put over how this has been the best version of her we’ve ever seen. The fans roar to life right after that, as the Australian champion Rhea Ripley soaks it in.
Ripley explodes out of the gate, using strikes and then even throwing a hurricanrana in there. Yes, for real. Jax weathers the storm and delivers a senton, throwing the champ into the corner for a splash.
A hip attack allows Nia to do a stinkface, and a big headbutt is next. Jax drops a leg across Ripley’s back, then smacks Rhea around while verbally berating her. Jax utilizes a stretch muffler to keep the champ on the mat, working deliberately.
When Ripley tries to get back to her feet, a headbutt knocks her back down. Nia lifts the champ into the Torture Rack, but Rhea slithers out and administers a guillotine.
Ripley finally fights back to her feet, but Jax catches her coming off the middle rope and powerbombs her twice. Another leg drop to the back of Rhea’s neck leads to a near fall.
A moment of magic comes when Ripley dropkicks Jax’s legs out from under her in the corner. There’s a missile dropkick on target too, earning Rhea a near fall.
A series of clotheslines from Ripley is answered by a Samoan Drop. The champ battles back again with some fans chanting her name. Jax nails a middle rope Samoan Drop and covers but only gets two.
Ripley shows her power by getting Jax on her shoulders, then dropping her face first on the top turnbuckle. Rhea does a little Eddie Guerrero shimmy before hitting a frog splash, but she looks despondent when that only gets a two count.
Jax throws the champ out to the floor, but her kick from the apron is caught and Nia takes a bump off the apron to the outside. Ripley wants a Riptide; Jax says no and Samoan Drops her on the announce table before driving Rhea through it with an elbow.
Back in the ring, the Annihilator is on target, but Ripley manages to kick out. With Jax searching for a second Annihilator, the champ rallies to stop it. A superplex is next, and Michael Cole yells that Rhea now has her chance.
Rhea’s kick to the face connects, and she manages to hit the Riptide to retain her championship.
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