Paige vs. Emma – NXT (Jul. 24, 2013)
The finals for the NXT Women’s Championship Tournament was an early glimpse into what the developmental brand’s women division would be. Paige and Emma put on a memorable match that set the standard for Charlotte vs. Natalya, as well as Bayley vs. Sasha.
Those two matches are often credited as the beginning of Women’s Revolution in NXT, but the inaugural NXT Women’s Championship match helped to make the title prestigious. Emma was saddled with a dancing gimmick at the time, but her in-ring ability still shined here. She, and the Diva of Tomorrow, traded pinfall attempts and submission maneuvers a short but incredibly competitive match.
Paige, who was only 20 years old, had all the star power, experience, and talent needed to be the face of the division. Her eventual win to become the first NXT Women’s Champion proved she could deliver the type of dynamic matches that would eventually define a new era.
