NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai and Sasha Banks are set to face off in their first-ever singles match against each other.
WWE has announced that a non-title match between Shirai and Banks will take place on Wednesday’s NXT. The show is the first night of NXT’s Great American Bash.
Banks & SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley retained their Women’s Tag Team titles against Tegan Nox & Shotzi Blackheart on the June 17 episode of NXT. After the match, Shirai attacked both Banks and Bayley and said this is her NXT.
Banks vs. Shirai was set up for Great American Bash night one by a promo that Banks posted today. Bayley said she’ll be in Banks’ corner for the match.
After Shirai accepted the challenge, NXT general manager William Regal tweeted that the match is official: “It seems the past and the present are in conflict once again and the #WWENXT Universe will have the pleasure of seeing it happen. It is OFFICIAL. This Wednesday, on night 1 of #NXTGAB, it’ll be #NXTWomensChampion @shirai_io vs. @SashaBanksWWE in a non-title match! #WeAreNXT”
Shirai became NXT Women’s Champion by defeating Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley in a triple threat match at TakeOver: In Your House earlier this month.
The Great American Bash will begin on Wednesday’s NXT and then conclude the following week. It’s going against both nights of AEW’s Fyter Fest.
Here’s what’s been announced for the Great American Bash thus far:
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Night one (July 1) —
Non-title match: NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai vs. Sasha Banks
Number one contender’s fatal four-way match: Dakota Kai vs. Tegan Nox vs. Candice LeRae vs. Mia Yim
Strap match: Dexter Lumis vs. Roderick Strong
Two-on-one handicap match: Aliyah & Robert Stone vs. Rhea Ripley (Ripley must join the Robert Stone Brand if she loses)
Night two (July 8) —
Winner-take-all title vs. title match: NXT Champion Adam Cole vs. NXT North American Champion Keith Lee