As of this writing, Ember Moon is preparing for her first NXT Women’s Championship match since April of 2018. At NXT TakeOver: In Your House, which is set to air this evening, “The War Goddess” will challenge Raquel González for the title in question. Keep in mind that Moon hasn’t been in a match involving the gold since she lost the title to Shayna Baszler at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans. Now, all these years later, Moon finds herself back in the title hunt. As we approach this major title match, one must wonder if her second NXT run is her best yet.
The First NXT Run of Ember Moon
Ember Moon’s first NXT run wasn’t anything to turn one’s nose up at. Moon signed with World Wrestling Entertainment in late 2015. She made her official debut at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II in August of 2016, besting future IIconics member Billie Kay. Moon would go on to enjoy a brief winning streak, picking up victories over such names as Kimber Lee, Liv Morgan, and Mandy Rose. She challenged for the NXT Women’s title multiple times, finally winning it at NXT TakeOver: WarGames in November of 2017.
Following her final NXT match, which was the aforementioned loss to Shayna Baszler, Ember Moon made her way to the main roster. Despite enjoying a fair degree of success on the black-and-gold brand, Moon was unable to replicate such success on Monday Night Raw or Friday Night SmackDown. Moon would challenge Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at SummerSlam 2019; which was “The War Goddess’s” most notable main roster moment. Consider the ankle injury Moon sustained not long after – given the severity of the injury, many fans believed she wouldn’t wrestle in a WWE ring again – and it was clear her direction needed to change. Few expected she would return to her roots.
Ember Moon Returns to NXT
Starting in September of 2020, NXT aired a series of vignettes. These showed a figure, wearing a motorcycle helmet, riding their way to the black-and-gold brand. The vignettes in question spurred much in the way of speculation among fans. If it wasn’t the debut of a new NXT Superstar, fans believed that these vignettes were indicative of a return to the brand. These vignettes gave rise to speculation leading to NXT TakeOver 31 the following October.
At NXT TakeOver 31, Io Shirai successfully defended the NXT Women’s Championship against Candice LeRae. Following an impromptu video message from then-NXT UK Superstar Toni Storm, viewers quickly learned the surprises wouldn’t end there. The same mysterious figure finally arrived at NXT, making their way onto the stage. Removing their helmet, the figure was revealed to be none other than Ember Moon. “The Shenom” was back and ready to make her second run in NXT the best yet.
Almost immediately, Moon hit a roadblock in the form of Dakota Kai and Raquel González. Whether in standard contests or their WarGames match this past December, Moon needed help. She soon found an ally sporting green hair and a bold personality. Moon formed a partnership with Shotzi Blackheart, who she teamed with during the first-ever Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. This makeshift team fought admirably, making it to the finals. Despite their best efforts, Moon and Blackheart lost to Kai and González. Success wouldn’t elude Moon and Blackheart for long, however. They would defeat their rivals for the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship the same night the gold was presented.
The Importance of Ember Moon’s Second NXT Stint
When discussing the reasons why Ember Moon’s second NXT run may be better than the first, her position on the brand is a good place to begin. During her first run, it didn’t seem that Moon was ever truly established as the top women’s wrestler on the brand. She was dominant in many of her matches, of course. However, keep in mind that, for much of Moon’s first run, Asuka ruled the proverbial roost as NXT Women’s Champion. To put matters simply, few could touch Asuka. While Moon challenged Asuka on multiple occasions, it always resulted in “The Empress of Tomorrow” continuing her path of dominance. Even when she finally won singles gold, Moon never truly felt like the star she should have been.
This hasn’t been the case for her current stint in NXT. One of the reasons for this is legitimacy; when she returned, she did so with the credibility of being a main roster star. She faced many of the best wrestlers WWE had to offer and brought the experience back home. Furthermore, she was positioned as more of a veteran figure among the current crop of NXT women’s stars. While she has yet to regain the NXT Women’s Championship, at this stage, Moon doesn’t need singles gold. This is especially true given how much of a success her team with Shotzi Blackheart has been.
The Tank Girls of NXT
One can make the argument that Ember Moon’s partnership with Shotzi Blackheart was the biggest reason the former’s second NXT run has been so successful. Though she was popular during her first run, a common criticism among fans was that Moon didn’t have a defined character or personality. Her entrance was certainly theatrical, of course. However, it was difficult to determine whether she was simply a wrestling workhorse or perhaps a werewolf or vampiric being, the latter possibilities conceptualized by her supernatural aesthetic.
Once Moon began teaming with Blackheart, “The Shenom’s” personality became more pronounced. It was almost like she was made to play off “The Ballsy Badass,” harnessing the extreme, daredevil-like approach that made Blackheart popular on the independent scene. Watching Moon hitch a ride on Blackheart’s tank, or implement similar fashion in her wrestling gear, it was easy to see that “The War Goddess” was more in her element. This friendship extended beyond the boundaries of TV, however.
This past April, the WWE PC YouTube channel uploaded a video entitled Ember Moon | Ember’s Law. This mini-documentary detailed her return to in-ring action. In one of the most poignant parts of the video, Moon discussed her friendship with Shotzi Blackheart. Moon credited Blackheart for helping her find herself and getting her out of a low point in her life. Seeing Blackheart crash the interview and joke with her tag team partner is nothing short of heartwarming. Needless to say, their sisterhood is more than just a bond between TV characters; it’s a connection between real-life people.
In Closing
With NXT TakeOver: In Your House fast approaching, Ember Moon is prepared for her biggest match since returning to the brand. Raquel González brings with her a track record of dominance. Furthermore, she has bested Moon in singles competition in the past, as seen on the December 9 episode of NXT last year. It’s fair to assume, however, that Moon will bring her offense to the next level. The allure of being a two-time NXT Women’s Champion is all the motivation she needs. Whether she wins the gold on Sunday, down the road, or perhaps none at all, the importance of her second NXT run can’t be denied.
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