Why Asuka Will Arrive On WWE SmackDown

The WWE recently polled their fans to ask where NXT’s hottest female star should go next, and WWE SmackDown is the logical choice

To describe former NXT Women’s Champion Asuka as a “rising star” would be an understatement. Since her inaugural match in September 2015, she has broken Goldberg’s record for the longest winning streak, competed in the first-ever “last woman standing” match, and also became the longest-reigning champion in WWE history, excluding title reigns during the pre-national expansion days which would sometimes last for several years.

During NXT TakeOver III: Brooklyn this past August, Asuka suffered a broken collarbone which would not only force her to relinquish the NXT Women’s Championship but also hasten her arrival onto the main roster.

Following her formal departure from NXT, the WWE held a poll on its website asking which brand Asuka should sign with. Not surprisingly, almost 60% of respondents said that WWE SmackDown Live would be the best fit for the Empress of Tomorrow. The WWE also asked which superstar should be the one to end her streak, and Charlotte topped the list with 34% of the vote.

Let’s keep it real, these polls are inherently meaningless. There is zero chance the WWE looks at the results of these questions and then adjusts storylines to fit the desires of a small percentage of their audience. However in this instance, Asuka going to SmackDown makes the most sense because it’s a numbers game.

More from SmackDown

• Randy Orton signs with SmackDown to go after The Bloodline
• Potential Challengers for Roman Reigns before WrestleMania
• WWE SmackDown Predictions: AJ Styles Will Help Randy Orton
• WWE SmackDown Predictions: Street Profits Will Dethrone Judgment Day
• SmackDown reminded us of how pointless the brand split is

There are currently eight female superstars on the blue brand, with only seven of them actively competing, since Lana has effectively become Tamina’s manager.

On the other hand, Raw has 11 female wrestlers, including Paige whose future with the company is still uncertain. Raw has been the stronger brand as of late and putting Asuka on Monday nights will only serve to sink the SmackDown ratings further.

Asuka should enter the SmackDown fray with a red-hot reputation but also sky-high expectations. The call-ups from NXT have been a mixed bag of success.

For every Kevin Owens there is an Adam Rose or Ascension just around the corner waiting to fall back into obscurity, or worse, GFW. Even Shinsuke Nakamura’s current run on SmackDown has been average at best, despite being one of the most popular stars in recent memory.

The key to Asuka’s success will be how she makes her presence felt when she does arrive on the main roster, which could be as soon as this Tuesday night in Las Vegas. In my opinion, she should continue the dominant personality that earned her such an enviable reputation in NXT. I don’t want to see a humble rookie ready to prove herself to a larger audience; I want a ruthless aggressor who carries broken records around like trophies and throws them in the face of any veteran foolish enough to downplay her myriad accomplishments.

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Asuka is far from green. She’s been a professional wrestler since 2004 and that experience should be showcased in her debut. While I still hold out hopes that Nia Jax will become the Braun Strowman of the women’s division, I could see Asuka having a similar impact to that of AJ Styles. Like Styles, Asuka has enormous credibility outside the WWE and is talented enough to hang with anyone on the roster without the need for starter squash matches.