WWE TLC 2017 5 Takeaways: Finn Balor and AJ Styles Tear Down The House

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3. Asuka and Alexa Bliss Are On A Collision Course

As poorly as the Cruiserweights were portrayed Sunday night, the women of RAW came out looking strong. New arrival, Asuka opened the show in typical “Empress of Tomorrow” fashion, dispatching a very game Emma and showing anybody in the WWE audience who had never seen her in NXT exactly why she’s one of the best call-ups in recent years. What was smart about her debut was not just how good she looked, but just how strong Emma came off as well. Many predicted that Asuka’s debut may be in squash form but it was far from that at TLC as the 28 year-old Aussie gave the red brand’s new addition just enough of a fight to make both superstars look stronger than they did before the match.

RAW champion Bliss did some clear-cutting of her own as well. Taking on veteran and former six-time champion Mickie James, “Five Feet of Fury” weathered a fierce storm of violence from her challenger. It may have been a one and done title challenge for Mickie for right now, but at 37 years-old she proved Sunday night that she’s still just as good as she’s ever been. For Bliss, this was another signature win to add to her now sparkling, young resume. It’s like she gets better every time she steps in the ring and her future looks massively bright.

So that leads to what should, and most likely will be next: a showdown between Asuka and Bliss for the RAW Women’s Championship. The duo do have a history in NXT, albeit all in the form of house shows, so they’re familiar to each other. So that should help them along in what could potentially be one of the best women’s rivalries in a very long time. Sunday’s TLC helped move the women’s division in the right direction, something it failed to do with the Cruisers. Now it’ll be up to the talent and the writing team to put together the perfect program for these two top-tier superstars.