WWE: Is Asuka Really About To Take The Title From Alexa Bliss?

On last night’s episode of WWE Raw, Asuka defeated Alexa Bliss with ease in a non-title match, and it seems like she is inching closer to taking the title off of “Five Feet of Fury”.

On Jan. 28, the WWE Universe will get to witness the first ever women’s Royal Rumble, and most fans expect Asuka to win it all. And why wouldn’t they? Asuka’s undefeated streak is the most impressive feat in the modern WWE, and she’s been booked like a beast on the main roster. After defeating her final challenger, Ember Moon, in an incredible match at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III, she’s turned aside most of the wrestlers on the WWE Raw roster.

Last night on Raw, Asuka added the Raw Women’s Champion, Alexa Bliss, to her list of victims. Bliss didn’t get much offense in before tapping out to Asuka’s new finisher, which is an armbreaker that appears to be a nod to Ronda Rousey, who could be Asuka’s opponent at WrestleMania.

A week before Asuka defeated Bliss with a barrage of strikes, she entered herself into the women’s Royal Rumble and stared down Bliss, signifying that she is seeking a women’s Rumble victory as a means of defeating Bliss for the title. Asuka’s mission is simple, but will her path to the Raw Women’s Championship go through the Rumble?

The fact that there is a women’s Royal Rumble match is a big deal, but what makes it an even bigger deal is the fact that it indicates we’ll finally get a big women’s singles match at WrestleMania for a main title. Since SmackDown Live received the first ever women’s Money in the Bank briefcase, which remains in Carmella’s hands, many expect a wrestler from Raw to win the women’s Rumble.

More from Daily DDT

But since the WWE already showed Asuka defeating Bliss with ease on a throwaway non-title match on Monday Night Raw that wasn’t even announced, could the WWE put the title on Asuka before the Rumble and use the Rumble to set up an Asuka WrestleMania match against somebody else?

While Bliss and Asuka could put on a fun match at WrestleMania because the two of them are so good with facial expressions and movements that get the crowd invested, it’s just a nightmare of a match to book.

Nobody wants to see Bliss defeat Asuka, and after last night, nobody can believe it.

Meanwhile, Bliss is the heel and Asuka is the face, but how can you book that in a match when Asuka is so much more dominant? Can Bliss really put her in rest holds? How do you book Bliss as a heel when Asuka will inevitably get more offense in, especially brutal strikes? Then again, the WWE didn’t even let Asuka go stiff on Bliss last night.

Asuka vs. Rousey is a real possibility, but there are more issues with that. First of all, should a newcomer without pro wrestling experience really win the first ever women’s Rumble? Is that a smart move on any level? And I get that Rousey is a big name, an accomplished athlete, and an icon in female combat sports, but who in their right mind would think that she will defeat the undefeated Asuka at ‘Mania?

Bliss has been the longest-reigning women’s champion, and her run at the top has mostly been excellent. Her matches have improved steadily with each title defense, and she’s an elite promo. The problem is that she hasn’t been booked in many matches over the past couple of months, until this ill-advised non-title match against Asuka.

Next: Ranking The Top 10 Female Superstars Of 2017

It seems like the WWE is ready to move on from Bliss as a heel champion, and it seems like Asuka could win the title sooner rather than later, whether that’s at the Royal Rumble or even on episode of Raw before Jan. 28. And as far as her best WrestleMania opponent goes, I’d look no further than Absolution leader Paige, who is one of the most popular superstars in WWE right now.

Home/Raw