WWE Buy Or Sell: Rousey vs. Asuka In Main Event Of WrestleMania 35
By Josh Raibick
The Women’s division in WWE has made big strides over the past couple years with a bunch of firsts, but what about WrestleMania? Could a match of Asuka vs. Ronda Rousey have the hype to be the main event of WrestleMania 35?
Since Asuka first appeared in NXT, she has been an unstoppable force. The claim that “nobody is ready for Asuka” has been backed up by the Empress of Tomorrow’s undefeated streak.
Asuka’s streak has been impressive mainly because it includes established names like Bayley, Sasha Banks, Nia Jax, and Ember Moon. Most undefeated streaks in professional wrestling history have been filled with a lot of “fluff”.
The streak that comes to mind when thinking Asuka, is Goldberg’s streak in WCW. The difference is Asuka is having four and five star matches throughout her streak, and not just simply squashing competition every week.
Then there is the newbie of the Women’s division, Ronda Rousey. Rousey made her much anticipated arrival to WWE during the closing moments of WWE Royal Rumble 2018.
While Rousey is rather green as a professional wrestler, she does possess a lot of similar tools that helped Brock Lesnar and Kurt Angle succeed quickly in the WWE. For starters Rousey was a bronze medalist in Judo in the 2008 Olympics.
Rousey was also the first women’s bantamweight champion in UFC history which included a historic reign of over 1,000 days. UFC is responsible for Rousey becoming a household name, but the promotion could also be responsible for giving her the tools to succeed in WWE.
Big crowds, different opponents, elite training, and pre-fight promos that relay the anger and intentions for Rousey’s opponents are all previous experiences that in some way can contribute to Rousey’s WWE success.
Fast forward a year from now and the question is, does Rousey vs. Asuka bring enough hype to justify the main event of WrestleMania? To that question I would answer yes, obviously contingent upon both superstar’s health and being booked as the two most dominant women in the division.
For the next year neither superstar can lose, because Asuka vs. Rousey needs a big fight feel. Fans of boxing or mixed martial arts know that the most hyped fights are when both fighters are undefeated and feel unstoppable.
Over the course of the next year the WWE Universe needs to have a difficult time picturing either Asuka or Rousey being pinned or submitted. That lone component is what builds the hype of “I don’t know what is going to happen when those two meet in the ring.”
A big factor to go along with the hype within the wrestling community, is the hype outside of the wrestling community that would come with Rousey headlining the biggest show of the year for WWE. Rousey making history would not be anything new for her, and really the story of her life has been overcoming obstacles.
The final question left to answer, is it a realistic possibility? I would go as far to say that I would be shocked if Rousey vs. Asuka wasn’t the main event of WrestleMania 35. WWE is not holding back the women’s division anymore, and with the history made at WWE Hell in a Cell 2016 to go along with the Royal Rumble earlier this year, WrestleMania’s main event would be the next step.
Yes, an argument could be made that maybe Summerslam‘s main event can be the next brass ring for the rising division, but the timing and marquee matches will be what determines that. In my opinion Rousey needs a year to be built in front of the WWE fans before pushing her into a singles match in the main event of one of the big four pay per views.
Next: WrestleMania Is In Need Of Personal Issues
I am BUYING that Rousey vs. Asuka deserves to be the main event of WrestleMania 35, but I am not stopping there. I am also BUYING that it will be.