WWE Royal Rumble 2019: Confirmed matches and full projected card

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SmackDown Women’s Championship Match: Asuka (c) vs Nikki Cross

On the Blue Brand, another type of unpredictability could be looking for championship gold. Ruby Riott will use her in-ring skills and the outside influence from Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan to push for the Raw Women’s Title, but all the unpredictability on SmackDown Live sits dormant in one new face. This week on Raw, the fresh start led to the announcement of six superstars coming from NXT to officially join the main roster, one of them being Nikki Cross.

SAnitY’s “Twisted Sister” belongs on SmackDown Live with the rest of her crew, and Asuka is the perfect target for Cross. While Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair may want to get their title back, they seem far more focused on getting to Ronda Rousey. Because of that, they should end up focusing more on the Royal Rumble match itself rather than trying to continue challenging Asuka.

This week, Naomi stepped up and took on Asuka in a great opener that showed just what those two women are capable of. Naomi had a great showing, but not one that should lead to repeat opportunities. While the clash of Asuka and Cross would be fresh and new for the main roster, it’s worth noting that these two women are no strangers to each other. Asuka crossed paths with Nikki multiple times in NXT, but perhaps none was as memorable as their Last Woman Standing Match in June of 2017.

Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair may have had the first Last Woman Standing Match on the main roster, but Asuka and Nikki Cross did it a year before them and tore the house down at Full Sail University. Cross took Asuka to the limit, but unfortunately it just wasn’t enough to topple The Empress of Tomorrow. Back then, Asuka was undefeated and just about untouchable in NXT. A year and a half later and a new Asuka has captured the SmackDown Women’s Championship, but can this new Asuka still fend off Nikki Cross?