WWE Royal Rumble 2019: 3 Reasons Why Asuka Should Retain

Credit: Triple H on Twitter

All of the titles matches at WWE Royal Rumble 2019 feel like a huge deal, and Becky Lynch vs. Asuka has as high of a chance at stealing the show as any of them.

After months of tough losses to Carmella in the fallout from the snapping of her undefeated streak, Asuka seemed to be in trouble on the SmackDown Live roster. But some fans wrote off the Empress too quickly, as she heads into WWE Royal Rumble 2019 as the SmackDown Women’s Champion and one of the most important wrestlers in the promotion.

Asuka one-upped Becky Lynch, her opponent at the Royal Rumble, on the most recent episode of SmackDown Live by defeating Billie Kay in a matter of minutes. It was a convincing display from a convincing grappler, with Asuka strapping in the Asuka Lock for a big win.

For the first time in her main roster career, Asuka feels like a huge deal, and her character is starting to resemble that of her ever-popular character in NXT, where she racked up the longest undefeated streak in WWE history.

Though Becky is an incredibly formidable opponent at the Rumble and will most likely find her way in the main event of WrestleMania 35, here are three reasons why The Empress of Tomorrow should exit January as *still* the SmackDown Women’s Champion.