WWE Royal Rumble: Ranking Every Winner After Lynch, Rollins Wins

Credit: WWE.com

20. Asuka

In 2018, WWE presented the first Women’s Royal Rumble. The match was loaded with names from both the past and present, and was given the added prestige of being the last match on the card.

At the time, Asuka was undefeated in WWE, having not lost a single match since  joining the NXT roster in 2015. Her booking had been solid and she was never presented as anything other than a serious threat to her opponents. This remained the case here, as Asuka entered at Number 25 and turned in a dominating performance, last eliminating Nikki Bella to win the match. 

Before she could announce who her opponent would be, however, Asuka was interrupted by the debut of Ronda Rousey, quickly being cast into the background of her own historic moment. Things got worse from there.

Asuka would jump brands to challenge Charlotte for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 34 with the two turning in a stellar performance that ended with Asuka suffering her first loss via submission. One loss, especially against such a quality opponent in a high profile match at the most prestigious event of the year does not a burial make. Unfortunately, Asuka’s fortunes did not improve.

She would lose another match to Carmella via interference from James Ellsworth and generally faded into midcard oblivion, never seeming a serious title contender. “The Empress of Tomorrow” seemed to regain her mojo toward the end of 2018, defeating Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair at TLC to become the SmackDown Women’s Champion, but overall it could be said that her year held more bad than good.