Asuka is one of the most important WWE signings of the last decade

In sports and entertainment there are some signings that set the tone for the future of the company. The same occurs in professional wrestling. Such a signing happened on September 23, 2015. That was the day that WWE signed Asuka. The ten-year anniversary was celebrated this week, with many people throughout the business recognizing how important she’s been to women’s wrestling. Signing Asuka was one of the most important acquisitions in North American wrestling in the past decade.

“I, apparently, have reached 10 years with WWE,” Asuka wrote on social media. “My achievements over these 10 years are as follows. Overwhelming, aren’t they. But you know, the real value was in the journey, eh.” (Quote translated from Japanese.)

Those accolades that Asuka pointed out include nearly everything there is to win in WWE. She, Charlotte Flair, Mercedes Mone, and Bayley, are the only grand slam champions in the women’s division. She had a 914-day undefeated streak. She’s main evented five WWE PLEs. Asuka won the inaugural WWE Women’s Royal Rumble in 2018. She won the Elimination Chamber in 2023. She’s won the Money in the Bank. She’s done nearly everything there is to do, and yet she continues to give everything back to the division as well.

In the eyes of many, the Women’s Revolution in wrestling started in July 2015 when Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Mercedes Mone were moved to the WWE main roster. That was a major moment, but just a few short months later, Kana made her arrival in NXT and took on the name Asuka.

She’d become the most feared performer in NXT, regardless of gender. That aura followed her to the main roster, but the booking strength didn’t. While Asuka has won everything there is to win, her fans still want to see her booked as the force she was in NXT. That hasn’t happened, and at this rate, probably never will. But that does not denigrate the impact she’s had on the business.

Asuka’s presence in WWE should be seen as the catalyst that helped bring over top stars in Iyo Sky, Kairi Sane, and Guilia. Each of those performers had had their own versions of success in WWE, but none of that would have happened without Asuka. Her performance put faith in the idea that WWE would finally book Japanese women well. Instead of making them background characters, each of these women would become champion and be put in positions to main event major moments. Without Asuka, none of that happens.

Asuka has truly opened doors in professional wrestling. As Kana, she was one of the biggest names in Japan, helping further STARDOM’s place as the premier promotion for women’s wrestling. That aura followed her to WWE. Ten years later, it is time to recognize those contributions and say without hesitation that if it weren’t for Asuka, there are a lot of stars who would not be featured names in the business today.