As we wind down 2017, we will be looking back at the 20 best (and worst) moments of the year in the wrestling world.
20. Scott Steiner’s epic press conference
19. Sexy Star tries to break Rosemary’s arm for real.
18. JBL vs. Mauro Ranallo.
For number 17 we take a look at the Empress of Tomorrow, Asuka. Asuka destroyed everyone in NXT and debuted on the main roster with a bang. No woman has ever been booked to be such a monster. Her rise is only beginning.
Heres a recap of her dominating performance from the 2017 Survivor Series.
Survivor Series is set to be a major card for the WWE. It didn’t disappoint. Every match had a big story and had the crowd into it.
That included the 5-on-5 Women’s Elimination Match. Five women from Raw and five from Smackdown squared off. But, there can only be ONE sole survivor. One woman dominated the match and walked away the winner. And all three RI writers predicted it!!
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/932415564219285511
BOOM! Asuka is getting the same treatment she got on NXT. Domination and devastation. Asuka eliminated THREE Smackdown women. Besides winning against Natalya, the Empress of Tomorrow submitted Tamina with a devastating armbar:
It’s ONE-ON-ONE as @WWEAsuka eliminates @TaminaSnuka! It’s #EmpressOfTomorrow vs. #QueenOfHarts @NatbyNature! #SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/CS7xsen96A
— WWE (@WWE) November 20, 2017
Just before that, Asuka kicked Carmella into another universe.
ROUNDHOUSE KICK!!! @WWEAsuka ELIMINATES @CarmellaWWE #SurvivorSeries pic.twitter.com/JCqG0haM1z
— Italo Santana (@BulletClubItal) November 20, 2017
So what does this mean?
It means the Women’s Division is officially on notice. WWE hasn’t built up a woman like this since…ever? Not even Nia Jax, Sasha Banks, Bayley, and the Bella Twins were treated with such fear and reverence. Does this mean that Triple H and Stephanie are getting a bit more pull in creative? Possibly. Or maybe Vince sees that power that Asuka possesses and her ability to be a believable and dominating champion.
I want Asuka to become the Brock Lesnar of the Women’s Division. And that says a lot, considering the WWE women’s roster is better than it has ever been and only getting better and better, especially with who is waiting in the wings at NXT. Asuka is just the latest example that WWE is finally taking women’s wrestling seriously.
What do you think? Is Asuka the future of women’s wrestling in WWE? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.