Unmatched: Asuka’s Claim to the Title of the Greatest WWE Woman’s Wrestler of All Time
There is no one like the Empress of Tomorrow; she is an unprecedented success
“Nobody is ready for Asuka!” is more than just a silly catchphrase; It was a factual statement that was followed by Asuka putting out some of the greatest women’s in-ring performances that WWE had ever seen.
WWE is widely regarded as the grandest stage in all of wrestling, the big leagues where many women professional wrestlers dreamed of being seen and adored by millions of fans. However, it took a long time for the women’s division in WWE to get to where it is now. Gone are the days of bra and panty matches and women’s wrestlers being seen as glorified models or “the bathroom break.” Many women paved the way for this progress; trailblazers like Lita and Trish Stratus and the likes of Mickie James, who was a staple of both WWE and TNA in the mid to late 2000s.
In the late 2000s and early 2010s, we witnessed the beginning of a revolution in the women’s division with the likes of Michelle McCool, Beth Phoenix, Paige, and AJ Lee. We finally have the Four Horsewomen of Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Bayley, who helped change the in-ring product to be some of the best it’s ever been in WWE. While one can make an argument for any of these women being the GOAT, respectfully, one can line them all up, make arguments, and list their accomplishments, and I’m still taking the Empress over all of them. I wanted to write this during Women’s History Month to acknowledge the woman who played a significant role in introducing me to a whole new world of wrestling. This post will stake why Asuka’s in-ring ability and journey surpass all other GOAT candidates.
The Joshi: The Impact of Japanese Women’s Wrestlers in the WWE Universe
As I mentioned in my article on Stardom wrestling, the history of Joshi and its impact is undeniable. In WWE, before the rise of Asuka, there were two notable Joshi wrestlers, Bull Nakano, and Aja Kong. Although both are now regarded as two of the greatest women’s wrestlers of all time, they had only a brief moment in the spotlight in WWE. It’s a shame because both women had the potential to become megastars in the United States. However, in 1995, the women’s title was closed down by WWE after Alundra Blayze infamously trashed the belt live on WCW television. It’s important to note that during this time period, only three women held the title in the early to mid-90s, and the only Joshi to do so was Bull Nakano. Following the incident and the rebranding of the women’s division, Joshi wrestlers were rarely seen in WWE until Asuka’s rise to fame.
In my view, this is a small but valid argument for Asuka’s GOAT status. She’s doing something in the WWE that no other Japanese women’s wrestler before or after has been able to do. Joshi wrestlers not only have to adapt to the stylistic changes in WWE but also have to overcome obstacles such as the language barrier. Asuka, a non-native English speaker, rarely speaks more than a few sentences in her promos, yet she has found innovative ways to make an impact. Her expressions, charisma, humor, and iconic look have all helped her to stand out and constantly reinvent herself.
Here are some examples:
and another
One could argue that the success of Asuka opened doors for other Joshi wrestlers, such as Kairi Sane, IO SKY (formerly known as Io Shirai), and Meiko Satomura, to join WWE. Asuka has demonstrated that it is possible to become a household name, even when facing obstacles, and has paved the way for other Joshi wrestlers to make a name for themselves in WWE.
Accomplishments
If one is to be considered the GOAT of women’s wrestling, titles, big wins, and being a pioneer or trailblazer are some of the most important factors to consider. Asuka’s impressive resume surpasses that of just about every other WWE women’s wrestler. She has held the Raw Women’s Championship twice, the Smackdown Women’s Championship once, tied the record for Women’s Tag Team Championship wins (three times, each with a different partner), held the NXT Women’s Championship for the longest reign in its history (513 days), won the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble match, became the third Women’s Triple Crown Champion, the second Women’s Grand Slam Champion, and the ONLY woman to win the Royal Rumble, Money in the Bank, and Elimination Chamber matches. Additionally, she is known for her memorable undefeated streak that almost lasted 1,000 days and with 266 victories.
I think winning championships may not hold significant importance if most of your reigns are forgettable, have rare defenses, or are under 100 days. At times, WWE seems to use the title as a prop to fuel a feud rather than treating it as a prestigious accolade to be earned. This is evident in the Charlotte Flair vs Sasha Banks rivalry. My friend Simmy always says, “Championships are only as important as the person holding them.” While there are women who have won more titles than Asuka, her almost 3-year undefeated streak and her 500-day title reign where she never lost the title give her a unique position in the greatest of all time (GOAT) discussions.
Asuka’s impressive collection of hardware, resume, in-ring skills, and longevity justify her claim as the GOAT of WWE women’s wrestling. However, the one achievement that has eluded her in her illustrious WWE career is a victory at Wrestlemania. Asuka’s record at Wrestlemania stands at a disappointing 0–5, but it’s important to note that Wrestlemania records can be misleading due to booking decisions made by the company. Many fans, including myself, argue that Asuka should have defeated Charlotte at Wrestlemania 34. While this may be a blemish on her GOAT status, Asuka’s aura and credibility as a formidable competitor remain strong. Her upcoming match against Bianca Belair at Wrestlemania 39 presents an opportunity for her to redeem herself and add another accolade to her already impressive career.
In-Ring Ability
At the end of the day, when the conversation is this close, I always go back to what really matters for wrestlers, their ability inside the ring. Asuka brings legitimacy to a match, something that very few wrestlers on the roster can claim. Beneath the colorful hairstyles, dancing, and smiling expressions lies a cold-blooded killer. Regardless of the gimmick she portrays or how comedic she can be outside the ring, once the bell rings, you know you’re in for a fight. Asuka is one of the best strikers and technicians, with a multitude of submission holds. She can sell, take a bump, can wrestle tag matches, singles, hardcore, ladder, and multi-mans, she can wrestle strong people, fast people, big people, and small people, she can work fast or slow, and is as smooth as the other side of the pillow. Here’s a 3 min example of everything that makes Asuka great in the ring. In this short highlight from a championship match against Peyton Royce in 2017, Asuka’s charisma, striking ability, smooth transitions, and convincing selling of an arm/shoulder injury are on full display. Do you need more convincing? Here is another short highlight vs Nikki Cross in the first NXT Women’s Last Man Standing Match.
How many times have you seen Asuka put on a bad match? How often has she had a subpar performance? The answer is: She doesn’t. She lays it all on the line in the ring every time she performs. Regardless of her opponent, the situation, how she’s being booked, or any injuries, Asuka continues to deliver. Current household names such as Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Bayley, Rhea Ripley, Carmella, and even former WWE stars like Ember Moon and Nia Jax can all be argued to have had one of, If not their best matches and feuds against Asuka. If your a fan that’s more interested in studying In-ring work, I implore you to go back and watch Asuka. If you can’t access Peacock, which has WWE Network, don’t worry — I can show you some of Asuka’s matches. I would like to provide some more evidence for these claims using more videos.
Here are three matches I’ve posted to show Asuka in different scenarios against different opponents.
The first one is Asuka vs Ember Moon. This match is considered one of the best matches in the history of the NXT Women’s division. For context, Asuka is in the middle of her undefeated streak and NXT woman’s title reign, and Ember moon is her most formidable challenger to date. To discuss in-ring ability, we must examine how an Asuka match goes. Asuka’s primary method of attack involves using powerful kicks, vicious strikes, and submission holds. She is a master at making every strike look dangerous, creating the belief that she could win the match at any moment. In this match against Ember, you get to see some of Asuka’s very best offense while still being able to make Ember look excellent even in defeat. Asuka vs Ember is praised as one of the best matches in recent history, and it’s also Ember’s best match in WWE. This match made you root for Ember Moon, but she could not overcome the Empress as she was forced to tap to the Asuka Lock.
Asuka vs Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair in a Triple Threat TLC match. This match shows a side of Asuka we rarely see. It’s a hardcore match where tables, ladders, and chairs are involved, and you win by climbing to the top of the ladder and grabbing the title. We see Asuka take chair shots, kendo stick hits, and get speared through the barricade. This match is less about the usual style of in-ring performance and more about the high-risk moments. Asuka showed some versatility in working in a manner we have never seen her do and fit in seamlessly with Charlotte and Becky.
Bliss & Cross vs The Kabuki Warriors for the Tag Team Titles. Once again, showing Asuka’s body of work and range, Asuka and Kairi Sane (now known as KAIRI in Japan) were a formidable duo in the tag team division. Asuka and Kairi are working as heels in this match as they show a sadistic side. Asuka shows the ability to be able to work the crowd with antics and mess with her opponents psychologically as a heel wrestler. She disrespects Alexa Bliss with light kicks to the head, taunts Nikki Cross, and uses green mist in the face of her opponents. Asuka is constantly evolving, and this was another way to show that. Heel Asuka is creative and not above cheating to get a victory.
Here are some more examples of what makes Asuka so special.
Asuka’s submission ability
Asuka’s Striking Ability
And how can we forget a woman with a versatile amount of counters and reversals that no one else on the roster does?
One underrated aspect of Asuka’s run in WWE is how often she will beat an opponent with a move that is not her Finisher. In professional wrestling, your finisher is your ultimate move. It’s a move you must use to beat the final bosses and get the most significant wins….. unless you’re Asuka. Asuka’s ability to win with a multitude of moves and submissions while simultaneously still making her opponents not look weak is one of the aspects that has made her stand out in the ring. She’s beaten opponents like Tamina with the Cross Arm-bar. She’s beaten opponents like Carmella, Bayley, and Nia Jax with the Japanese Buzzsaw kick (popularized by Tajiri). With the different ways she defeats her opponents, Asuka always comes off as a genuine badass. Her versatility adds to her matches and makes you even more curious about how she will win. Since Asuka has returned to the ring, even her Finisher has changed and is now beating people with this move.
Moreover, she continues to do all of this at 41 years old while making it look effortless. One could argue that Asuka wasn’t even in her prime when she joined WWE, as she was already in her mid-30s! Asuka’s career in WWE can be considered a second phase, following her time in Japan and the Independent circuit under the name Kana, which makes her athletic ability and skills in the ring all the more impressive. Asuka uniquely can elevate her opponents’ performances, bringing out the best in them in the ring. Very few wrestlers, let alone women are comparable to Asuka in the WWE. Some wrestlers, including Bayley, a member of the Four Horsewomen who helped revolutionize women’s wrestling in WWE, and Miro, a former WWE wrestler who now competes in AEW, have shared their thoughts on Asuka.
By combining her impressive in-ring skills with an unbeaten streak, the lengthiest championship reign in the history of NXT’s women’s division, and being the first woman to win every match from the Royal Rumble to this year’s Elimination Chamber, it’s easy to understand why I would argue that she is the GOAT among women’s wrestlers.
Context and Argument against other GOATs
When it comes to determining the GOAT in wrestling, everyone values different things. For some, the number of titles won is crucial, making Charlotte Flair a strong contender. Others prioritize iconic status, which puts Trish Stratus at the top of the list. Those who value the biggest moments might choose Becky Lynch as their GOAT. While all these opinions are subjective, I believe the most critical factors are wrestling ability, longevity, your peak, quality of work, and matches against various opponents. I love promos, I value gimmicks, and I like to watch storylines, but none of it matters if you can’t wrestle at a high level. Asuka makes every person she wrestles with look better. That quality matters when talking about the women at the top of the roster. Asuka helps women who aren’t booked and lauded as main event talent look good even in defeat. Although Asuka may not excel at promos, have as many title reigns or more memorable storyline moments as other top stars. I still argue that Asuka is a superior wrestler to all of them while not trailing too far behind in the different categories. Not only is Asuka the best wrestler, but she achieved this feat during WWE’s strongest era of women’s wrestling.
At this point, I would like to present my perspective and encourage you to hear me out. Let’s begin with Trish Stratus, who many people consider the greatest of all time before the current era. Trish is an icon and a legend in WWE women’s history; alongside Lita, they are the foundations of WWE’s women’s division. However, there are a couple of issues to consider.
Firstly, Trish wrestled in a relatively weaker women’s era of wrestling. While it’s not Trish’s fault, her resume still leaves much to be desired from an in-ring perspective. Although her matches with Lita were iconic, she has had limited variety in opponents, styles, and high-level matches.
Secondly, the issue of longevity arises. Although Trish has not retired, her main wrestling career lasted only six years, and she did not wrestle consistently throughout that time. Unfortunately for Trish, the era she was in limited her opportunities to showcase her skills, and her matches cannot always match the standards of today’s women’s wrestling consistently.
Another potential GOAT candidate is Mickie James. She was one of the best women wrestlers from the mid to late 2000s and is still active today. However, a problem with her WWE career is that she was in and out of the company. While she had iconic feuds, matches, and moments, her best work and peak may not be in WWE but in WWE’s main rival at the time, TNA (now Impact Wrestling), where she currently wrestles. This is because WWE didn’t value women’s wrestling as much as TNA did, making her career in TNA much better in every aspect.
In my opinion, the two toughest contenders for the “Greatest of All Time” title are Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks. Becky Lynch has a few strong points in her favor, like holding the Raw Women’s Championship for a record-breaking 399 days and having an impressive Wrestlemania record. She was also the first woman to main event Wrestlemania, and her match with Bianca Belair was one of the best women’s matches in Wrestlemania history.
However, despite all these achievements, I don’t think Becky matches up to Asuka in the ring. Compared to one of her fellow “Four Horsewomen” counterparts, Sasha Banks, I believe Asuka and Sasha are better in many aspects of wrestling. For example, both Asuka and Sasha have a more diverse match catalog with more variations of opponents. I believe Asuka and Sasha have been at higher levels longer than Becky. Since 2015, Asuka has put on high-level in-ring performances in WWE. Becky became “The Man” around 2018 when she went on a winning streak and reached the peak of her ability. They have also shown the ability to elevate lesser wrestlers ( I would take Asuka over Becky and Sasha in this aspect). Although Becky is still a great wrestler, I don’t think she’s better than Asuka in any one area of in-ring performance.Becky will undoubtedly go down as one of the most iconic and legendary WWE women’s wrestlers, she’s not a better wrestler than Asuka. Becky’s accomplishments might be slightly more significant, but I cannot put Becky above Asuka for that alone.
This match is an excellent representation of both women. The build-up to this match is that Asuka has never defeated Becky in a one-on-one matchup. It’s a physical battle between Becky and Asuka, with stiff strikes and big spots. Despite being the champion, Asuka fights from the bottom, and Becky is the aggressor. Asuka’s selling makes Becky look superior, even when Asuka gets in offense. Asuka is an excellent in-ring storyteller who can appear sadistic or helpless, depending on her role. Asuka’s ability to transition from striking with Becky to trying to get her in submissions is evident in this match. The ending sequence is phenomenal, with both women countering each other’s moves before Asuka wins with a bridging submission. This match reaffirms my belief that Asuka can win in many different ways. Although Becky was good, Asuka had the better performance.
Sasha Banks, by far, was the most challenging wrestler to compare with Asuka for multiple reasons. First, she has accomplished a lot in WWE, including being a six-time Women’s Champion and participating in the first-ever women’s Iron man and Hell in a Cell match. She has also had some unforgettable feuds and moments that some people believe are superior to Asuka’s (Like her rivalries against Bayley and Charlotte flair). Another reason why Sasha is challenging to compare with Asuka is that they are similar in their variety of excellent in-ring performances. Sasha’s in-ring catalog is almost as diverse as Asuka’s. However, Asuka has two advantages over Sasha: her undefeated streak and variety of good performances outside the top stars. Asuka’s undefeated streak matters. The undefeated streak is not only a feat that compensates for Asuka’s lack of a Wrestlemania moment, but it is also one of the most incredible feats in wrestling. Asuka’s streak even surpasses the acclaimed Bill Goldberg’s streak in WCW. This is a unique feat that sets Asuka apart from other GOAT candidates.
Asuka was not just beating up jobbers and cupcakes during her undefeated streak. She beat 3 of the other candidates I listed. That includes Mickie, Becky, and even Sasha herself. When comparing Asuka and Sasha, I consider how well they perform against the same opponent. Asuka has had better matches against Becky Lynch than Sasha has. Asuka’s match against Charlotte at Wrestlemania 34 is better than any match between Sasha and Charlotte. However, I believe that Sasha has had better matches than Asuka against Bayley, particularly their 30-minute Iron man match.
Another aspect where Asuka beats Sasha is working with Dana Brooke, Emma, and the Nikki Cross’s of wrestling. Sasha works well with her fellow four horsewomen. Sasha works well with Bianca Belair and IO SKY. Asuka has gotten performances out of opponents that Sasha hasn’t, such as Dana Brooke, Cameron, Nikki Cross, Emma, Ruby Riot, and Nia Jax. None of those women were considered major in-ring talents, yet Asuka has gotten a good match out of all of them. Even though Sasha is one of the best WWE women wrestlers of all time, Asuka has a slight edge regarding in-ring performance.
Any of those women have a strong and worthy case of being called the GOAT. My argument is that Asuka may not be the most iconic, the best talker, have the best title run, or the most memorable feud among them; However, she is the best WRESTLER while still making strong enough cases in the other categories.
The Empress of Tomorrow can build on it
I have spent the entire post talking about Asuka’s career, and it’s not even over yet. It is rare for women wrestlers to continue in their 30s, let alone their 40s, the way Asuka does. Asuka returned with a new character and makeup at this year’s Royal Rumble. She has a Wrestlemania match in April, and I hope she finally gets her moment and earns one more lengthy title run. She is being built back up as a credible challenger for Bianca Belair, who is in the middle of a 300+ day title reign as the WWE Raw Women’s champion. If Asuka wins this match, she will complete the only thing she has yet to accomplish, and that’s a win at the biggest stage of them all. It’s uncertain how many years she has left, but it has been a joy and an honor to not only write about her but also to watch Asuka compete in WWE.
