Top 5: Reasons Asuka’s Injury Isn’t ALL Bad

With Asuka departing NXT for the WWE main roster, Daniel Leon looks at reasons her injury isn’t the worst thing that could have happened.

Daniel Leon
Aug 28, 2017 · 5 min read

All good things must come to an end. This was especially evident this past week when the undefeated NXT Women’s Champion Asuka was forced to relinquish her championship due to an injury she sustained during her match this past Saturday with Ember Moon at NXT Takeover Brooklyn 3. The Empress of Tomorrow suffered a broken collarbone, and initial prognosis was that she would be out for 6–8 weeks. Unfortunately the end result was the end of the longest reigning championship reign of the modern era, at an astounding 510 days. Injuries are never a good thing, and in professional wrestling they can be career altering, if not career ending. In the aftermath of Asuka’s injury, a silver lining can be found in all of this, you just have to want to see it. Now let’s take a look at a few positives we can all take away from this unfortunate turn of events.

5. Asuka Remains Undefeated

Asuka has attained almost mythological status in WWE, reaching the longest winning streak in the history of professional wrestling, surpassing even the legendary Goldberg’s inflated streak, through a legitimate reign of dominance of the NXT Women’s Division.

After having set the record for the NXT Women’s Championship AND an unparalleled winning streak, there was not much else left in NXT for Asuka to accomplish. With this unique circumstance of having to relinquish the title due to injury, Asuka is set to make her debut on the main roster once she heals from injury, STILL undefeated. Allowing the streak to continue on the main roster.

We could potentially see another year of Asuka being undefeated on RAW or Smackdown, especially if she wins a Women’s Championship. The sky is the limit for her.

4. New Opportunities

With Asuka out of the picture in NXT, the time is perfect for talent to step up.

Ember Moon, Nikki Cross, Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, Ruby Riot, Liv Morgan, Abbey Laith and many more can advance their standing with Asuka moving to the main roster.

The same can be said for the women competing in the Mae Young Classic, who can have a place to shine after the tournament is over.

3. Asuka’s Image is Protected

With Asuka having to give up her title due to injury and therefore never having been defeated for it, she can enter the landscape of RAW or Smackdown Live with all the credibility she had prior to injury. In other words, when Asuka makes her debut, we wont have to ignore that she just dropped a championship at a Takeover event a few days prior (looking at you Roode).

It is a difficult thing to hype up a talent with a loss that big and that recent hanging over their heads. However with Asuka, she doesn’t have that concern. Once she is ready to feud with the top talent in the women’s division, she is in many ways on equal footing. Having a record no other woman on the current roster can even come close to, and also being able to say she is undefeated, Asuka is more than just an NXT callup, she is the future of women’s wrestling.

2. The Streak Continues…

No were not talking about the Undertaker, we are talking bout the unbelievable winning streak of Asuka, which, injury or not, still remains intact. Having Asuka come to the main roster with all the momentum of being undefeated, is a built in storyline in itself. Who will beat the streak? Who will be the first person to conquer the Empress of Tomorrow?

Although this is a storyline that has been playing out on NXT since Asuka began her reign of dominance, the situation and faces have entirely changed. Asuka has no doubt proved her superiority against the NXT talents the likes of Nikki Cross, Ruby Riot, Ember Moon, to name a few. Now how will she hold up against former and current Women’s Champions such as Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair? How will Asuka hold up against the powerhouse of Nia Jax, or the crafty Alexa Bliss? The potential match ups here are enough to make any fan salivate at the thought of it.

Titles may come and go, but only one person can beat the streak. Now that Asuka is headed to the main roster, we can see the streak end at the hands of a 4x Women’s Champion Charlotte for example, than a future NXT Callup like Ember Moon.

1. Open Door For NXT Fueds

With Asuka’s NXT days behind her and main roster bound, the NXT Women’s division will soon see a new Women’s Champion.

Women like Ember Moon will hopefully get their chance at a run with the NXT Women’s title. As time goes on, and new faces emerge and become established on NXT television, Asuka will also be establishing herself on the main roster. Sooner or later the day will come when a familiar face from NXT will revisit Asuka once they receive their call up. What if Asuka is confronted by a debuting Ember Moon on RAW? Or what if Nikki Cross shows up to assault Asuka unexpectedly?

Either of these women we could easily imagine being obsessed with having not defeated Asuka in NXT, and are looking to exact revenge on RAW or SmackDown Live.

Read more at YesWrestling.com

)
Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade