50 Ups & 50 Downs For WWE's Decade: The 2010s
28. The End Of Asuka's Undefeated Streak
Asuka losing to Charlotte at WrestleMania 34 in 2018 came with all the usual bleating calls from WWE fans to "let it play out" and "follow the story", but the 'Empress Of Tomorrow' never again reached the heights a lengthy stint in NXT helped create.
Falling to 'The Queen' at the 'Show Of Shows' was one (extremely concerning) thing, but treading water on SmackDown Live's midcard was another too far. She succumbed to the sterile stupidity of James Ellsworth en route to a loss to Carmella, before losses became the norm within months of having never suffered one before. Title wins in the single and tag divisions were meaningless in the aftermath.
Perception and aura have never been more important than in modern day WWE. In spite of a Royal Rumble win, it was sadly the year Asuka had both ripped from her grasp.