10 Early Wrestling Predictions For 2018

8. WWE Will Ruin Asuka

Braun Strowman Wwe
WWE.com

The process may already be underway.

Emma was competitive in their mini-programme, and was released days later. Dale Cooper couldn't even crack that code. In recent weeks, Asuka has dominated anonymous jobbers on RAW in what amounts to little more than an exercise in wheel-spinning. Her joining Team Alicia Fox (Jesus Christ) should suspend Survivor Series betting - but then, Bayley should have won her first RAW Women's Title at WrestleMania 33. Charlotte should not have relinquished her Queen PPV Bee streak at Fastlane. Conventional wisdom is all too often lost on an unwise main roster creative regime.

Much like compatriot Shinsuke Nakamura, Asuka is simply incompatible with the verbose context of sports entertainment. Once she's dominated the division - and on a bloated beast of a RAW show that feeds on filler, Asuka is stream-rolling her way towards the conclusion of this character arc - there's nothing for her to do but lose. Asuka's quest for redemption is a baked-in plot, but in a landscape dominated by crazy women and mean girls, the scope for humiliation is vast. Too often in 2017 have we felt pity for Shinsuke Nakamura, as he floundered in lengthy talking segments ill-suited to his pure wrestling character.

The sight of Alexa Bliss donning the flappy dickey is post-satire - but we live in a post-satire world.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!