10 Great Wrestling Matches You Didn’t Know You Wanted

7. Asuka Vs. Mickie James - NXT TakeOver: Toronto

Eva Marie Bayley
WWE.com

This was a strange announcement.

Mickie James had wrestled consistently since her original WWE departure—but she didn’t really resonate as a challenger worthy of the NXT Women’s Title. Its prestige had wholly surpassed Mickie’s not inconsiderable contribution to the women’s division's slow, slow rise to critical acclaim. More than respectable in TNA, “more than respectable” wasn’t enough. Had this match not taken place in Mickie’s home city of Toronto, the suspicion was that she would not have been part of it. Thank Christ she was. This was awesome, and all the better for its novelty value.

But the faint praise ends there.

James played it straight early, lapping up the local support with sportsmanlike, happy-to-be-here posturing. Then, when a suitably impressed Asuka stretched out a hand following the fluid opening exchange, Mickie pulled the Champion into her crazed maw before escaping her blitzkrieg assaults with an incredible pace of her own. She wasn’t merely keeping up with her super-powered opponent; she was nigh-on humiliating her.

James, enjoying a certain 2006 freedom, seduced both audience and Asuka alike, before the dominant champion dominated. James was game to take and put over Asuka’s stiff repertoire with a German suplex bump on the outside.

An absorbing fusion of content and character work, Mickie played the wily but outmatched veteran role brilliantly, and in following #DIY Vs. The Revival and rendering the result doubtful, blew away the conservative expectations with an unhinged kiss.

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!