10 HUGE Tests Wrestlers Passed

6. Asuka Gets Makes The Performance Center Shows Much Less Grim

Asuka Sasha Banks Extreme Rules
WWE.com

The WWE Performance Center residency was absolute dog sh*t trash, and it's funny: you absolutely wouldn't have taken that kind of talk from a snarky, miserable pro wrestling writer, but when Roman Reigns says the exact same thing, you will echo his words like highly suggestible seals.

"Yeah Big Dawg you're right, the pounding of plexiglass wakes me up at night. I acknowledge the ThunderDome as my Virtual Fan Experience Chief!"

And those shows were sh*te. Drab, depressing and as bereft of atmosphere as talent, the nearest lost developmental souls they could find were thrown into squash matches but were also afforded wins over Ricochet lol. When will that man receive the message? He needs to spread his brand of high-flying prowess elsewhere!

Beyond Bayley and Sasha Banks and one more name covered imminently, Asuka, being just a terrific presence and talent, conspired to bring spectacle and charisma to the bleak void by being her impossibly entertaining self. This was the unfiltered version - her irreverent charm was such that she made a nightmare feel like a mere fever dream - and it helped too that she was great at kicking f*ck out of people in the only matches that work in front of no crowds: ones that sound like they really, really hurt.

She also brought warmth and soul to the most sterile atmosphere WWE ever played out in front of with her wonderful, real reaction to Becky Lynch's pregnancy.

Her reward?

Slowly phased out for Hot Blonde Action!

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Michael Sidgwick (Creative Writing BA Hons) is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over a decade of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential UK 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 AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and 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!