10 Wrestlers Who Deserve A Big Push After WWE Royal Rumble 2021

7. Asuka

Shinsuke Nakamura
WWE.com

Now that she's finally free of her Charlotte-shaped millstone, it's time for WWE to quit screwing around and book Asuka like the top champion she's supposed to be.

The past few months have been rough. Marginalised throughout her stint in the women's tag division, Asuka has been brushed aside in favour of Flair's dalliances with her randy father and Lacey Evans, and made to look like a trembling geek for Alexa Bliss' spooky "transformations." The latter is a universal death knell for babyface bad*ssery. Going through it means Asuka is now due a rebuild job, so let's get to it.

The Raw Women's Champion hasn't been spotlighted in months, leaving the division feeling empty and neglected. As Bianca Belair will likely challenge for Sasha Banks' SmackDown strap, WWE is faced with finding a compelling WrestleMania 37 opponent for Asuka, perhaps via Elimination Chamber. Rhea Ripley would fit the bill as a fresh, exciting challenger who can rise to Asuka's high level. Charlotte is another option too, but only if WWE puts 'The Empress of Tomorrow' over 'The Queen': a repeat of WrestleMania 34 wouldn't do Asuka any favours.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.