3 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (July 21)

Ups...

3. They Remembered Asuka Exists

Asuka Charlotte Flair
WWE.com

Right, everybody deserves some positivity after all that negative ranting.

Asuka has been a tad overlooked throughout this three-way feud with Bianca Belair and Charlotte Flair, but WWE got things right on Friday night. The reigning Women's Champion was booked to attack Flair following her match vs. IYO SKY, then lock the 'Queen' in a submission before posing with her belt.

Admittedly, the story is still a bit of a drag, but at least Asuka got some real spotlight for the first time in a while. Making her look like a deserved champion heading into SummerSlam is wise, because then it'll mean more if Charlotte or Bianca dethrones her. Not that either should right now.

You'd have to go some to find anybody who doesn't like Asuka, and that's true whether she's playing heel or babyface. She's a credible champion, so it's nice the writers remembered they should put some focus on that before the next PLE.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.