3 Ups & 7 Downs For WWE Raw (18 Aug - Results & Review)

2. Rhea, Asuka Get Heated

When Asuka shoved Iyo Sky and stormed off last week, the conventional wrestling brain would say that the Empress of Tomorrow will just turn on Sky and attack her to turn heel, following a normal pattern. But Monday’s encounters painted a different picture and potentially charted a different path for this inevitable collision between the former Damage CTRL teammates.

Asuka apologized to Iyo before the Genius of the Sky’s match against Raquel Rodriguez. Iyo asked the Kabuki Warriors to stay out of her business for the match – and they honored that request. However, when the Judgment Day attacked Sky after the match, Rhea Ripley ran down for the save. Backstage, Asuka took offense, noting that Rhea could get involved, but she and Kairi Sane couldn’t. This led to Asuka and Ripley arguing until Iyo crashed out and stormed off.

It seems as though Iyo’s friendship and mutual respect for Rhea is going to lead to a “her or us” moment with Asuka, and when Sky chooses Ripley (or doesn’t choose anyone), then the villainous side of Asuka will come out, sparking a heel turn and a rivalry between the Kabuki Warriors and Rhe-yo.

Good development here, playing on Asuka’s insecurities and Iyo’s loyalties rather than having people accept that Asuka would just flip over a couple of arguments and slights. Rhea being the catalyst could work a lot better – and given Ripley’s popularity, it could super-charge a heel turn as well.

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Scott is a former journalist and longtime wrestling fan who was smart enough to abandon WCW during the Monday Night Wars the same time as the Radicalz. He fondly remembers watching WrestleMania III, IV, V and VI and Saturday Night's Main Event, came back to wrestling during the Attitude Era, and has been a consumer of sports entertainment since then. He's written for WhatCulture for more than a decade, establishing the Ups and Downs articles for WWE Raw and WWE PPVs/PLEs and composing pieces on a variety of topics.