6 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (May 12)

1. A Heel Turn For The Sake Of It

Asuka Bianca Belair
WWE.com

This writer has always been a big fan of both Bianca Belair and Asuka, but neither is the most must-see act in WWE at the moment. The writers only have themselves to blame for that - they've done a frankly sh*te job of lining up challengers for Belair, which is why Asuka is back in the title mix.

These women literally just worked together at WrestleMania, and it's blatantly obvious that WWE has nothing but 'B' stories for Bianca. That's a shame, and it doesn't sit well that Raw's Asuka jumped over to SmackDown in the 2023 Draft only to challenge for a Raw belt.

What's going on there?!

If anything, Belair was the one who needed to turn heel. She's still getting babyface pops, but her Raw Title reign has served its purpose. WWE needs to move on sooner rather than later, so fingers crossed the newly-heel Asuka bags that belt at NOC.

Probably not though.

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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.