6 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE Raw (Dec 12 - Review)

2. Asuka About To Evolve?

Aside from her time as a heel, Asuka has largely been playing the same character on the main roster for the past several years. She’s one of the best wrestlers on the planet, but she’s also a bit fun-loving, which can cost her victories.

But after losing last week’s triple threat to earn a shot at the Raw Women’s Championship, Asuka appeared sullen Monday night. The announcers commented on how she wasn’t wearing face paint, wasn’t parading around the ring, and had been posting some “interesting” stuff on social media.

During her grudge match against Rhea Ripley, Asuka was more aggressive than she had been, but Dominik Mysterio provided the difference, getting involved a couple of times. This prompted the Empress to mist him, but that allowed Rhea to put Asuka away with a Riptide.

Afterward, Asuka sat on the mat sulking. Normally, that would be overlooked. But because the announcers actually spent a minute setting the scene, it opened the door to the possibility that she could be undergoing a character change, which would make perfect sense.

If a return to her Kana persona is in the cards, this could indeed be interesting for fans.