6 Ups And 7 Downs From WWE Elimination Chamber 2019

3. SmackDown Gripes

Since this writer doesn’t review SmackDown, this is a rare opportunity to vent about a couple things.

First up, the IIconics, who only seem to exist to make viewers hit the mute button. During their brief time in the Elimination Chamber match, they added nothing… except screeching at decibels that has pets raising their heads. They aren’t anything special in the ring and their act is just to scream and screech. It was aggravating after a couple minutes and their quick departure was welcomed. That isn’t a great way to get heel heat; it’s a great way to get “mute” heat.

Secondly, where the hell is Asuka? Everyone is (rightly) focused on Becky Lynch and her quest for a WrestleMania match against Ronda Rousey, but everyone is ignoring the person who defeated her and injured her knee in the first place, Asuka.

Since winning the SmackDown Women’s Championship match against Lynch at the Royal Rumble, Asuka has not been seen live on the blue brand (a video did air two weeks ago). She still doesn’t have an opponent for WrestleMania – although there still are seven weeks to go – and two of SmackDown’s top women have fled to Raw to challenge Rousey.

Seriously, what gives? Talk about being an afterthought. At least give her a squash match on the kickoff show against Lana or Zelina Vega or someone to remind fans that Asuka is a dominant wrestler.