Charlotte Flair Ends Asuka's Undefeated Streak At WrestleMania 34
'The Empress' is dead, long live 'The Queen.'
The greatest undefeated streak in modern wrestling history is over.
Two years, six months, two days, and 276 matches. That's how long Asuka had gone without being pinned or submitted before Charlotte Flair forced her to tap out in a 13-minute WWE SmackDown Women's Championship match at WrestleMania 34.
It was an outcome few could've predicted, as 'The Empress Of Tomorrow' was a heavy betting favourite prior to the event. After winning the first Women's Royal Rumble in January, Asuka looked certain to continue her dominance by overcoming WWE's most decorated female wrestler, but it wasn't to be.
While the outcome will stir controversy (and understandably so), the match preceding it lived up to expectations. Still, even when Charlotte pulled off a stunning top rope Spanish Fly towards the end, it felt like she was heading to an inevitable defeat.
The audience were stunned when the former NXT Champion eventually submitted to the Figure Eight, then congratulated her opponent afterwards, acknowledging that Charlotte "was ready for Asuka."
A bold booking decision, it'll be picked apart, dissected, and examined in great detail over the coming days. For now, however, 'The Empress' has fallen, and 'The Queen's' reign continues.