Mickie James Replaced Trish Status For Asuka NXT Feud
The key is getting Ember Moon over.
While Asuka vs. Mickie James at NXT TakeOver: Toronto is certainly an intriguing match up, the original plan was for Asuka to battle Trish Stratus in her home country.
With Trish currently pregnant with her second child, that didn't really seem like a very good idea to run with.
The idea was that since Trish would likely get an incredible reaction from the fans, that it would put a lot of heat on Asuka for her heel run. Mickie James was the backup plan, which is a solid move, but does leave some wondering why an NXT talent wasn't chosen for that role instead.
The thinking is that if Asuka faced off against a legend, she would have more heat on her for when she has her inevitable showdown with Ember Moon.
This seems like a solid plan. James vs. Asuka is a dream match, and Ember Moon isn't quite over at the level that former NXT women like Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Bayley were in their roles. With the division so depleted right now, it's best not rush into it, and hold off on their feud until it actually means something.