Predicting The Future Of 10 NXT Stars

5. Asuka

It would be a blast to see Asuka jump to Raw and battle Charlotte or Sasha Banks in some pay-per-view matches in the near future, but right now SmackDown could use her talent more.

Alexa Bliss needs some babyfaces to work with, and Asuka is a favorite of the Full Sail University crowd. She has years of experience, and is respected by wrestlers and fans across the globe. She would make a great opponent for SmackDown's heels, and could eventually turn heel herself to battle the likes of Becky Lynch and Naomi.

However, it’s kind of hard to predict how her WWE career will play out. As noted, no Japanese wrestler has succeeded as a top star in the promotion, largely due to Vince having no idea how to present them. We saw acts like Tajiri and Kenzo Suzuki reduced to comedy fodder, while others like Ultimo Dragon get ignored completely. Times have changed, though, and with Hunter’s growing influence you could see her getting a better shot. In a sign of encouragement, right now Akira Tozawa is doing surprisingly well for himself on Raw.

If she emerges on SmackDown, it’s likely she’ll capture the Women’s Title within her first year on the brand (or even her first night if she's booked for a surprise debut). Still, it’s hard to picture Vince pushing her more aggressively than Becky Lynch or Alexa in the long run.

Official prediction: She’ll succeed due to her talent, but won’t have either division built around her. Expect to see her arrive within six months.