Why WWE Have Already Killed Asuka

At time of writing, it has been 10 months since Asuka debuted on the main roster, and 24 hours since she lost her third consecutive pay-per-view match to a Women's Champion 50 times more gimmick than work-rate. It tipped her 2018 results seesaw towards banter away from content - she's now lost more on Sundays than she's won in the calendar year she was supposed to become the breakout doyen of the division.

This is not to suggest these maddening and saddening statistics weren't expected when she first received the call-up. 'The Empress Of Tomorrow' bid farewell to her NXT career and Women's Championship in fashion even more glorious than most could have predicted for her. Her incredible stewardship of the Women's Title (itself arguably the most valued championship in the entire organisation) was tough to book a conclusion for, so Triple H instead simply elected not to. After defeating Ember Moon at SummerSlam weekend's TakeOver: Brooklyn III in August, a kayfabe injury was enough to gently remove the title from her shoulder and build her bridge to the main roster.

The future was ostensibly as bright as the palette used on her ever-changing mane, with a standing ovation from her peers and superiors the least she deserved for nearly two full years anchoring an at-times exceptional women's division with equal parts grace and fury. As she stood atop the ringpost pointing at the WrestleMania sign just a few short months later, many of those developmental peers that wished her well on her way presumably felt optimistic for their own prospects on the 'Grandest Stage' if they too could light up Full Sail's comparatively minuscule one.

They were unsuspecting fools for having such faith. It was the beginning of the end.

CONT'D