WWE TLC 2017: Assessing The Potential Of All 7 Matches
5. Asuka Vs. Emma
Heed the lessons of Charlotte Vs. Natalya, and Dolph Ziggler Vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, before raising hopes.
Asuka and Emma contested a blinder at NXT TakeOver: London. The storyline dominance and unreal intensity of the former contrasted with the underrated athleticism and vicious heel game of the latter to create a belter of a hot opener. The two women share an awesome chemistry. Unfortunately, having been promoted from the consistently brilliant NXT environment, they now share an inconsistent creative regime.
The match exists to complete one simple (on the surface) objective: depict Asuka as a threat to the wider audience. Unfortunately, the yellow brand handles shades of grey far better than its bigger, redder, bluer brothers. The application of such broad strokes threatens the already-delivered promise of the pairing; pessimistically, a statement sudden squash win is as realistic as the Empress getting fully Nakamura'd - i.e. cast as an underdog at depressing odds with the potency of her unique character.
That's a nihilistic prediction, but WWE often invites nihilism. However: given the optimism generated through a very good go-home show, and the lengths WWE have gone to cast Asuka as an ideal opponent (and her sheer brilliance), it's difficult not to raise those hopes.
Maximum Star Rating Ceiling: ****