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If you read my 'best and worst' columns you know how routinely I complain about the booking of the SmackDown Women's Championship. On the one hand, you have the women from RAW potentially main eventing WrestleMania. On the other hand, there are no opponents for Asuka on SmackDown Live. This discrepancy has bothered me for a long time.
It's like WWE put the title on Asuka and then, forgot all about her. Without Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch involved in the chase, the whole division seems lacklustre. Until this week that is, when Mandy Rose stepped up to the plate.
And then, all of a sudden, she managed to pin the SmackDown Women's Champion as well, owing to a distraction from Lacey Evans. Why was this strange booking decision taken, one wonders.
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I shall attempt to answer the question in the following pages of this article.
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#5 One of two credible heel challengers on SmackDown
Let's assume for this time that Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch do not qualify for this argument as they are involved in the RAW Women's Championship picture. Lana is not the best in-ring worker and having her face Asuka on pay-per-view is not an exciting prospect, really. The IIconics are also a tag team and not singles superstars.
And that just leaves us with Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville as potential contenders for Asuka. WWE possibly wants to build the two of them as strong singles contenders in the absence of Flair and Lynch to spruce up the women's division on SmackDown Live. I'm sure that Sonya Deville will get her opportunity soon.
Naomi and Carmella are both currently away from the spotlight because of things that have happened in their personal lives. Moreover, they're both babyfaces and because of the number of heels in the roster, it makes sense for them to remain so.
#4 Mandy Rose's look and presence
Mandy Rose is absolutely gorgeous. There's no other way to put it, really. Mandy Rose has a look and a presence that would have worked in any era in WWE history.
And she's not averse to participating in Attitude Era style segments either that actually do big numbers on social media. She has been working her way up the ranks and it was only a matter of time before she got her shot at Asuka. One has to be blind to look at Mandy Rose and not think that she'd be a favourite for WWE officials.
I am almost certain that Mandy Rose will be a Champion very soon indeed, on either RAW or SmackDown Live. I wouldn't even be surprised if WWE decides to switch it up when the two women collide next, presumably at WWE Fastlane.
Do you think she's Champion material yet?
#3 Asuka's limitations as the Champion
I will never dispute the fact that Asuka is absolutely incredible between the ropes. But that's not all a Champion is expected to do, and if you look at some of the greatest ever, like Hulk Hogan or the Ultimate Warrior, they weren't great workers.
In my honest opinion, Asuka's limitations on the microphone often prove to be a detriment with regard to her push in the main roster. This is probably why her undefeated streak came to an end after her classic match with Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34.
I do not understand why she is not aligned with a mouthpiece, like Lashley has or the AoP has, on RAW. I suppose they believe that managers are only good when they're accompanying heels and are a waste with regard to babyfaces.
I wouldn't be surprised if Asuka is a transitional champion, who loses the belt very soon indeed.
#2 Sasha and Bayley may be focussed on RAW for now
We recently saw Sasha Banks and Bayley become the first ever WWE Women's Tag Team Champions at Elimination Chamber. And the next night on RAW, they came out to cut an emotional promo.
Their party was cut short when Nia Jax and Tamina made their way out to ringside and let their intentions be known to one and all.
Ideally, I'd have said that Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville would be idea challengers for Sasha Banks and Bayley. But the fact of the matter is that the Champions are occupied, and Asuka needs a challenger far more than Sasha and Bayley need another team to contend with, right now.
I'd love to see Deville and Rose challenge for the Tag Team titles someday. I feel like that will be a good feud.
#1 Could Lacey Evans become involved in this feud?
Now we've seen Lacey Evans gallivant up and down the ramp on several occasions already. The Lady of NXT comes out to survey the action and when she's seen what's underway, she makes a hasty retreat. It was the distraction from her that allowed Mandy Rose to defeat Asuka. And this makes me believe that she may get involved in this feud too.
Maybe Mandy Rose and Asuka face off at Fastlane and Evans and Asuka have a WrestleMania 35 match? Evans also has a fantastic look, and WWE certainly has big plans for her, as the rumours indicate. I have a feeling that Mandy Rose may only be a part of the short term plans for now.
Of course, this is the optimistic viewpoint from me. Perhaps WWE just doesn't know what to do with Asuka anymore.
Could Asuka become a victim of bad booking like Nakamura's title reign?
