Top 10 Matches of Asuka In WWE

#8 Asuka vs. Mickie James (NXT Takeover: Toronto)

Asuka holds Mickie James in an octopus stretch

In late 2016, Asuka was the undefeated NXT women's champion who felt starved for competition.

Having deposed Bayley and gone without a single loss in over a year, she was gradually transitioning from a humble newbie to an overconfident incumbent. Enter: Mickie James.

The former multi-time women's champion was hot off a successful run on the independent scene and decided to make a formal challenge via a cellphone video promo on NXT TV.

In the video, James played up her veteran credentials and insisted that NXT's GM William Regal call the United Nations because there would soon be an "international incident" at Takeover: Toronto.

Returning to a WWE ring for the first time in six years, James put on a good performance, keeping pace with Asuka and executing a number of impressive technical sequences.

The highlight of the match took place when Asuka knocked James to the outside with a hip attack.

James eventually managed to nail sitting head scissors off the apron onto the floor, before Asuka answered back with a brutal German suplex onto the same floor, which James sold well.

In the end, James tried multiple submission counters but couldn't avoid Asuka's tentacles and quickly tapped to the Asuka Lock once fully applied.