Tonight, Asuka will have her hands full when she takes on Bayley and Sasha Banks in separate matches for the SmackDown and Raw Women’s Championships respectively.
This is truly an engaging concept going into the show. The ‘Empress of Tomorrow’ could leave SummerSlam with her old title, a new title, or both. Or even worse, she could walk out the biggest loser of the Summer…
Whatever way they go, we can all agree that Asuka didn’t hit her stride as Raw Women’s Champion before Sasha Banks snatched it away from her. She does deserve a title and the Golden Role-Models seem to be inching closer to their downfall as a duo. Hell, Asuka could even steal their Tag Team Titles if she finds a partner to face them at Payback next week. Their challengers are still unknown.
If Asuka is draped in gold again then she will have plenty of challengers willing to take her on for both brands’ titles. Here is a list of ‘Six Potential Opponents If Asuka Wins At SummerSlam’.
6. Shayna Baszler
Let’s get the obvious pick out of the way first…
Shayna Baszler has been slightly involved in Asuka’s feud with the Role-Models as she was Asuka’s tag partner on Raw. Baszler has stated multiple times that whoever walks away as the Women’s Champ of Raw, she’ll be waiting at the other end to rip them apart.
If Asuka knocks off Sasha Banks and regains the Raw strap then a feud with Baszler does seem like the perfect fit going into the next season. Baszler hasn’t had a title opportunity since her loss at WrestleMania earlier this year and a match with Asuka sounds incredible.
They can also hype up the rivalry by going in-depth on their parallel paths. They both dominated NXT in different eras. They both are the most threatening females on the roster. This match has to happen soon and it will be fantastic.
5. Lacey Evans
Lacey Evans seems to be the biggest sore-loser on the planet, turning heel because she didn’t win a fake karaoke contest…
Well, that means if she has a chance for the title it now has to be against a babyface. If Asuka beats Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, this may be a good feud for the two.
Evans was a big threat to Bayley during her short babyface run. There was even a time that Evans seemed like the one to take the title away from Bayley.
Therefore, Asuka going through Evans will convey that she is the fresh, dominant, top female on SmackDown.
4. Nikki Cross
Asuka beating Banks does seem like the most likely scenario. When does Banks ever retain a single’s title?! However, Asuka beating Bayley would be the better decision.
It offers up more thrilling and new encounters as Asuka would be transferred to the blue brand. One of those challengers would have to be Nikki Cross.
I stated during the ‘Six Potential Opponents If Bayley Wins At SummerSlam’ list that Cross is obsessed with the SmackDown Women’s Championship. She will go through anyone to reach the treasure. Even if that means turning Asuka into the “Empress of Yesterday”.
Cross and Asuka have proven in the past that they work very well together. She was part of Asuka’s superior winning streak back in the day, having the first Last Woman Standing match on NXT.
Therefore, having a match on a bigger stage would be an excellent option for an Asuka title defence.
3. Sonya Deville
Sonya Deville has been in the news lately as her home was broken into by an alleged stalker. Tonight at SummerSlam she faces Mandy Rose, who was with her at the time, in a loser leaves WWE match.
I can see Deville taking the loss here to end the feud between former-Absolution members. If Deville is out of WWE for some time, the landscape of SmackDown will certainly be different upon returning. Asuka could be on top of the division…
Sonya Deville has proven this year that she is a breakout star and definitely deserves a title opportunity – and title run in fact.
Deville vs Asuka could be just as good or even better as her feud with Rose, and with the title on the line, could be spectacular.
Also, Deville would be a remarkable option for winning the title from Asuka.
2. Bayley (for the Raw Women’s Championship)
This is technically a new opponent, right?
If Asuka wins the Raw Women’s Championship from Sasha Banks tonight, Bayley may want a chance herself to hold all the belts at the same time.
This would play a factor in her descension from the Role-Models. She has gotten too greedy; wanting all the gold to herself and not sharing with her best friend, Sasha Banks.
This would then allow the story to boil longer as WWE keeps teasing the betrayal but never executing it. It has to happen by surprise and they have been hinting it for weeks.
Even this past Friday on SmackDown having Bayley lose a ‘Beat the Clock Challenge’ against Banks. Which means that her match tonight is before Asuka vs Banks.
1. Sasha Banks (for the SmackDown Women’s Championship)
If we are guessing one has to happen, we also should include the other.
Asuka may win the SmackDown Women’s Championship from Bayley for Banks to decide she has had enough being second to her best friend. She wants the SmackDown Women’s Title and she isn’t letting the former champ get in the way.
Banks vs Asuka is going to be a great match and I wouldn’t mind seeing it twice.
Whatever option they go for, it is likely that it will lead to the turmoil between Bayley and Sasha Banks.
It is unclear what Asuka will be doing at the end of this but there is certainly only a matter of time before we get to see Bayley vs Sasha Banks play out on a WWE show.
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