It has been tough to understand the plans for Asuka since her big win at Royal Rumble. Fans hoped WWE had finally turned a corner with her, but since it has felt like more of the same.
Recently on The Jim Ross Report, WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross gave his thought on the usage of the SmackDown Women’s Champion.
According to Ross, WWE has ‘mismanaged’ and ‘grossly under-utilized’ Asuka. Like many others, he believes the company started off on the wrong foot when Charlotte Flair broke ‘The Empress of Tomorrow’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania.
“It has been mismanagement [of Asuka],” Ross said. “I thought Asuka… the ball was dropped last year at WrestleMania after she lost her undefeated streak to Charlotte. They had a great match. Anybody that watches that match and tells me it wasn’t any good doesn’t know anything about wrestling. I think the ball was dropped there. It [has] been hard to get the momentum back going.” (transcript from Wrestling Inc.)
Ross went on to say there is room for another big star in the women’s division, and it should be Asuka.
“But man, as many people are tuning into the female elements of creative storytelling on RAW and SmackDown, for example, you’ve got to believe that there’s a place for another major star and I think Asuka’s it,” Ross declared. “I think she [has] been grossly under-utilized. Maybe that’ll change.”
WrestleMania is right around the corner and Asuka doesn’t even have an opponent yet. There’s still to build on a feud the next three, but it’s hard to be optimistic when she’s been an afterthought as champion.
What do you think? Drop a comment with your thought of Asuka’s reign as champion or who you would like to see her face at WrestleMania.
