In August 2015, Kana appeared for the first time in WWE when they showed her in the crowd during NXT Takeover Brooklyn. A couple of weeks later, it was formally announced that she had signed with the company, making her the first joshi wrestler in WWE since Bull Nakano, 21 years prior. More than a decade later, she has won almost anything there is to win: multiple world and tag team championships, Money in the Bank, Royal Rumble, and with all that, she’s had a bunch of great performances inside the ring.
So, to celebrate her WWE career (so far), here’s my top 10 best Asuka WWE matches.
Honorable Mention
The 2018 Women’s Royal Rumble match (January 28, 2018)
When the first ever women’s Royal Rumble match was announced, expectations were high, especially with all the female Superstars on the roster at the time, and among them was the feared Asuka, with a then undefeated streak, so for her, it wasn’t only about winning that WrestleMania title shot, but also preserving her winning record.
Entering at number 25, she outlasted everyone still in the match and won the whole thing by last eliminating Nikki Bella, and secured a championship match at the Biggest Stage of Them All, and making history as the first woman to win a Royal Rumble match.
10. Asuka vs. Sasha Banks, RAW (January 29th, 2018)
The key to make a TV match stand out is not only it being good, but it also should feel important, the result should matter, at least for bragging rights or to get momentum ahead of a big PPV match.
Just 24 hours removed from her historic win at Royal Rumble, Asuka had another tough test ahead of her in the form of Sasha Banks, the woman who entered at no. 1 in the Rumble, lasting almost an hour in the match.
The women showed not only great chemistry with each other, but they also used their charisma and skills to elevate the match, making the most of the 15 minutes they were given. The turning point of the match was that horrific fall Sasha suffered when Asuka countered a suicide dive with a roundhouse kick, and still, The Boss made her opponent struggle in the final stretch, but the joshi finally locked in the Asuka Lock to make Banks tap, continuing her winning streak.
9. Asuka vs. Bayley, NXT Takeover Dallas (April 1st, 2016)
The same night Asuka appeared on WWE TV for the first time, Bayley and Sasha Banks had a wrestling match for the ages, where The Hugger defeated The Boss to win the NXT Women’s title in a great feel-good moment. By the time Takeover Dallas came around, Asuka had already demolished the entire NXT women’s division, so it was only natural for her to go for Bayley’s championship.
Once they met in the ring, almost everyone had Asuka as the favorite, and Bayley knew it, but if there is one thing the champion is good at, is going against the odds. Fortunately, the match wasn’t the squash some people believed it would be, with both competitors giving everything they had. However, once the Asuka Lock was locked in, Bayley refused to give up and passed out instead, giving the challenger the victory.
Asuka won her first title in the company that night, starting a reign that is still remembered to this day.
8. Asuka vs. Ember Moon, NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III (August 19th, 2017)
After their first encounter ended in shady circumstances, Asuka and Ember Moon had their rematch at the third edition of NXT Takeover, and what a rematch it was.
With more determination than ever before, Moon did everything in her power to fight the Empress of Tomorrow, pushing the champion to the limit, with one particular superkick making everyone believe not only Asuka’s reign was over, but also her winning streak. Once again, Asuka’s trademark submission move appeared and there was no escape for Ember, who had no choice but to tap out.
What no one expected was that this ended up being Asuka’s last match as champion since she would relinquish the title due to an injury and would go on to the main roster a few months later.
7. Asuka vs. Nikki Cross 2017, NXT (June 28th, 2017)
Speaking of firsts, during her epic title reign, Asuka and Nikki Cross participated in the first-ever Last Woman Standing match in WWE.
Nikki’s unpredictability and Asuka’s fame as a cold-blooded killer made this stipulation all the more fitting for their feud, elevating not only the wrestler themselves, but also the title belt. Using trash cans, chairs, and even a ladder, both women felt no mercy for each other, willing to risk it all for the NXT Women’s Championship. In the climax of the match, Asuka and Nikki climbed a ladder near the commentary table, when the champion did the unthinkable and superplexed her opponent through said table, laying her out for the 10-count, adding another successful defense to her reign.
6. Asuka vs. Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair, Hell in a Cell (June 5th, 2022)
During a period where I expected nothing from WWE (and they often delivered nothing), this was an exceptional match.
After Bianca captured the Raw women’s title from Becky Lynch at WrestleMania 38 (another great match), The Man would continue to feud with The EST, but now Asuka would be thrown into the mix, and a Triple Threat was set for Hell in a Cell. There’s always something with this kind of matches where two wrestlers who are feuding fight a third one and things just click. Bianca and Becky just hated each other, while Asuka just tried to take advantage. Everyone gave everything they had and more for almost 20 minutes. In the end, Bianca bested her more experienced opponents, pinning Asuka to retain the title.
5. Asuka vs. Iyo SKY, Backlash (May 9th, 2026)
“Now we’re both alone” *sobbing*
After criminally being left out of the WrestleMania 42 card, Iyo SKY finally faced Asuka one-on-one after months of tension between them. With Rhea Ripley drafted to SmackDown and Kairi Sane out of the WWE (damn you TKO!), this moment was only about The Genius of the Sky and The Empress of Tomorrow creating magic in the ring. It certainly felt like they were free to have the match they wanted to have, and they didn’t hold back, throwing everything in their arsenal. Iyo even blocked Asuka’s mist and capitalized by hitting a big moonsault to pick up the win. After the bell rang, they embraced each other in a heartfelt moment.
Well, it this is it for Asuka, I think it was one hell of a ride.
4. Asuka vs. Emma, NXT Takeover London (December 16th, 2015)
This was truly Asuka’s first great match in WWE.
In just her second match in the company, Asuka had her Takeover debut against Emma, a wrestler that was more than capable to have a good match, but once she faced the Japanese sensation, she had to bring her A game. The rowdy British crowd was hot for this encounter and both women delivered big time, especially since it was the first real opportunity for Asuka to show what she is made of. Very few people expected a match not featuring one of the Four Horsewomen to be this good. A well-connected spinning back kick was enough to give Asuka the victory and make a huge statement.
3. Asuka vs. Becky Lynch, (January 27th, 2019)
On the road to the Royal Rumble PPV, most of the fanfare goes to both Battle Royal matches with a title shot at WrestleMania on the line. However, from time to time, the big January event features other interesting or even great encounters.
For her second Smackdown women’s title defense, Asuka had a big challenge before her, the ultra-popular Becky Lynch, who was having the run of her life at the time as The Man; that, of course, didn’t matter to the champion, who just did what she had to do, and that is being an unstoppable force inside the ring. Becky didn’t hold back either, having a response for almost everything Asuka threw at her, except for that final modified Asuka Lock, which granted the Empress of Tomorrow the victory.
A shocking way to get the win put over Asuka big time.
2. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair, Wrestlemania 34, (April 8th, 2018)
This is a really personal match for me. On the one hand, Asuka had her winning streak of two and a half years, winner of the first ever Women’s Royal Rumble match, a momentum of a lifetime. On the other hand, Charlotte is my favorite non-Japanese female wrestler of all time, a wrestler made to carry a world championship. This was a match made in heaven for me.
More than just the action during the fight (which was great), the unpredictably of the bout had me on the edge of my seat. I genuinely could see Asuka with the SmackDown Women’s Championship around her waist by the end of the night, but if there was someone who was credibly enough to beat her, it was Charlotte Flair. The champion retained her championship by making the challenger submit to the Figure 8 Leg Lock in a moment that shocked me and many others.
More than Asuka losing, what really bothered me was that she was all happy stating that Charlotte was ready for her, like her streak ending didn’t matter. However, that didn’t take away my enjoyment of the match.
1. Asuka vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair, TLC (December 16th, 2018)
I love this match so much.
To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from this. I didn’t particularly like the two previous women’s Money in the Bank ladder matches that had had happened at the time, but having seen what Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair did with weapons in their Last Woman Standing match at Evolution, I had a glimmer of hope.
The champion, Becky, defended her SmackDown women’s title against The Queen and Asuka in a TLC match at the namesake PPV, the first of its kind for women. They all worked excellently with everyone and the weapons they were given, highlighted by the big leg drop from The Man on Charlotte on the announced table, and Asuka being speared through the barricade.
At one point, both of Asuka’s opponents were at the top of a giant ladder fighting for the hanging belt, but The Empress of Tomorrow was the one who ultimately grabbed the title, winning her first of many championships on the main roster.
RESURA 