Asuka returned on SmackDown Live this week, coming to the ring to help Naomi fend off Billie Kay and Peyton Royce.
Asuka made an impression in WWE unlike any woman that has come before her. The Empress Of Tomorrow started her WWE journey in NXT, winning the brand's Women's Championship and going undefeated for the more than two years that she wrestled at Full Sail. That streak continued on the main roster, all the way up until her match with Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34.
Asuka's arrival on the main roster didn't immediately come along with a downgrade. As mentioned, she continued to be undefeated for a number of months, plus won the first-ever women's Royal Rumble match back in January of this year. It was after her first defeat that her stock began to dwindle, and before this week we hadn't seen Asuka for well over a month.
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In fact, the last time The Empress competed in a WWE ring was on July 24, 2018, when she defeated Billie Kay. The Japanese Superstar is back now though and is once again going after Kay. That's because the Aussie and her Iiconic buddy Peyton Royce were beating down a helpless Naomi, and clearly, Asuka thought the former Women's Champion could use a friend.
Naomi had defeated Royce only to be punished for it right after, but as soon as Asuka's music started to play, The Iiconics knew they had made a mistake. The Empress ran to the ring and used her experienced and lethal feet to dispatch of both Naomi's attackers. Naomi has needed someone watching her back for the last few weeks due to her friends Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair being wrapped up in their own stuff, and now she finally has exactly that.
Not only is Asuka back, but she has a pretty busy schedule coming up. WWE announced during this week's SmackDown Live that the Mixed Match Challenge returns later this month. The Empress will once again be teaming with The Miz for the tournament who she won it with last time around. Plus, at Super Show-Down, Asuka will team with Naomi to take on The Iiconics in what will be Royce and Kay's home country.
