From the WWE Rumor Mill: Backstage details on when WWE decided to end Asuka's undefeated streak at WrestleMania
What’s the story?
During the very recent edition of Backstage In WWE podcast, Brad Shepard interestingly enough revealed some insight details regarding Asuka’s undefeated streak in WWE coming to an abrupt end at WrestleMania 34.
In case you didn’t know…
At WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans last weekend, 'The Queen' Charlotte Flair, defended her SmackDown Live Women’s Championship against 'The Empress of Tomorrow' Asuka, in what was her WrestleMania debut.
After a hard fought back-and-forth match between the two competitors, Charlotte Flair eventually locked in the 'Figure 8' submission lock and pulled-off the unthinkable when 'The Queen' made Asuka tap out for the very first time in WWE, marking the former NXT Women’s Champion’s first loss in a WWE ring.
The heart of the matter
As noted, Brad Shepard recently discussed on the 'Backstage In WWE' podcast, regarding WWE making the shocking decision of ending Asuka’s undefeated streak in the company, this past Sunday in New Orleans at WrestleMania 34.
According to Shepard, he claimed that, very interestingly enough the initial plan was to apparently have Asuka go over Charlotte Flair at ‘Mania 34, which would’ve been followed up by a cash-in from Carmella.
However, Carmella was seemingly going to lose and the big match that the WWE was looking to build was Asuka vs Ronda Rousey. (H/T: Ringside News)
“Now you may have heard me promote personally the biggest match they could do is Ronda Rousey vs Charlotte and they finally came around to that opinion at some point in the past few weeks.”- Shepard noted.
In addition, Shepard also stated that WWE evidently decided to make a change of plans around the time when Asuka stopped using the 'Armbar' submission. This was the point when Vince McMahon and co. decided that Charlotte Flair would eventually go over against Asuka and end her streak at WrestleMania 34.
“I don’t know exactly when but it was around the time Asuka stopped using the armbar that they made the decision that Charlotte was going to go over and end the streak and be the person and Vince lost faith in Asuka as that top woman to face Ronda Rousey. So that’s essentially what happened.”- Shepard added.
What’s next?
This past Tuesday on SmackDown Live, Charlotte Flair lost her Smackdown Live Women’s Title to Carmella, and it now looks like we will see the beginning of a rivalry between 'The Queen' and 'The Princess of Staten Island'.
Author’s Take
Personally, I feel WWE should have moved on with Asuka’s undefeated streak and eventually let her defeat 'The Queen' at WrestleMania and cement her legacy in the company. However, let us hope that WWE still keeps their faith in Asuka.