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WWE's "Show of Shows", WrestleMania 37, is fast approaching. RAW Women's Champion Asuka is yet to have a challenger for her title at WWE's biggest pay-per-view of the year.
In fact, Asuka hasn't had a credible title contender in months. The lackluster booking of the RAW women's division has affected the women's roster from the ground up. It has also reduced the prestige of the women's title on RAW.
Since her feud with Sasha Banks and Bayley last summer, Asuka's title reign has gradually declined in terms of quality. So when Charlotte returned to the company in December to partner with "The Empress of Tomorrow," fans assumed that the partnership would sour and lead to a feud between the former enemies. But that is yet to take place.
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There were reports that Asuka was going to lose the title to Lacey Evans at Elimination Chamber. But the latter star announced her pregnancy, and the angle was subsequently scrapped. Now it seems as though WWE will implement a tried-and-tested formula and have Charlotte challenge Asuka for the RAW Women's Championship at WrestleMania.
Charlotte is the obvious choice because she is currently the only choice. No one else has been made to look worthy of a title match at WrestleMania.
But the obvious choice is not always the best one as Charlotte and Asuka have fought many times in the past. Yes, the match will be great as both competitors have excellent chemistry and are fantastic performers, but it is a clash that feels uninspired at best.
WWE already has the talent to build new stars, fresh matches, and exciting storylines. This article will look at five WWE Superstars who should challenge at WrestleMania 37 instead of Charlotte Flair.
#5 Shayna Baszler should challenge Asuka for a match at WWE WrestleMania 37
Asuka has just returned from a possible concussion that she suffered at the hands of the "Queen of Spades", Shayna Baszler. During a tag team match, Baszler struck Asuka right in the mouth. The latter suffered a teeth injury in the process. The injury kept Asuka off WWE television for two weeks, and therein lies the storyline.
During the most recent episode of RAW, Asuka returned with a vengeance to attack and take out one-half of the Women's Tag Team Champions. Asuka brought back her intense attitude, which surprised many fans and critics alike.
The match between Asuka and Baszler on RAW was short. However, it allowed "The Empress of Tomorrow" to show-off her ferocious nature on WWE television. The match was hard-hitting and violent, which seemed like the perfect way to kick-start her transformation on the Road to WrestleMania 37.
If Asuka and Shayna Baszler are allowed to fight in their own styles and at their own pace at WrestleMania, then the WWE Universe would be in for a treat at the "Showcase of the Immortals."
#4 Io Shirai could head to the main roster to challenge Asuka at WWE WrestleMania 37
WWE should book Io Shirai to challenge Asuka at WrestleMania in an epic first-time title clash.
NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai will most likely put her title on the line against Raquel Gonzalez at NXT TakeOver: Stand and Deliver.
The "Genius of the Sky" has been a phenomenal champion on the Black and Gold brand. She has defeated all those who have stepped up to challenge her during her nine-month reign.
Gonzalez is on fire at the moment and is an obvious choice as the one to dethrone Shirai. If Shirai is indeed titleless by WrestleMania, then she should be Asuka's surprise opponent.
Asuka and Shirai have never faced-off in a singles match inside a WWE ring.
The RAW women's division is currently stagnant in terms of storylines, feuds, and star power, all of which Io Shirai would bring with her. This is precisely why she should challenge the "Empress of Tomorrow" at the "Show of Shows" next month.
#3 "Give me Asuka" - Peyton Royce vs. Asuka would be an unexpected clash at WWE WrestleMania 37
WWE Superstar Peyton Royce recently delivered a passionate promo on RAW Talk. During her speech, the star said she was far too talented to be overlooked and ended the promo by asking WWE to give her Asuka.
Judging by her promo, Royce wants a RAW Women's Championship match and thinks she is more than ready for Asuka. WWE has three weeks to build Royce into a credible contender for Asuka's title. If given a chance, Royce is quite capable of becoming the RAW Women's Champion.
Last year, Peyton Royce returned to WWE after a six-month absence with some excellent performances against Alexa Bliss, Sasha Banks, and Bayley. She even eliminated the "Role Model" at Survivor Series 2020. Royce has proved she can hang with the promotion's top talents in recent memory.
Pushing Peyton Royce into the RAW Women's Championship picture will bring a fresh face to the top title scene.
Moreover, the women's division desperately needs new contenders at the top of the card apart from Asuka and the Four Horsewomen (Bayley, Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, and Becky Lynch).
#2 Alexa Bliss has her reasons to challenge Asuka for the WWE RAW Women's Championship at WrestleMania 37
Alexa Bliss has been a strong focal point of WWE television ever since joining The Fiend. Her creepy and unnerving presence on RAW has affected Randy Orton for months. During this rivalry, Bliss and Asuka got involved in a mini-feud over the RAW Women's Championship.
Bliss defeated Asuka in a non-title match. They faced off for the title the following week, but the match ended in a disqualification when Orton delivered an RKO to Bliss. The rivalry with the "Empress of Tomorrow" deserved to be so much better, and there is a strong possibility that it could resume on the Road to WrestleMania.
WWE announced that Alexa Bliss is taking on Randy Orton in a one-on-one intergender match at Fastlane. This match could potentially end their feud as there is a solid chance that The Fiend will return, which means that Bliss can refocus on the women's division and go after Asuka.
Bliss is doing the best character work of her career, and the interactions with Asuka were fun and entertaining.
Alexa Bliss and The Fiend's onscreen personas force their opponents to look inward and reveal their true selves. This angle could be the perfect chance for Asuka to rediscover her killer instinct and thrive once more.
#1 Rhea Ripley should challenge Asuka at WWE WrestleMania 37
WWE's "Nightmare" Rhea Ripley is due to make her Monday Night RAW debut soon. Ripley has been advertised on WWE television for weeks but is yet to make her presence felt on the Red brand.
Ripley is a phenomenal talent and will most likely make a huge impact on RAW. Is there a better way for her to make an impact than to go straight after the top champion?
Asuka and Ripley make perfect opponents for each other for several reasons.
Firstly, their feud would revitalize and rejuvenate the RAW women's division, which has suffered as of late due to WWE's sloppy booking approach.
Secondly, their fighting styles would mesh greatly. Asuka's violent and pin-point offense mixed with Ripley's smashmouth style would provide an intense and thrilling match.
Thirdly, the "Nightmare" and the "Empress of Tomorrow" are yet to face each other in a one-on-one bout, and this first-time match at WrestleMania would be a clash for the ages.
Vince Russo answers who killed WCW HERE
