4 reasons Asuka won the SmackDown Women's Championship at WWE TLC

Asuka won the SmackDown Women's Title at TLC.
Asuka won the SmackDown Women's Title at TLC.

The reign of The Man is over.

After 91 incredible days, which have seen her career be re-defined, Becky Lynch lost the SmackDown Women's Championship to Asuka, in a TLC match also featuring Charlotte Flair.

Rightly placed into the main event spot, the match was incredible to see, with all three women proving themselves as some of the top Superstars on Team Blue.

But Lynch's reign has made her arguably the most popular WWE Superstar, arguably up there with Daniel Bryan in 2014.

Therefore, the decision to take the title off of her has left many fans scratching their heads, and now wonder what the future holds for the LassKicker, the Queen, and the Empress.

Here are just four reasons WWE decided to end Lynch's reign and had Asuka become the SmackDown Women's Champion at TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs.

#4 Asuka is still a beast

Asuka won the NXT Women's Championship in 2016, holding it for over 500 days.
Asuka won the NXT Women's Championship in 2016, holding it for over 500 days.

In NXT, Asuka was the brand's most dominant Superstar, never pinner, nor submitted, and only vacated the developmental brand's Women's Championship after beating everyone they had.

But ever since she joined the main roster in 2017, Asuka's star has dropped dramatically, and whilst she won the first women's Royal Rumble, her streak was broken at WrestleMania 34, and she failed to capture the title from Carmella in the proceeding months.

Her huge title win at TLC is clearly showing that the Empress, for all her shortcomings this year, is still as good as she once was, able to take it to the more established Superstars she defeated in triple threat action.

Now on top once again, the Japanese sensation is hoping to reassert herself as the unstoppable force of the WWE, once again.

#3 Move the title away from Becky and Charlotte

Lynch plots her betrayal, after losing out to Flair in a Women's Title match at Summerslam.
Lynch plots her betrayal, after losing out to Flair in a Women's Title match at Summerslam.

When Becky Lynch turned heel at Summerslam, she did so on her friend Charlotte Flair, who had just won the title moments ago.

At WWE Super Show-Down, the pair waged an epic war, and did the same at Hell In A Cell, as well as on SmackDown each week.

Whilst their feud has been entertaining, it has felt like the title itself has become an afterthought, with the bad blood between the two overshadowing the most coveted prize in the SmackDown Women's division.

If the WWE wish to continue their feud, that's fine, but the title has rightly been moved away from the pair, allowing Asuka a whole new lease on her career.

It will be interesting to see where these three women go from here.

#2 Rousey Vs. Lynch for WrestleMania

Rousey and Lynch were meant to face at Survivor Series, but now may main event WrestleMania.
Rousey and Lynch were meant to face at Survivor Series, but now may main event WrestleMania.

Asuka may have become SmackDown Live Women's Champion at TLC, but that win comes with an assist from the reigning RAW Women's Champion.

'Rowdy' Ronda Rousey, who had earlier that night defeated Nia Jax to retain the gold, interfered, attacking Flair, who decimated the Hot Rod at Survivor Series, as well as her original opponent, Becky Lynch.

Lynch and Rousey have gone back and forth on Twitter, with the rumor being that these two will face off at WrestleMania.

Further rumors have also speculated that this match would main event the showcase of the immortals, the first women's match to do so in the show's 35-year history.

It's clear that this match would be a huge draw, and judging by the TLC crowd, the company would be foolish not to.

#1 Asuka heel turn?

Asuka as Kana could be a great heel in WWE.
Asuka as Kana could be a great heel in WWE.

When the dust cleared, it was Asuka who stood tall, after punishing both Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch.

But with the interference of Ronda Rousey, as well as how eager Asuka was to capitalize on said interference, many have speculated about a heel turn for the Japanese sensation.

Whilst she has never been a heel in WWE, fans of hers will know about her villainous time in Japan, where she became a truly hated star.

In addition, SmackDown Live is really missing a top singles heel from their women's roster, as Becky's turn at Summerslam has made her more loved than ever, Flair is still popular with the crowd, and Carmella is riding as a face with R-Truth.

A heel Asuka could certainly change things on the blue brand if the company is willing to pull the trigger.