Fallen Empress: 5 things Asuka must do to get back on top

In one of the bigger shocks from Wrestlemania 34, nigh-unstoppable Asuka was given her first defeat at the hands of Charlotte Flair.

While it was obvious Asuka would eventually be beaten--no one retires undefeated in pro wrestling--no one expected her first loss to be so soon after joining the main roster.

While it is a setback for Asuka to lose on the grandest stage of them all, she put on a stellar performance and made a mark as not only the best women's match on the card but quite possibly the best match of Wrestlemania weekend.

So where does Asuka go from here? Here are five things she must do to get back on top of the women's division.

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#5 Keep calm and carry on

Asuka unleashes one of her trademark kicks.

The first thing Asuka must do is accept her loss and move on from it.

Asuka has tasted defeat before in Japan and didn't let that slow her down. With her near two years of brutal dominance under her belt, Asuka has nothing to be ashamed of and plenty of which she can be proud.

One loss doesn't mean the death knell for her career. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you learn.

#4 Use more than just strikes

Asuka executes a German Suplex on her hapless victim

Asuka is one of the best strikers in pro wrestling, male or female. That is not up for dispute.

However, she may be a victim of her own success. She's so good at strikes that she seems to forget many of the more technical holds she utilized so effectively in other promotions. Charlotte beat Asuka because her gameplan was more varied.

Now that Asuka is on the main roster, the competition is tougher than ever before and she needs to diversify her strategies instead of putting all her eggs in one basket.

#3 Utilize her submission skills.

Asuka attempts to submit two foes at once.

Asuka's first loss came by way of submission.

Asuka's fastest victory came over Dana Brooke by way of submission.

Submission moves are quite prevalent in women's wrestling, due to the women's greater flexibility making them capable of more complex wrestling holds. If Asuka can take advantage of her athleticism and put the stretch on her foes, she will not only be one of the most successful wrestlers, she will also be one of the most feared.

#2 Unleash the dark side

As Kana, Asuka terrified her foes.

One thing missing from Asuka's playbook in the WWE is her psychological warfare.

As Kana, she was willing to use her appearance and creepy mannerisms to throw opponents off their game plan. Appearing very much as a Yokoi--traditional Japanese demon--she struck fear into her foes, thus making them vulnerable and mistake-prone.

We would love to see Asuka unleash this sinister side on the women's division in the WWE.

#1 Avenge her loss

Asuka shows good sportsmanship.

While a loss to someone as skilled as Charlotte brings no shame, Asuka still must defeat Flair if she is to put herself back on top of women's wrestling.

Defeating Charlotte in a rematch will prove that she still has what it takes to compete at the highest level and succeed. Plus, as a bonus for wrestling fans, a rematch promises to be even better than the first bout, which was stellar.

There you have it; five things Asuka must do to re-establish dominance.

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