5 matches where Asuka was pushed to her limits

#4 First-ever Women's Royal Rumble (2018)

Asuka won the inaugural Women's Royal Rumble match

2018 was a massive year for the women of WWE, kicking off with the women finally getting their very own Royal Rumble match. A pivotal moment of the women's revolution, 30 WWE women's Superstars took part in this historic main event. The Royal Rumble started with the entrance of half of the Four Horsewomen, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch. This event also saw the return of many female WWE legends, including Lita, Trish Stratus, Molly Holly, and Jacqueline.

As the women battled on, we were treated to so many iconic moments, including Lita hitting both Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks with her signature Moonsault, as well as Naomi managing to avoid elimination by jumping on the barricade and using an announcer's chair to work her way back into the ring. A record was also set by returning Michelle McCool, who eliminated a total of five women (Sonya Deville, Liv Morgan, Molly Holly, Lana, and Vickie Guerrero), which was beaten in 2020 by Bianca Belair and Shayna Baszler.

Asuka entered at number 25, a favorable spot. She jumped straight into the action, facing off against her NXT rival Ember Moon, who hit Asuka with a show-stopping one-armed eclipse. However, Asuka got one back quickly by eliminating her. Asuka then teamed up with her fellow competitors to throw Nia Jax over the top rope, and by the time the match boiled down to the final three, it was Asuka against the returning Bella twins.

Asuka fought hard to avoid elimination at the hands of Brie and Nikki Bella, and mockingly used Yes kicks against them both. In a shock move, Nikki then eliminated her sister, leaving Asuka and her as the final two contenders in the first-ever match of its kind. After a short face-off between the pair, Asuka was able to kick Nikki off the ring apron and onto the floor, to earn her place in history as the first-ever winner of the Women's Royal Rumble.

After Asuka's victory, there was one more surprise in store. At the time, rumors had been rife that Ronda Rousey was now a member of the WWE roster. When Asuka confronted champions Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair, the opening riff to Joan Jett's Bad Reputation played, and out stepped Ronda herself to make her intentions known, squaring up to all three women and pointing to the WrestleMania sign.