5 things WWE RAW got right this week - Bobby Lashley issues a challenge, Rhea Ripley arrives

#3 Asuka found a different challenger for WrestleMania on WWE RAW

Despite an incredibly impressive showing by @PeytonRoyceWWE, #WWERaw Women's Champion @WWEAsuka gets the win! pic.twitter.com/cgbBlHVUkY

— WWE (@WWE) March 23, 2021

Peyton Royce has been very vocal about deserving a shot at the WWE RAW Women’s Championship in recent weeks. The Australian Superstar got a chance to prove herself against the RAW Women’s Champion, Asuka.

Royce put up a good fight against The Empress and kept her on the backfoot for extended periods.

Asuka gained back the momentum late in the match with a kick to the head followed by a German Suplex. She tried to lock in the Asuka Lock, but Royce countered it into a near-fall. Royce kept trying her best to stay in the match but finally tapped out to the Asuka Lock.

After the match, Rhea Ripley’s music hit, and The Nightmare came out to confront the RAW Women’s Champion. Ripley challenged Asuka to a title match at WrestleMania right away. The Empress replied, "You are not ready for Asuka," before officially accepting the challenge.

This helped set up one of the most interesting matches for The Show of Shows. The RAW Women’s Championship scene had been bland for too long, and it seemed like Charlotte Flair would eventually challenge Asuka for the title.

However, bringing Ripley into the mix at the right time was the right decision. The WWE Universe is no stranger to The Nightmare, who has proven her worth both inside and outside NXT over the past year or so.