8 booking steps toward Paige vs. Asuka at WrestleMania 34

Last week, we saw the seeds potentially being planted for a Paige vs. Asuka showdown at WrestleMania on April 8th, 2018, and I argued it would be the best possible match for the RAW women's division. This week, we again saw multiple hints that it was the direction WWE could be heading in:

1. In the vignette that aired prior to Paige's return match and showcasing Absolution's destruction, Asuka's nickname was cut out from the replay of Mandy's short promo in praise of her leader.
2. During the match itself, Michael Cole beat us over the head that Paige was a threat to Alexa Bliss and her championship.
3. Another standoff between Asuka and Paige occurred, with Absolution's leader waving the Empress of Tomorrow off, choosing to focus on Alicia Fox instead.

The message was clear - Asuka is the one woman on RAW that Absolution doesn't want to attack, at least for now, and with Nia Jax seemingly (and oddly) sent into the alternate universe known as 205 Live, it appears that this pattern will hold.

It's still extremely early on the Road to WrestleMania, but thus far, all evidence seems to be pointing to a showdown between the two former NXT Women's Champions. More importantly, there is thus far nothing to disconfirm that this is the plan, with plenty around to disconfirm other scenarios. This is important because of how big a role confirmation bias plays in how we think and make decisions.

Part prediction, part fantasy, here are 8 realistic booking steps WWE can use to tell the story of the war for the RAW women's division, from the maneuvers of the combatants to the decisive battle in New Orleans. Look for these or variations on them in the coming weeks and months.

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Step 1: The ram-Paige continues

Absolution brings destruction.

With some more time to kill before the end of the year, Absolution should (and will) continue its path of destruction. Logically, Paige, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville will defeat Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Mickie James in a six-way tag team match soon. Not only should Absolution defeat the RAW stalwarts, they should destroy them in the most brutal attack seen so far, with the appropriate weapons, taking a page out of the Riott Squad or even Braun Strowman's playbook.

The women backstage aren't safe either. Dana Brooke and Alicia Fox get beatings, and Alexa Bliss is put on notice.

After a week or two of this, Paige demands a championship opportunity, telling General Manager Kurt Angle that if she doesn't get one, his women's roster will continue to be laid waste. Although he could fire the renegades, this is where authority figures in wrestling usually give in to the pressure. The match is on.

Step 2: The Goddess gets a lump of coal

The greatest threat Alexa's ever seen.

For the past year, Alexa Bliss has been mistreating every woman she's encountered as no act of unkindness has been spared during her reign at the top. Now her shenanigans will come back to haunt her, as she's unable to enlist any allies, the women she formerly humiliated, against Absolution.

In the title match that follows, Paige topples the goddess on Christmas, winning the RAW Women's Championship and sending a statement to the entire world that she's back. It would make the most of a rather foolish decision to do a live show on Christmas Day.

Step 3: An ominous invitation

Will the evil side of the Empress show itself?

2018 has dawned, and a rematch between Alexa Bliss and Paige is announced for the Royal Rumble. The new champion takes the opportunity to usher in the New Year with a great celebration, gloating, feeling vindication after the trials and tribulations she's been through.

Meanwhile, Asuka rings in the New Year with a string of her most impressive main roster victories to date, over the likes of Mickie James and Bayley, and, though a first-time ever encounter between Sasha Banks and Asuka would arguably be wasted here, it does seem like a big match appropriate for RAW's 25th Anniversary show on January 22nd.

Eventually, familiar faces show themselves as Absolution arrives and this time, enters the ring. Impressed with her performances, Paige, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville sing the praises of Asuka and invite her to join them. With her trademark enigmatic smile on her face, Asuka speaks for the first time on RAW, saying four simple words: "I'll think about it."

She slowly leaves the ringside area and is not seen again for weeks.

Step 4: The Women's Dark Ages

It's Paige's house again.

After breezing through her rematch with Alexa Bliss with the assistance of Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville, Paige essentially declares that the RAW women's division is her personal fiefdom. Absolution rules the roost, continuing to do what they've always done in destroying any resistance. Should she be out of the 205 Live prison by this point, Nia Jax may try her luck, but is ultimately overwhelmed by the trio.

Paige promptly declares that there is no one left to conquer, but Kurt Angle disagrees.

Now the 12th of February, he announces that for the first time ever, there will be a women's Elimination Chamber match at the eponymous pay-per-view on February 25th, that the winner will challenge Paige at WrestleMania, and that qualifying matches begin...tonight.

At the end of the last of these matches for that night, Absolution lays a beating on victor and defeated alike, and an all-out war ensues as more women join the fray, but the vicious trio gains the upper hand. Yet, everything pauses as the lights dim, a certain mask appears on the titantron, and some familiar notes hit.

Step 5: The choice is made

What intentions lie beneath that mask?

...Asuka has returned!

As the Empress of Tomorrow slowly makes her way to the ring, the question everyone asks is: "whose side is she on?" The tension in the ring is thick enough to cut with a knife as Asuka takes off her mask, eyes everyone, and shares a smile with Paige, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville, who now look even more confident and overjoyed.

But it's a bait and switch because Asuka proceeds to lay a vicious beating on Rose and Deville! The crowd explodes as Paige, for the first time, retreats in fear!

A staredown between Asuka and Paige ensues, and the Empress smiles viciously, letting everyone know that she's coming for Paige and her championship.

The next week, Asuka wins her qualifying match and will participate in the Elimination Chamber.

Step 6: The Empress' chamber

One Empress standing.

Current indications are that a women's Elimination Chamber is likelier than a Royal Rumble, and, though I'd love it if both happened, I've tried to remain realistic as to what's most plausible.

The women's Elimination Chamber on RAW should be for a title opportunity at WrestleMania, rather than the title itself, and should comprise Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax, Sasha Banks, Bayley, Mickie James, and Asuka.

There's no doubt about this one. Asuka wins the Elimination Chamber and hopefully, with Paige on commentary, the two have another staredown. Asuka smiles viciously, points at the WrestleMania sign behind her, and signals that it will be Paige's end.

Step 7: The Six-Weeks' War

Back to square one.

The following night, Paige insists that Asuka doesn't scare her. Unlike her peers, she doesn't believe the hype. Asuka might be "undefeated," but she's unproven in a match of this caliber while she won a major championship on her debut match and has competed at WrestleMania before, winning both of the matches she's participated in, so she's "undefeated" too.

After saying a few more heel things, Asuka arrives to the ring to intimidate Paige with her smile, but it's short-lived as Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose, who had laid in wait underneath the ring, ambush the challenger, to Paige's delight. After all three women deliver their finishers, Paige mocks her opponent, declaring she'll see her at WrestleMania!

The following weeks can be comprised of numerous back-and-forth affairs. Individual victories by Asuka over Deville and Rose are certain, but during other weeks, Asuka gets more beatings.

Throughout the six weeks between Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania, the onus should be that Asuka is in perfect form, but she can't be considered the favorite against Paige if she has Deville and Rose with her. This is the way to make Asuka the underdog, even though she wouldn't be ordinarily. Another important aspect of the build would be for Asuka to not be able to touch Paige. Every time she gets in close, her Absolution stablemates intervene, creating a desire for a huge payoff.

Step 8: Tomorrow dawns

An empress crowned.

After nearly five months of scorching the RAW women's division and about two months of building this program, the moment has finally arrived. Asuka has waited a long time to get her hands on Paige and now, finally, is her chance.

Though Paige puts up a ferocious fight, Asuka is shown to have the advantage more often than not. The biggest problem, as always, is the presence of Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville, who both steal victory from Asuka and put her in serious jeopardy of suffering her first defeat more than once. Breathtaking, suspenseful moments are strewn throughout this 15-minute battle, but in the end, Asuka finds a way to take care of Deville and Rose, gets Paige into the Asuka Lock, and forces her to submit.

Asuka scores her biggest victory yet, winning her first main roster title on the Grandest Stage of Them All and ending Absolution's reign of terror, mopping them up entirely during the following few weeks.

She came from tomorrow and took back today. The era of the Empress has arrived!