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Winner: The SmackDown women's division
Asuka and Charlotte delivered as we expected them to. That wasn't a surprise. Neither woman could put away the other. In many respects, it mirrored Charlotte's match with Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series.
This was smart. Charlotte using the kendo stick on Asuka to get disqualified not only avoided a needless defeat for one of the two heading into TLC, but it put the Empress over huge. Charlotte got frustrated. Asuka had seemingly done her homework and looked more vicious here than she has since WrestleMania. She lashed out at Becky, too, who lashed back at both of her competitors.
Asuka came back with the kendo stick and smacked them both silly, to a huge ovation as the show went off the air.
Asuka "standing tall" may suggest she won't win on Sunday, but let's not forget that Becky "stood tall" before Evolution and still won.
The trope isn't as telling as it used to be.
This is anyone's game. We're going to be in for a treat.
