Who Does it Better? Episode 5: Becky vs. Charlotte vs. Asuka

To say that the triple threat TLC match between Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Asuka is the most anticipated match on tonight's pay per view card would be an understatement. It's three of the top women on WWE's roster meeting in a first time triple threat match - with a tables, ladders, and chairs stipulation to boot.

We should expect to see something spectacular. And it's with this in mind that Who Does it Better? makes its timely return. All three of these women are the cream of the crop, but which of them truly does it better?

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Round 1: Ring Ability

This may at first appear difficult, because all three of these women have excellent matches to their name, but it isn't as hard as it first seems. Asuka takes this category comfortably. On Cagematch.net, a site where fans can rate matches, hers consistently get the highest marks. She, along with Sasha Banks, is the most prominently featured woman in most of WWE's highest-rated women's matches of the present era. Her technique and her versatility in the ring exceeds both Becky and Charlotte.

The battle for second place is more difficult. Charlotte Flair always delivers in high profile situations, but it also isn't arguable that Becky Lynch is smoother in execution. While Charlotte delivers, her moves are too frequently botched or appear inauthentic for her to rank above Becky Lynch in the ring work category. If you watched her match with Asuka this week, you'll see that some moves, like her signature Big Boot, landed awkwardly.

Charlotte may have gotten more opportunities over the years, but Becky has proven why she's always been so popular. Her talents were unjustifiably overlooked.

Verdict:

1st: Asuka (+3 points)

2nd: Becky Lynch (+2 points)

3rd: Charlotte Flair (+1 point)

Round 2: Charisma

This one is far more difficult. Becky Lynch has gotten hot to a point that few reach this year. Her presence is undeniable and it's forged a tremendously strong connection between her and the fans.

Asuka, on the other hand, also has an incredibly strong connection with fans and she can get her message across without needing to say a single word. Her presence is also undeniable.

It's a coin toss. I'll go with Becky Lynch for now, because of how hot her work has been this year, but this isn't set in stone. In certain other contexts, Asuka could pull ahead.

Charlotte Flair lags far behind the other two in this category. She didn't inherit her father's charisma, which is part of the reason why she's experienced some backlash with regards to her push.

Verdict:

1st: Becky Lynch (+3 points)

2nd: Asuka (+2 points)

3rd: Charlotte Flair (+1 point)

Round 3: Talking Ability

No debate here. Becky Lynch wins this category easily. Her talking segments have been some of the most memorable of the year and really set the feud between her and Charlotte Flair on another level. Authenticity oozes from her with every word she speaks, further helping to forge the connection between her and the fanbase.

Charlotte Flair is clunky in comparison. Her recent promos, in particular, have gotten awkward because it feels like WWE doesn't know what her character should be. She's been trying to imitate Becky Lynch recently, but it just hasn't gotten over, because it doesn't feel real.

Asuka, to no surprise, lags behind the other two because of the language barrier, but there's been a noticeable improvement in her promos of late, and she carries more authenticity than Charlotte Flair does when she speaks.

Verdict:

1st: Becky Lynch (+3 points)

2nd: Charlotte Flair (+2 points)

3rd: Asuka (+1 point)

Round 4: Look

Charlotte Flair has the look of an imposing athletic freak. She incorporates this into her persona by mentioning her genetic superiority whenever possible. It's one of the best touches to her character, and it's hard to argue that her look is the most formidable of the three. Her physique stands out as something that will help her to dominate her competition.

Asuka comes in second place. Though the most diminutive in the match, her appearance is unique. She would stand out wherever she goes. Her experience as a graphic designer probably helps her with this, giving her an edge in designing her attire and even her multi-colored hair, but her expressions also stand out.

Compared to the other two, Becky Lynch has the most generic overall look, though her expressions are superior to Charlotte's.

Verdict:

1st: Charlotte Flair (+3 points)

2nd: Asuka (+2 points)

3rd: Becky Lynch (+1 point)

Round 5: Versatility

Unsurprisingly, Becky Lynch returns to first place in this category. She would be popular as a babyface. She would be popular as a heel. She can go in the ring. She can talk. She can do everything expected of someone in her profession and do it well. It's little wonder why she's so popular.

The battle for second place is harder to determine. In almost all of the above categories, Asuka exceeds Charlotte Flair. Asuka does lag behind Charlotte Flair in the ability to talk, but even so, she still sounds more authentic. Her only weakness is saying some of the words. It isn't enough to drop her down, in my opinion. Asuka's charisma and her ring ability more than make up for this particular weakness, which Charlotte lags further behind in.

Verdict:

1st: Becky Lynch (+3 points)

2nd: Asuka (+2 points)

3rd: Charlotte Flair (+1 point)

Conclusion

1st: Becky Lynch - 12 points

2nd: Asuka - 11 points

3rd: Charlotte Flair - 10 points

As you would expect going in, this was a close contest. All three women are the cream of the crop, which is what makes tonight's match so exciting. Becky Lynch emerges first, but only by a slight edge. Asuka and Charlotte Flair are hot on her heels, which is how the match tonight feels in the first place.

The champ has to fight to stay the man against two strong challengers. This is what the "women's revolution" was always supposed to be about, and after a shaky middle part of the year, it's nice to see the division ending 2018 with such a huge boom.

This is the kind of thing that happens when the company actually pushes well-rounded performers on the roster. Let us hope that this trend will continue throughout 2019.