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Asuka defended her SmackDown Women's Championship against former Champion Becky Lynch as part of the historic 2019 Royal Rumble pay-per-view.
The women of SmackDown Live kicked off the 2019 Royal Rumble as the speculation remained rife surrounding Becky Lynch and her potential involvement in the Women's Royal Rumble match later in the night.
Asuka started the match gaining the upper hand and grounded The Man with a thunderous dropkick, but Lynch had the spinning backfist well scouted and took the momentum away. Asuka took the fight to Lynch with a flurry of strikes including a kick to the face, but The Lasskicker was having none of it and dropped Asuka with a jumping forearm strike.
The gloves well and truly came off mid-match as the women brawled on the outside and exchanged hits into the apron and the LED board on the outside. Lynch was able to capitalize on this by hitting a BeXploder suplex but wasn't able to pick up the win off her signature move.
Lynch obviously settled herself in the heel role in the match as she pulled on the hair of Asuka and ignored the referee's warnings a number of times. She also laid down the law in the ring with a number of vicious forearms but Asuka dug down deep to find a way back into the match.
Asuka was thrown into the ring post shoulder first and Lynch then locked in the Disarmer in the corner but was forced to break the hold within the five count. Lynch threw everything at Asuka but The Empress of Tomorrow locked in the armbar and was then able to transition into The Asuka Lock but Lynch fought out to the ropes.
Asuka threw caution into the win when she attempted a neck breaker off the apron, leaving both women motionless on the outside. Asuka was then able to pick up the near fall off a kick to the head but Lynch fought back with slaps to the face.
Lynch delivered an incredible BeXploder Suplex from the top rope but was still unable to put Asuka away. She then climbed the top rope and looked for a leg drop, but Asuka reversed into the Asuka Lock. The two women then exchanged submissions as Lynch looked for her own Asuka Lock, but Asuka fought out.
A kick to the face then allowed Lynch to lock in the Disarmer, but Asuka fought out. The Empress of Tomorrow locked in the Asuka Lock for a third time and this time added a bridge to the move to force Lynch to tap.
Result: Asuka defeats Becky Lynch via submission
A WWE Hall of Famer called out AEW fans HERE
