WWE has announced that Asuka will receive her opponent for Wrestlemania 35, next week. A number one contender’s match will take place for the Smackdown women’s championship. Four female names from the blue brand are getting the opportunity to compete in it. It will be a fatal-4-way match with the winner going straight to the biggest event of the year in a championship match.
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As confirmed by WWE.com, the four names competing in this match will be Carmella, Naomi, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville. Here are more details from the official website of WWE,
“What is sure to be an intense Fatal 4-Way Match between Carmella, Naomi, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville will determine who will challenge SmackDown Women’s Champion Asuka at WrestleMania. Fire & Desire’s friendship has been on rocky ground as of late, as each’s interference in the other’s match against The Empress of Tomorrow backfired. Rose & Deville look to be back on the same page, but will that be the case when a championship opportunity at WrestleMania hangs in the balance?”
For weeks now, the challenger’s spot for Asuka at Wrestlemania 35 has been vacant. We have been getting reports that the former NXT Champion will get a solid match at the ‘show of shows’. But it is technically not possible after this announcement come. We have to be satisfied with a regular matchup from Smackdown rather than getting a surprise return who could challenge the Empress of Tomorrow and give a tough challenge.
Out of these four names, it’s quite predictable who could pick up the win on next week’s Smackdown. Mandy Rose is within a rivalry against Asuka for the past few weeks. It is likely that the feud will continue for the Wrestlemania season and beyond. Even recent reports claimed that Mandy Rose is up for a big push in the near future. So she is the clear-cut favorite to win this contender’s match and stay in the championship picture for a long time.
WWE may also choose to host a triple threat match at Wrestlemania for the Smackdown women’s championship. In this case, Sonya Deville will join Asuka and Mandy Rose in the title match. Mandy and Sonya have not been able to get on the same page ever since Fastlane pay-per-view. This might be the hint of a split between the former Absolution members.