Smackdown women’s championship match at Royal Rumble was another fresh contest. Asuka defended the title against Becky Lynch in a first-time ever one-on-one bout. The champion won the title back at WWE TLC in a historic women’s Tables, Ladders and Chairs match. This should have earned the former champion an automatic rematch.
But that was not the case. Becky Lynch had to earn her opportunity by winning a triple threat match. She defeated Carmella and Charlotte Flair to become the rightful number one contender for the women’s title at Royal Rumble. It was actually a good way from WWE to put over the Irish Lass-kicker with the crowd.
However, there’s no denying about the popularity of Becky Lynch right now. Asuka may be the champion but the challenger overshadowed her, just like that. She is the hottest property in the sports entertainment, today who is all over the place. So heading into the Royal Rumble title match, she was the absolute favorite.
WWE used Becky Lynch to give a great start to Royal Rumble. She walked out into the arena in a thunderous ovation to kick Royal Rumble off. Asuka followed her to start the women’s championship match. Both women projected their strength for a bit with traditional head lockdowns. The match soon went outside as Asuka shoved Becky’s face into the mat. But Becky came back hitting an exploder outside the ring.
Becky Lynch was in control of the match as Asuka missed the hip-attack. But Asuka caught her face with a knee and finally connected with the hip-attack. Asuka tried to powerbomb her off the apron but Becky counter with a face-buster into the mat! Both women came back into the ring as the challenger hit another exploder suplex this time from the middle ropes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaYHIFFhwF4
Asuka kicked out to keep the match going at Royal Rumble. Becky Lynch went for a leg-drop off the top rope but she missed allowing Asuka to hold into the Asuka Lock. But Becky countered it into her own dis-arm-her. Both women went back and forth with these for a bit until Asuka pulled off a brand new submission move. She nearly choked her opponent with it as Becky Lynch tapped out. Asuka remained the Smackdown women’s champion defeating Becky Lynch via submission at Royal Rumble.
