Asuka is the current RAW Women's Champion, winning the title from Becky Lynch, who relinquished it due to pregnancy. Crowned as champion, she has enjoyed a steady run and successfully defended the belt against Nia Jax at Backlash.
Following Nia Jax, The Empress of Tomorrow has a new, unprecedented challenger in Sasha Banks, who is set to wrestle Asuka at Extreme Rules. With Bayley in her corner, Banks would be a serious threat for Asuka, and she should be a favorite to win the bout.
Let's analyze five reasons why Asuka should retain the RAW Women's Championship and five reasons why Sasha Banks should win it.
10 Asuka: A Top Babyface
Asuka turned into a babyface after losing the Women's Tag Team Championship. She showed the good side of her character when she congratulated her fierce rival, Becky Lynch, during the pregnancy announcement.
Being a face, Asuka loves showing her fun side on the screen. In the absence of Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch, Asuka has been the top babyface of the red brand, and she should continue to do it by retaining the belt at Extreme Rules.
9 Sasha Banks: A Double Champion
Sasha Banks' best friend, Bayley, has attained an incredible feat after winning the Women's Tag Team Championship. With the SmackDown Women's Championship around her waist, she is a double champion.
The RAW Women's Championship bout would be a golden opportunity for Sasha Banks to replicate the same feat as her best friend. The Boss could call herself a double champion by pinning Asuka.
8 Asuka: To Make The RAW Women's Championship More Relevant
While both RAW and SmackDown Women's Titles have been important since inception, the former has overpowered the latter in the last couple of years. Prior to Asuka, Ronda Rousey and Becky Lynch wore the belt around their shoulders, making it one of the prestigious belts of the company.
In fact, both Ronda and Lynch enjoyed lengthy reigns. As Asuka is a champion now, she must do the same to make the title more pertinent.
7 Sasha Banks: Five-Time Champion
Sasha Banks has a history with RAW Women's Championship, as she is a four-time RAW Women's Champion. Although she is yet to get her hands on the SmackDown Women's Title, she is a proven champion on the red brand.
If Sasha Banks secures a victory at Extreme Rules, Banks will become a five-time RAW Women's Champion, overhauling even Charlotte Flair to have the most number of reigns with the red belt.
6 Asuka: To Become Invincible Again
Asuka was one of the most feared women in NXT, where she was impregnable with an unbeaten in her whole NXT career. The Empress of Tomorrow was not only the undefeated champion but also the wrestler to break Goldberg's unbeaten record.
Conversely, the same can't be said about her main roster run so far, especially in the last couple of years. Nevertheless, she has already conquered Nia Jax, and she could take another step to get back the invincible persona if she prevails over Banks at Extreme Rules.
5 Sasha Banks: To Strech The Friendship With Bayley
Even though Sasha Banks and Bayley are best friends right now, WWE has dropped subtle hints to break their partnership, which is feasible in the future. With SummerSlam around the corner, a match between Bayley and Sasha Banks could be a big draw.
The scenario, however, could be different if Banks wins at Extreme Rules. As WWE is holding shows without an audience, Banks' victory would allow stretching the friendship, and the long-awaited match might happen when the crowd will be back.
4 Asuka: Too Early To Lose Belt
Asuka became the RAW Women's Champion in dramatic fashion. While Asuka originally won the Money in the Bank briefcase this year, Becky Lynch uncovered that the former actually won the most coveted women's prize of RAW, which was inside the briefcase.
Less than two months after being crowned champion, it would not be a wise move from WWE if Asuka loses the belt.
3 Sasha Banks: A Singles Title After A Long Period
Sasha Banks might be a multi-time champion, but her last singles title reign was three years ago when she snatched the red belt from Alexa Bliss. The unmemorable reign lasted just eight days, and it ended in despair.
Having gotten opportunities for RAW Women's Championship against Ronda Rousey and Becky Lynch, Banks had squandered on both occasions. Therefore, The Boss must win it this time after three years.
2 Asuka: A Great Performer
Besides Charlotte Flair, there are a few talents in the women's locker room, who can claim to be as good as Asuka in the squared circle. The Empress of Tomorrow is an all-round performer, making her a championship material and a worthy holder of the RAW Women's Title.
With such dexterity in between the ropes, Asuka can deliver astounding matches every single week and on every pay-per-view. With that being said, the fans would love seeing such a great performer as the champion.
1 Sasha Banks: Another Horsewoman As Champion
There is no denying that horsewomen of WWE have been the pioneers of the women's division, since making their presence felt on the main roster. Every single horsewoman has lived up to their tag in the past five years.
Bayley, one of the horsewomen, is the reigning SmackDown Champion. If Banks gets her hands on the RAW Women's Championship at Extreme Rules, the red brand would witness another horsewoman as a champion.
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