Asuka has been one of the most important women in professional wrestling in the 21st century. This article highlights some of her greatest matches from her time as Kana in Japan to her long run in WWE.
Early career and big fights in Japan
Before WWE, Asuka wrestled as Kana for many years. She had brutal, hard-hitting matches against top Japanese stars. One standout was Kana vs. Meiko Satomura in Osaka. The bout felt like a teacher vs. student match. The two traded very stiff kicks and strikes, and Kana won by choking Satomura out.
Another major match came in 2013 when Kana fought Arisa Nakajima for the JWP Openweight Championship. The match spilled into the crowd, used chairs, and was a long, physical war. Nakajima won back the title just before a 30-minute time limit expired.
In 2014, Kana teamed with Kenny Omega to face Hikaru Shida and Masato Tanaka at an event organized by Shida. The match mixed serious strikes with comic moments. Kana won by applying the hold that fans later called the Asuka Lock on Shida.
NXT championship era
WWE signed Asuka in 2015. On April 1, 2016, at NXT TakeOver: Dallas, Asuka beat Bayley to begin her NXT Women’s Championship reign. She held that title for 510 days (WWE recognizes the reign as 522 days) before vacating it due to injury. She remains the only undefeated NXT Women’s Champion in history.
One of her most noted defenses was against Ember Moon at NXT TakeOver: Orlando. Asuka retained the title in a match where she prevented Moon from landing her finishing move and went on to keep the belt. The rematch at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III continued the story. Asuka targeted Moon’s arm in that match, Moon hit The Eclipse for a close two count, but Asuka kicked out and later won with the Asuka Lock.
Main roster highlight: TLC 2018
On the SmackDown stage, Asuka played the wildcard in a Triple Threat TLC match for the SmackDown Women’s Championship against Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair at the final pay-per-view of 2018. Lynch had recently risen to superstardom after an earlier injury angle. Asuka used ladders, tables, and kendo sticks, powerbombed Flair through a table, and survived heavy bumps, including a brutal spear through the barricade by Flair.
Ronda Rousey’s late interference helped Asuka win the match. The bout featured big spots, rough bumps, and a surprising finish, making it one of the most memorable women’s matches of that year.
Honorable mentions and legacy
Asuka has many more great matches. She wrestled notable contests with Sasha Banks, Syuri, Kyoko Kimura, and Hikaru Shida. Her early work with Sara Del Rey in CHIKARA and SHIMMER also drew praise. WWE later named her one of the five best women wrestlers in company history in 2021. She has been a Triple Crown and Grand Slam Champion and was the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble winner. She also won Money in the Bank and an Elimination Chamber match.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Asuka (Kana) | Won NXT Women’s Title at NXT TakeOver: Dallas; retained key matches vs. Ember Moon; won TLC 2018 Triple Threat |
| Bayley | Lost to Asuka at NXT TakeOver: Dallas (start of Asuka’s NXT reign) |
| Ember Moon | Challenged Asuka at NXT TakeOver: Orlando (lost); rematch at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III (lost) |
| Becky Lynch | Defended SmackDown Women’s Title at TLC 2018 (lost the match to Asuka) |
| Charlotte Flair | Competed in TLC 2018 Triple Threat (took major bumps; did not win) |
| Meiko Satomura | Faced Kana in Osaka (lost by choke) |
| Arisa Nakajima | Won back JWP Openweight Championship from Kana in 2013 |
| Hikaru Shida | Teamed with Masato Tanaka vs. Kana & Kenny Omega (2014) — lost |
Asuka’s career blends hard strikes, strong storytelling, and big moments across Japan and WWE. These matches show why she is called “The Empress of Tomorrow.”
