During Thursday night's NXT tapings at Full Sail, general manager William Regal formally introduced the NXT Universe to Kana, who will be rechristened as Asuka.
She appears to have adopted the new name in honor of Lioness Asuka, one-half of the Crush Gals, the most successful women's tag team of all time.
Asuka will likely be put right into the thick of things, just like Hideo Itami and Finn Bálor were before her, setting the "international superstar in NXT" precedent. She figures to help flesh out the new NXT women's division, which has been largely depleted with the almost-total departure of Becky Lynch, Charlotte and Sasha Banks.
The former Kana should provide a solid veteran presence for very green wrestlers such as Dana Brooke, Peyton Royce, Billie Kay and even Cageside Seats favorite Eva Marie. The old guard now consists of Bayley, Emma and ... Carmella, basically.
You may now continue looking forward to the NXT in-ring debut of Asuka. What do you think of her new name, Cagesiders? Who would you like to see her face in her first match?