WWE’s played the “history” card so many times when it comes to women’s wrestling over the past couple years that it’s become a running joke. Which is a shame, because when they actually do something truly noteworthy like giving the main event slot on all three of their brands to the ladies for a week, calling it historic isn’t funny.
And when Asuka and Nikki Cross stood across from one another for their “historic” Last Woman Standing match with a half-hour to go in the June 28 edition of NXT, it certainly wasn’t a laughing matter. The undefeated champ with the record-setting winning streak and her deranged nemesis spent the next twenty minutes implementing their plans to mess their opponent up so badly they couldn’t answer a ten count.
Plans which included trash cans...
In true @WWEAsuka form! @NikkiCrossWWE #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/gudTC6oVK6
— WWE (@WWE) June 29, 2017
steel chairs...
#WWENXT #WomensChampion @WWEAsuka "STEELS" this moment right from under @NikkiCrossWWE! @WWENetwork pic.twitter.com/c8vBbkTEYC
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) June 29, 2017
MORE steel chairs...
How will #WWENXT #WomensChampion @WWEAsuka get back on her feet after THIS?! @NikkiCrossWWE #LastWomanStanding pic.twitter.com/y4o1c8yB0y
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) June 29, 2017
and, to finish things off, ladders and tables...
Nothing like an ANNOUNCE TABLE to break the fall of #WWENXT #WomensChampion @WWEAsuka and #SAnitY's @NikkiCrossWWE... off of a ladder! pic.twitter.com/9LWRgBR97C
— WWE (@WWE) June 29, 2017
Asuka would make it to her feet when referee Drake Wuertz reached the count of nine, and proceed to celebrate over an incapacitated-but-still-smiling Cross. Her history as the longest reigning champion in NXT history, and one of the longest reigning in modern WWE history, rolls on.
As for the import of women’s wrestling to WWE after this week of main events? Let’s hope that continues to grow as well.