>This wrinkle makes her chase for the title more interesting
>and she still hasn't lost clean. They can add to her character
>with this feud and then have her beat Asuka when there's an
>actual story there.

Yep. Agreed.

It's WWE taking time to 'show their work' instead of falling (again) into the rut of 'newest person from somewhere else can't lose against anyone'. Most of the time with NXT, it made sense, but they need to not turn it into a(nother) trope.

They accomplished a big piece tonight. Asuka was feeling herself and tonight's match did a good job of telling the 'don't get too comfortable' story. Her having to get shady to save herself from losing is the right call.

I love these NXT shows. Through the whole card, the ring-work is what I want and I can usually wrap my mind around the finishes right then and there even if it isn't what I called for when I inevitably 'book the territory' in my mind. Even better, I can go into lots of NXT matches without even thinking about the finish. I try to do the same thing with the main shows but I still catch myself.

Tomorrow is going to be FUN.