Asuka was able to defeat Becky Lynch in the main event of Raw to become the number one contender to the Raw Women’s Championship!
The main event of Raw saw Asuka face off against Becky Lynch in a number one contender’s match for a chance to face Bianca Belair at Hell in a Cell. In the end, Asuka was able to spray Becky Lynch with green mist and defeat her to earn a spot at the Premium Live Event – but only after major changes were made to the main event of Raw.
.@WWEAsuka punches her ticket to WWE #HIAC to battle @BiancaBelairWWE for the #WWERaw Women's Title! pic.twitter.com/9417VEAetb
— WWE (@WWE) May 17, 2022
The beginning of Monday Night Raw announced that a six-pack challenge would take place in the main event of the show and would determine the next contender to Bianca Belair’s Raw Women’s Championship. The match was set to feature Sasha Banks, Naomi, Becky Lynch, Nikki ASH, Doudrop, and the recently-returned Asuka.
However, a backstage segment aired in which Becky Lynch confronted Adam Pearce and said that she had seen Naomi and Sasha Banks leave the arena, and that it was unfair to her that the six-pack challenge could no longer take place. Pearce declared that the main event would now be a one on one match between Becky Lynch and Asuka, with the winner facing Bianca Belair at Hell in a Cell.
It was later reported that Sasha Banks and Naomi had walked out of Raw after Banks expressed concerns over the creative plans for the main event of the show. Strangely enough, it was reported that Naomi was set to win the main event and go on to face Belair at Hell in a Cell, but she still chose to walk out alongside her partner, leading to Asuka being named the new number one contender.
WWE later issued a statement on the situation, calling the behavior of Naomi and Sasha Banks unprofessional.
Asuka’s most recent Raw Women’s Championship reign began when she won Money in the Bank in 2020, and the next night on Raw, Becky Lynch announced that the Money in the Bank match was actually for the championship as Lynch was pregnant and would be taking time away from the ring. The Empress of Tomorrow reigned as champion until losing the title to Sasha Banks the night after the Horror Show at Extreme Rules.