Why Vince McMahon Included Asuka In The Women’s Triple Threat TLC Match

Tomorrow night at WWE TLC, Becky Lynch puts her SmackDown Women’s Championship on the line against Charlotte Flair and Asuka in the first-ever Women’s Triple Threat TLC Match.

The addition of Asuka came as a result of the November 27 episode of SmackDown LIVE, which saw SmackDown General Manager Paige issue a Nine-Woman Battle Royal Match with the winner joining the championship battle. Asuka booted Mandy Rose in the face and dropped Sonya Deville with a knee that landed her squarely on the ringside floor and placed “The Empress of Tomorrow” in the TLC Match.

Fightful.com reported last week that Asuka’s renewed push is in large part due to the reaction fans gave her the night that Lynch announced that she was injured and had to choose a replacement opponent for Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey at Survivor Series.

In a follow-up to the report, Vince McMahon was surprised by the fan reaction to Asuka and said that the other reactions were “nothing” compared to hers. As a result, he saw an opportunity to capitalize on Asuka’s popularity and incorporate her into the TLC Match

McMahon was also “caught off guard” by Flair not receiving the biggest reaction while Lynch contemplated her decision.