NXT Takeover VIII Asuka v Emma

Emma has mocked, bullied and sneak-attacked Asuka, but at NXT TakeOver: London, she will have to prove she can get the best of Asuka when it matters most: one-on-one, inside the ring.

Together with Dana Brooke, Emma has tormented the international sensation since she arrived to NXT in September. Though Asuka has, at times, appeared easygoing, if not lighthearted, the NXT Universe is also aware she’s more lioness than lamb. In her NXT debut at TakeOver: Respect, Asuka demolished Dana, knocking The Total Diva out of her daylights. In a poetic turnabout, Asuka took a page out of Dana’s book, playfully patting the egotistical Diva on the head in the aftermath of their bout.

Emma & Dana may have thought they got the upper hand when they lulled Asuka into a trap on the Nov. 25 episode of WWE NXT. Benefiting from a two-on-one advantage, the diabolical duo savagely attacked Asuka, with Emma locking the NXT newcomer in her Emma Lock.

Despite the beatdown, Asuka does not seem daunted in the least. The dangerous striker was observed working over a punching bag on the Dec. 2 episode of NXT, as she sent a simple message to Emma: “See you in London.” The uneasy look on Emma's face suggested more than a hint of regret.

If Emma & Dana’s mind games pay off, Emma could be on her way to earning the biggest victory of her career, a win over the endlessly decorated Asuka. Yet, it is equally possible the brash Divas have just awakened a beast inside Asuka, which the world will see emerge in London.