WM35 Plans for Asuka, Kevin Owens Update, Why Kingston Was Pushed

With all of the talk of a possible Triple Threat match between Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 35 this year, fans have been left to wonder who will challenge Asuka for her title during WWE’s annual event in April. Asuka is still the SmackDown Women’s Champion, but at the moment, she does not appear to have a match locked in for WrestleMania. That being said, WrestleVotes reports that WWE does indeed have a plan in mind for “The Empress of Tomorrow” at WWE’s biggest event of the year. It notes that WWE doesn’t want too much “brand jumping” right now as it leaves Lana and Zelina Vega as Asuka’s only opponents for Elimination Chamber, neither of which are matches WWE was interested in for the show.

Been getting a ton of Asuka questions. As far as I know, they do have a plan for Mania. Just wasn’t wise for Asuka to be featured the last few weeks. WWE doesn’t want excessive “brand jumping” prior to WM, leaving only Lana or Vega for Chamber. That’s not a PPV matchup WWE wanted
— WrestleVotes (@WrestleVotes) February 13, 2019
Former Universal Champion Kevin Owens is set to return to WWE in just a few more weeks. During Raw this week, WWE shared a video from Owens wherein he said that he will be back in action in about a month, but he does not know which brand he will be assigned to upon coming back to the ring. According to Ringside News, Owens will be returning as a babyface for the first time in his WWE career. The decision to show Owens hanging out with his son and then throwing a gutterball were down on purpose to show fans his more likeable side. Contrary to a couple of previous reports, it has also been stated that WWE officials do have an idea in mind for Kevin Owens to compete at WrestleMania 35 this April.
Although he ultimately lost the match, Kofi Kingston went the distance during last night’s Gauntlet match on SmackDown. It was surprising to see the New Day member put over in such a grand way yesterday, but fans have praised WWE for their booking of Kingston. According to Ringside News, WWE officials actually put Kingston in the exact same position that Mustafa Ali would have been in. Kingston will take Ali’s place in the Elimination Chamber this Sunday due to a concussion, but prior to the injury, the plan was for Ali to shine in the Gauntlet match on SmackDown this week. Although fans are disappointed to see the young star on the shelf, the storyline of Kingston finally winning the WWE Championship after spending over a decade with the company is definitely a compelling story for the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view this weekend.