“I want Asuka.” Three simple words uttered by Liv Morgan that would transport her career into a whole new light.
“If you look at my life on paper, I'm not supposed to be here, but I am,” Morgan told WWE.com. “I made a pipe dream a reality. Asuka is at the top of the NXT Women's division and that's where I want to be.”
Two weeks ago, following a successful victory over Rachael Fazio, Morgan shocked the NXT Universe by calling out the undefeated NXT Women’s Champion. Fast-forward to the present day and not only did Morgan get her wish, but Asuka would make extremely quick work of the New Jersey native. As evidenced by this week’s broadcast of NXT, Morgan is still licking her wounds after the encounter with The Empress of Tomorrow but, surprisingly enough, she’s also still driven to do the impossible.
“My arms were shot; my shoulders specifically,” Morgan revealed. “They felt like dead weight. I've been icing a lot but I’m not letting that stop me. I have so much work to do and so much to improve on. Training is my priority. I know the match was quick and I can honestly say Asuka is unlike anyone WWE has ever seen before. I'm happy to have had that opportunity and thankful that she gave me one. I'm on the come up and I can only go up from here.“
Perhaps there is a method to Morgan’s proverbial madness. While NXT Superstars like Peyton Royce and Billie Kay have chosen to poke fun at Morgan’s effort, opportunity seems to be the theme of today’s NXT Women’s division landscape. With the recent departures of NXT stalwarts like Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Nia Jax and Bayley, the division has never been more primed for someone to step out of the pack. Morgan’s current philosophy backs up her recent actions.
“I'm not scared of anyone or anything,” she said. “I live life without limits and I will go after anything I want with no hesitation. I make moves, not excuses.”
As Morgan approaches her two-year anniversary on the NXT roster, her goals remain simple: Make her family proud and break down the barriers on her way to the top of NXT Women’s division.
“My whole life has consisted of overcoming the odds,” Morgan explained. “Growing up, I learned quickly that I lived in an atmosphere where the odds were never in my favor. I came from the dirt, ran through the mud and now I'm clickin’ my J’s on marble floors. NXT is a blessing.”