Asuka also struggled with Emma in NXT both times they fought. The matches were just shy of 15 and 14 minutes respectively.
Heel Emma gets romanticized, but she wasn't doing anything of note at that time either. Her only notable wins were one against Bayley and a fluke pin in a Fatal Four Way before their first match in London.
She lost 3 of her next 4 matches (she beat a local talent) before her rematch against Asuka. Emma being trouble for Asuka is that continuity thing people complain about not getting.
We're getting Asuka exactly as her matches in NXT have always been laid out. She should've been given a local scrub and we wouldn't be having this conversation.