If Ashura is not dead then we totally expect not the right thing for Wano.
What people expected for Wano war:
How Oda see wano war:
Fake deaths, fake tension, plotarmors over plotarmors, children like Tama humiliating Kaido troup, calamity looking more like foddermity and several other weak points.
I still have hope as I said, Ashura dead right now would be kinda a great build up, the men get his shine with saving his friends and dying in the war. Also this kinda would give me the hope that Kaido troup finaly attacking back, as
@Buusatan94 said Oda did make Marineford happen, the war arc was very good in my opinion(many brutal deaths) so I hope he kinda go in same route this time.