Asuka’s WWE Future In Doubt After Backlash

Asuka may be stepping away from full-time competition following WWE Backlash.

Following Asuka’s loss to Iyo Sky at WWE Backlash on Saturday, speculation surrounding her future intensified after the two embraced following months of feuding. Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that Asuka is believed to be “semi-retired,” although he admitted details regarding what that specifically means remain unclear.

“So, the story I heard is that she is semi-retired,” Meltzer said. “I haven’t really gotten an exact meaning of what semi-retired means, but I guess people were wishing her goodbye and things like that backstage.”

Meltzer added that he was unsure whether the situation meant Asuka could continue wrestling occasionally in Japan or make sporadic appearances moving forward. During the discussion, Bryan Alvarez reacted emotionally to the update, saying he would miss seeing Asuka regularly in WWE.

“That sucks, I’m going to miss Asuka.”

Is Asuka’s Apparent WWE Retirement Related To Recent Roster Cuts?

The conversation later shifted toward the possibility of Asuka potentially being connected to WWE’s recent roster cuts, although neither Dave Meltzer nor Bryan Alvarez confirmed that was the case.

“I wonder if she was with other people that was cut. I mean, I don’t know,” Meltzer said. “I can’t fathom that, but I guess it’s possible. But I mean, Kairi was cut, and she didn’t even get used to the end of this thing, so,” Alvarez stated.

Asuka joined WWE in 2015 and went on to become one of the company’s most accomplished women’s stars. During her WWE career, she captured multiple championships across both NXT and the main roster, including four women’s world titles and five WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship reigns. She also won the 2018 Women’s Royal Rumble match and the 2020 Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match.