Asuka’s WWE Backlash moment may have sparked retirement rumors — but a new report suggests WWE internally does not believe she’s done yet.
According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, Asuka is still believed internally to be connected with WWE despite all the online speculation surrounding her future. Johnson reported that PWInsider was told Asuka is: “Believed to remain aligned with the company.”
The report also revealed that a story has recently been circulating among some people inside WWE claiming Asuka could be returning to Japan for an extended period because of a family-related situation.
However, that rumor immediately became more complicated because PWInsider also confirmed Asuka is physically present in Knoxville, Tennessee on Monday — the same city hosting tonight’s episode of WWE Raw. It was noted that she’s ready to appear if WWE creative dictates. At this point, it’s still unclear whether she will actually appear on the show, especially since neither Asuka nor IYO SKY had been officially advertised ahead of time.
The rumors originally exploded after Backlash featured a highly emotional post-match scene between Asuka and IYO SKY following their student-versus-teacher showdown. Fans immediately started speculating the segment felt like a goodbye, especially after the emotional embrace between the two stars.
Things got even more confusing when Dave Meltzer described Asuka as “semi-retired” — while also admitting he wasn’t fully sure what “semi-retired” actually meant in her case.
Then Fightful Select added another layer by reporting most people internally in WWE do not believe Asuka has wrestled her final match. They also noted there was genuine confusion backstage about whether the Backlash moment was even intended to be a farewell angle in the first place. One WWE higher-up described Asuka backstage as:
“Always reliable no matter what was thrown her way.”
It was also reported that the Empress of Tomorrow signed a long-term WWE contract during the summer of 2024, with many WWE deals from that timeframe lasting roughly five years.
Bottom line — WWE fans thought they may have witnessed the beginning of Asuka’s goodbye at Backlash, but her presence in Knoxville for Raw has suddenly made the entire situation feel a lot less final.
Do you think Asuka is actually preparing to step away from WWE, or is this emotional storyline setting up another huge chapter for her later this year? Drop your thoughts below and let us know.
