IYO SKY Fuels More Speculation About Asuka’s WWE Future

Asuka may not have officially said goodbye to WWE yet — but after WWE Backlash, the entire situation suddenly feels a lot more real. And now IYO SKY just added to the speculation.

Following their match at Backlash, SKY took to Twitter and posted a message to the Empress of Tomorrow that immediately had fans wondering whether they actually witnessed the end of an era.

SKY described it like the closing chapter of a relationship that’s lasted years, both inside and outside the ring. She then admitted the emotions hit her the second the match ended, and then got even more personal while reflecting on everything Asuka has meant to her career.

“Our story comes to its final chapter with today's match. The moment the match ended, my heart was filled with all sorts of emotions. Meeting ASUKA-san, Spending the same time together, Being able to learn so much up close— These are irreplaceable treasures to me. Thank you so much ASUKA-San. We love you ASUKA-San❣️”

As if that wasn’t enough, according to Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, people backstage within WWE were also acting like Backlash may have been some form of goodbye for Asuka. While he admitted he still doesn’t fully understand what her exact future plans are, he revealed that he was told Asuka is considered “semi-retired.” While discussing the situation, Meltzer explained that WWE talent and staff were saying goodbye to her backstage.

“So, the story I heard is that she is semi-retired. 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 also admitted nobody seems completely sure what “semi-retired” actually means in this case, including whether Asuka could continue wrestling in Japan or make occasional appearances in WWE moving forward.

“So I don’t know if that means she’s going to Japan and still wrestle. I don’t know if that means she’s going to still do stuff here and there, but I was told semi-retired.”

Bryan Alvarez then reacted to the report and admitted the possibility of losing Asuka from wrestling regularly would be tough to accept: “That sucks, I’m going to miss Asuka.”

After losing to SKY at WWE Backlash, Asuka shared an embrace with her longtime friend and rival while the Tampa crowd loudly rallied behind “The Empress of Tomorrow.” The entire scene felt far more emotional than a normal post-match WWE moment, and people noticed immediately.

So, between the Backlash moment, IYO SKY describing the match as the “final chapter” of their story, backstage reports about people saying goodbye to Asuka, and the “semi-retired” talk now circulating, fans are starting to believe this may have been much more than just another loss. If this really was the beginning of the end for Asuka in WWE, Backlash may end up being remembered as one of the company’s quietest farewell moments ever.

Do you think WWE Backlash was truly the beginning of Asuka’s goodbye, or are fans reading too much into the moment with IYO SKY? Drop your thoughts below and let us know.