Asuka’s WWE Backlash moment may have sparked nonstop retirement speculation — but a major new update is making it clear WWE still has plans for her.
According to Fightful Select on May 11, 2026, Asuka is currently expected to appear on tonight’s episode of WWE Raw despite reports that she will soon be stepping away for a period of time. Fightful reported that Asuka taking time off has apparently been planned internally for a while and is not connected to WWE’s recent roster cuts.
“Asuka will be taking some time off, but is planned for tonight's WWE Raw.”
The report also directly pushed back against theories that anything involving her current status was tied to WWE’s recent post-WrestleMania releases.
“Fightful Select is told that this has been planned for a while and is not related to the recent cuts.”
The speculation exploded after Asuka and IYO SKY shared an emotional post-match embrace following their student-versus-teacher showdown at Backlash. Even people backstage weren’t fully sure whether the segment was meant to function as a goodbye.
Adding even more confusion, Dave Meltzer recently described Asuka as “semi-retired” while also admitting he wasn’t entirely sure what that actually meant in her specific case. Meanwhile, PWInsider previously reported Asuka remained “aligned with the company” and was physically present in Knoxville, Tennessee, ahead of RAW.
Now, Fightful’s latest report seems to confirm that WWE’s plans involve a temporary absence rather than a full retirement. That also lines up with earlier reporting that Asuka signed a long-term WWE contract during the summer of 2024.
Bottom line — Asuka may be taking time away soon, but WWE clearly does not appear to view Backlash as the definitive end of her career. And with her reportedly still planned for RAW, fans may get more answers very soon.
Do you think WWE is setting up a bigger long-term storyline for Asuka, or does this still feel like the beginning of the end for her in-ring career? Drop your thoughts below.
