Note On Belief Regarding Asuka’s Future After Apparent Send-Off At WWE Backlash

A new report has some details on the reaction backstage to what appeared to be a send-off for Asuka following her match at WWE Backlash on Saturday. The Raw star faced IYO SKY at yesterday’s PLE and after the match she had what appeared to be a farewell, hugging IYO SKY and waving to the fans as she left. It has been reported that she is considered “semi-retired,” though Bodyslam.net’s Viper reported that she was “out indefinitely” for personal reasons.

Fightful Select reports that everyone that have spoken to believe that Asuka has not had her final match. It was “unanimous” that she is popular among both the talent and staff and one higher-up in the company said WWE was happy with her, and her performance over the past year in particular was “always reliable no matter what was thrown her way.”

The former Women’s Champion signed a long-term deal with WWE in 2024. There’s no word on how long it was for, though most deals at that time were for five years as the site notes. It also reported that while many in the locker room weren’t sure what to make of the situation, there were some farewells said in person in addition to the social media tributes.

Several sources indicated there was a lot of frustration around Kairi Sane’s release, though they did not say if Asuka had been among those communicate those frustrations. One point of frustration among those backstage was around the amount of TV time given to Asuka and Sane’s storyline without actually paying off Sane’s role in the arc.