Asuka’s WWE status has been clarified directly by company sources, with Dave Meltzer confirming in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE has now described the situation as a semi-retirement tied to family business back in Japan.
Meltzer noted that he had been in contact with people in WWE for an update following the speculation that had built across the post-Backlash week.
“When we contacted those in WWE, they described Asuka as semi-retiring. She is going back to Japan for now to take care of family related business. Nothing else is clear as far as if she should come back or if she does, will her role be different.”
He had said on Wrestling Observer Radio on Sunday morning that the story he was hearing was that Asuka was semi-retired but that he had not gotten an exact definition of what that meant.
“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. 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.”
The update aligns with what PWInsider had been reporting earlier in the week, with Mike Johnson saying the word making the rounds in WWE was that Asuka is returning to Japan for an extended period due to an undisclosed family matter. She remains under WWE contract during her absence. The situation is unrelated to the post-WrestleMania 42 release wave and the separate reports of WWE talent being asked to take pay cuts.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select had separately reported that everyone he spoke to inside WWE did not believe Asuka had her final match, with one higher-up describing her as “always reliable, no matter what was thrown her way.” Ross Sapp also confirmed that Asuka signed a long-term contract extension in the summer of 2024, with the duration unknown, but most deals signed in that window run five years.
The Backlash moment that triggered the speculation came at the end of Asuka’s losing match against Iyo Sky on Saturday in Tampa, where the two embraced in the ring with Asuka in tears and Asuka waving goodbye to the crowd. The two then had a backstage segment on Monday’s Raw in Knoxville with Asuka telling Sky, “See you later,” before exiting the building. Michael Cole called Asuka’s future “up in the air” on commentary that night. Iyo Sky posted an emotional tribute on X afterward.
“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.”
The Asuka-Sky program was originally built as a three-way story with Kairi Sane sitting between them, but Sane was among the more than 30 WWE talents released in WWE’s April 24 post-WrestleMania 42 wave, leaving the planned payoff to the feud without one of its corners. The match went ahead with Sky and Asuka working singles.
