Big E openly questioned on the WWE Backlash 2026 post-show whether Saturday night marked the end of Asuka’s WWE career, after the Empress of Tomorrow was visibly emotional following her match and shared a tearful embrace with IYO Sky in front of the Tampa crowd.
Speaking on the WWE Backlash post-show panel, Big E asked if this was goodbye for Asuka. Big E said if it was indeed her final WWE moment, she would be dearly missed.
After the match, Asuka was seen tearfully hugging IYO Sky, her longtime ally and former Damage CTRL stablemate. The cameras lingered on the emotional moment as Asuka embraced IYO and cried, sparking immediate speculation among fans and the panel about whether the appearance was meant to be a farewell.
Asuka has not publicly announced any retirement plans, and WWE has not confirmed her status with the company. However, the visual of her tearful embrace with IYO Sky and her overall emotional reaction has fueled speculation about her future and prompted Big E’s question on the post-show.
Asuka (real name Kanako Urai) signed with WWE in 2015 and made her main roster debut on Monday Night Raw in 2017. She is a former NXT Women’s Champion, Raw Women’s Champion, SmackDown Women’s Champion, 2018 Royal Rumble winner, and Money in the Bank winner. She has been part of multiple stables in WWE, including The Kabuki Warriors with Kairi Sane and later Damage CTRL alongside IYO Sky and Bayley. Asuka previously suffered a knee injury that kept her out of action for an extended period before her return. WWE Backlash 2026 took place on May 9, 2026 in Tampa, Florida.
Hopefully, we’ll know more about Asuka’s status by this Monday on Raw.
