Asuka has clarified that she has not departed from WWE. Responding to a fan on X who inquired if the posts claiming she had left the company were false and whether she was merely taking a break, Asuka replied in Japanese, “退団してまへん 辞めてまへん,” meaning “I haven’t left the company. I haven’t quit.”
Asuka’s last WWE match took place at Backlash on May 9 in Tampa, Florida, where she was defeated by IYO SKY. Following the match, the two shared an embrace. On the May 11 episode of Raw, Asuka expressed pride in SKY for taking over her position and then exited the arena with her suitcase in a segment portrayed as a farewell.
PWInsider reported on May 12 that Asuka had returned to Japan for an extended stay to address a family-related issue but remained under contract with WWE. Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer later revealed that WWE described Asuka’s situation as a semi-retirement related to family matters in Japan.
In a video uploaded to her YouTube channel in May, Asuka explained that she stepped away due to personal reasons, returned to Japan for the matter, and had communicated with WWE about it. She also confirmed her plans to come back to WWE in the future.
No specific date for her return has been provided.
Fan Take: This update is significant for wrestling fans as it reassures them that one of WWE’s top performers is not gone for good but simply on a temporary pause. Asuka’s eventual comeback could inject fresh energy and storyline possibilities into WWE, benefiting the sport with her unique charisma and talent.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
