Asuka appeared to officially say goodbye on the May 11 episode of WWE RAW in an emotional backstage segment with IYO SKY that further fueled speculation surrounding her WWE future.
The moment aired shortly after Je’Von Evans defeated Rusev using the OG Cutter. Backstage, SKY was approached by Asuka, who embraced her before speaking in Japanese during a deeply personal exchange.
Asuka told SKY she had been searching for someone capable of carrying on her legacy and now believed SKY was that person.
SKY became emotional while responding, telling Asuka they would “always be family” before saying goodbye.
Asuka then replied with “see ya later,” hugged SKY once again, and walked out of the arena carrying a suitcase in what was presented as a major farewell moment.
After the segment concluded, Michael Cole addressed the uncertainty surrounding Asuka’s future, stating that her WWE status was “up in the air” following her loss to IYO SKY at WWE Backlash.
Asuka WWE Status Still Viewed As Temporary Hiatus
The RAW segment served as a direct continuation of the story that began at WWE Backlash PLE, where Asuka lost to IYO SKY in a highly praised singles match. Following the bout, the two shared an emotional embrace that immediately sparked retirement speculation online and backstage within WWE.
Despite the presentation of the segment, multiple reports continue suggesting Asuka’s departure is currently expected to be temporary rather than a full retirement.
It was recently reported that Asuka’s planned time away had already been discussed internally for quite some time and was unrelated to WWE’s recent roster cuts following WrestleMania season.
Additional reports have stated that Asuka remains under a long-term WWE contract despite some descriptions internally characterizing her current status as “semi-retired.”
PWInsider also previously reported that Asuka remains aligned with WWE and is expected to spend significant time in Japan during her hiatus.
Although WWE has not publicly confirmed how long Asuka will be away from television, the tone of Monday’s segment strongly suggested this was intended as a temporary farewell rather than the definitive end of her wrestling career.
The segment also positioned IYO SKY as the clear successor to Asuka’s legacy, with WWE heavily emphasizing the mentor-student connection between the two stars during the emotional exchange.
For now, Asuka’s next move remains uncertain, but her departure from RAW was presented as one of the most emotional moments on WWE television in recent months.
Asuka WWE Status “Up In The Air” After Emotional RAW Farewell
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