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Tag: Asuka

  • Asuka Confirms She Is Still With WWE, Teases Return In The Future

    Asuka Confirms She Is Still With WWE, Teases Return In The Future

    Asuka has responded to the rampant rumors and reports going around about her status with the WWE.

    In the blowoff feud match between the Empress of Tomorrow, Asuka, and the Genius of the Sky, Iyo Sky. The biggest headline going into that match on that week was Asuka teasing that she was possibly departing or taking some time off from the WWE.

    Following the match, she would embrace in a hug with Sky, and the following night, the two made amends and Asuka departed from the arena, being written off TV so she can handle personal matters back home in Japan.

    Now, in her most recent vlog, Asuka confirmed the report from Fightful Select and teased that she could pop in when fans least expect it to prepare for her comeback to the WWE.

    “It’s already been about two weeks since my last match at Backlash. I know there are a ton of rumors flying around out there… People asking, ‘Are we ever going to see Asuka wrestle again? Is she going back to Japan? Is she leaving WWE?’ The truth is, it was a personal matter — I reached out to WWE and we talked it through. But let’s be clear — as you all know from watching my matches, I can still go. I am still at the top of my game! I’ve been with WWE for over 10 years now, almost like it was just a given. And because it became such a part of your daily routine, I think my presence there just became something everyone took for granted. But remember… nothing lasts forever. Everything is finite. You see, I’m not just a wrestler by trade; I’m a designer, too. Even the way I live my life has to be art. I’m sure you’re all wondering what’s next for me, and how I’ll be involved with TV and the tours moving forward. But don’t forget — I am still officially with WWE. So there’s a chance I might just pop up in front of you when you least expect it! Let’s be honest, no one will ever make the kind of historic impact I made from day one. I don’t think anyone will ever climb to the top non-stop, grabbing every title and accolade along the way — the way I did. And because I’m a true pioneer, there will NEVER be another Asuka! So from here on out, if you ever catch a glimpse of me, you better cherish it. Because it’s going to be rare.” – Asuka on her YouTube Channel.

    H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

  • Blake Monroe: Asuka’s Elevated Every Women’s Locker Room She’s In

    Blake Monroe: Asuka’s Elevated Every Women’s Locker Room She’s In

    Blake Monroe would love to step into the ring one day with the Empress Of Tomorrow if the stars did align.

    In the build to the Backlash clash between Iyo Sky and Asuka, reports surfaced that Asuka would be taking time off from the company after seemingly saying goodbye to Sky and the WWE Universe on the following night on WWE Monday Night Raw.

    In a recent interview with Vicente Beltran, Blake Monroe spoke about the impact that Asuka has made on every locker room she’s stepped in and how she would love to get a chance to battle the legend if given the opportunity.

    “So Asuka to me is one of the best women’s wrestlers in the world, and I remember watching her after she won the Rumble wrestling Charlotte Flair and thinking, wow, like she’s something special, and I feel like she came to WWE and she elevated the NXT women’s locker room. She elevated the main roster locker room too. I don’t know where her heart is, what her decision is, but I would love to wrestle her one day. So for me, I’m kind of heartbroken if this is it, but I also respect her and what a career she’s had. So, I mean, she’s amazing.”

    Monroe is currently planning on making the move up to the main roster where she will be part of the Friday Night SmackDown brand on the USA Network.

    H/t to Fightful for the transcription.

  • Asuka Set To Be On An Extended Absence From WWE

    Asuka Set To Be On An Extended Absence From WWE

    Asuka was written off WWE TV on the May 11 edition of WWE Monday Night Raw on Netflix.

    Following her feud blowoff with Iyo Sky at Backlash, Asuka had been teasing taking time away from the WWE or even departing from the company after over a decade with the company.

    Sky would go on to win the match, and the two would hug it out for the first time in months to bury the hatchet and get back to being friends.

    It was reported by PWInsider Elite that WWE star Asuka was returning to Japan for an extended period to handle a family matter that we will not disclose.

    On the Raw Post Show for Fightful, Sean Ross Sapp spoke about the reports and had this to say.

    “I found out definitively what’s going on, and I don’t want to miscredit the person who said it but the person who said there’s personal stuff going on, that’s accurate. I don’t want to elaborate on what that is but I was straight up told tonight she was not a part of any cuts. She wasn’t asked to take a pay cut as best I know. She signed a new deal in 2024. It was a multi-year deal.

    “Obviously, WWE did not want to have Asuka be gone for a while, so to speak. Here’s what I heard, Asuka had approached WWE and said, ‘Stuff I’ve got to attend to.’ It’s back in Japan, she’s going to be spending some time there. I don’t know how much time that’s gonna be.

    “Obviously, it’s not what WWE wanted to hear but it’s something that they felt was important to honour and all that. Asuka is beloved in that company. When people naturally were like, ‘Was she cut? Was she asked to take a pay cut?’ a number of people hit me up and they’re like, ‘Man, we can’t speak higher of the job that she does.’”

    Asuka will remain with the WWE, but there is no word on when she will be returning to WWE in the foreseeable future.

  • A Tribute to Asuka- An Empress Who Deserves More Than Flowers

    A Tribute to Asuka- An Empress Who Deserves More Than Flowers

    History was made last night at WWE’s Backlash as Asuka faced Iyo Sky in a 1-on-1 match. What was the history? This was the first time in the promotion’s history that two Japanese wrestler’s had a singles match against each other on a WWE premium live event (PLE). It ended with Iyo Sky coming out the victor, a beautiful and emotional exchange between the two women, and what looked like a passing of the torch from Asuka to Iyo.

    Is this the end for Asuka’s career with WWE? Is this just beginning of the end with Asuka being semi-retired? This something that we don’t know right now but it has a lot of people on social media talking. If this either the end or even the beginning of the end, Asuka deserves her praise and her flowers for her love of and dedication to the business.

    Asuka debuted in the promotion AtoZ in Japan in June of 2004 where she stayed until she was diagnosed with chronic nephritis in March of 2006 and retired from wrestling. She made her return to wrestling in September of 2007 as a freelance wrestler. She even ran some of her own shows as a promotion in Japan at the time did not like the fact she called out some allegedly predatory activity, which we won’t go into here. While in the promotion NEO Japan Women’s pro wrestling, she regularly tagged with Mio Shirai, Iyo Sky’s sister. In October of 2011, she debuted in the United States for the both Shimmer Women’s Athletes and Chikara. It is her work with Shimmer that is credited with her learning the American style of wrestling.

    It was during her time with Chikara that her future WWE co-superstar, Drew Gulak, met her. He has nothing but good things to say about the Empress of Tomorrow:

    “I met Asuka when she came in to work for Chikara in 2011. Her and Sara del Rey put on the match of the night in the middle of Tennessee with a missing bottom rope! (The middle one snapped in an earlier match and they swapped it out mid show.) I got to see her again in 2016 when she was with NXT here and there at the performance center when I was touring with the RAW brand and 205 Live. We would often train together at the performance center and I’d get to catch up with her backstage at RAW and SmackDown after she debuted on their main roster.”

    He continues by saying: “Asuka represents Japanese Wrestling at its best and constantly shows how their dedication and respect for all aspects of Professional Wrestling sets and raises the bar worldwide. She connects with fans as well as any of the best performers of all time. And she did so with so many challenges by getting a later start than many of her peers in Japan and raising a family and moving overseas and overcoming a language barrier. It’s difficult enough to make it as a wrestler so I am always blown away by the ones who cross cultural barriers to do it. I have many fond memories of getting to spend some time around this absolute legend of a person and no matter what she’s up to next it will be great.”

    Drew Gulak and Asuka. *included with permission from Drew Gulak

    Before she signed with the WWE in August of 2014, she tagged with none other than Kenny Omega against Masato Tanaka and Hikaru Shida. This match can be easily found online if you want to watch it and I highly suggest you do which is why I am selfishly sneaking it into this article. In September of 2015, it was revealed in a press conference in Toyko that she was the first Japanese female to have signed with the WWE since Bull Nakano in 1994. It is said that she was almost moved to the main roster in March of 2016 but she was thought to be the anchor of the NXT brand and was needed there.

    Her joy and love for wrestling was always so apparent whenever she entered the ring. The pride in the presentation of her character to her joyfully dancing in the elevator during the pandemic era corporate ladder match for the Money In The Bank briefcase, her love for this great business. If this is the end or even the beginning of the end of Asuka’s wrestling career as an in ring performer, we should all be so grateful to have witnessed her paving the way for other Japanese women coming to the States and for the joy she has brought to us all.

    Domo Arigatogozaimasu, Asuka. We all wish you the best of luck where ever your decision or path takes you. Whether its still wrestling, developing video games, or writing more articles, you will be amazing. Just know how loved and appreciated you are.

    Here are her list of accomplishments as a wrestler in WWE:

    •  3x WWE Women’s Champion
    • 1x WWE Women’s World Champion
    •  1x NXT Women’s Champion
    • 5x WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion
    •  1x Royal Rumble Winner (and FIRST women to win the rumble)
    •  1x MITB Winner
    •  1x Mixed Match Challenge Winner
    •  1x Elimination Chamber Winner

     

  • WWE Raw Full Results – April 13, 2026

    WWE Raw Full Results – April 13, 2026

    On April 13th, 2026 WWE aired the 1,116th episode of Raw live in Sacramento California inside Golden 1 Center & can watch it on Netflix.

    -Kicking off this week’s Raw with a video from the 2026 Royal Rumble Winer Roman Reigns as he has a message for World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk.

    -Michael Cole & Corey Graves greet audiences at home before throwing it to a video of what went down during the contract signing between Oba Femi & Brock Lesnar last Monday.

    -Raw GM Adam Pearce announces that it’s been decided that Femi & Lesnar will sign the contract for their WrestleMania 42 match separately tonight but Paul Heyman appears and introduces Lesnar & Lesnar makes his way to the ring.

    -Lesnar signs the contract and hands it back to Pearce & Heyman says there will be a loser at WrestleMania 42.

    -He says that loser will be Femi then says there will be a winner and that man will be Lesnar.

    Lyra Valkyria defeated Charlotte Flair via O’Connor Roll (10:50)

    -We then head over to a video of IShowSpeed training with World Tag Team Champions The Vision at the Performance Center.

    -Cathy Kelley looks to speak with Vaquer in the ring, but Liv Morgan blindsides Vaquer from behind.

    -Officials pull them apart but Morgan tells Vaquer to fight her if she wants.

    -She looks to provoke Vaquer by bringing up her mother prompting Vaquer to slide back into the ring and brawl with Morgan.

    -Officials manage to get them separated.

    -We then head backstage where The Kabuki Warriors confront Iyo Sky.

    -Asuka says Sky went into WrestleMania 41 as Women’s World Champion but she’s just Rhea Ripley’s sidekick this year.

    -She tells Sky that Sane will prove herself in a match against Sky tonight.

    6 Man Tag Team Match
    The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) & LA Knight defeated MFTs (Solo Sikoa, JC Mateo & Tonga Loa) via BFT on Loa (6:50)

    -Gunther looks to talk but Seth Rollins attacks GUNTHER and rains down right hands on him before Gunther manages to slide out of the ring before Rollins promises to finish the job at WrestleMania 42.

    -Gunther heads to the back and says if it really is personal for Gunther rather than trying to get a favor from Paul Heyman, he’ll explain why he wants to fight Rollins at WrestleMania 42.

    -Gunther slides into the ring and says while he’s solving Heyman’s problem, Rollins is making him angry because he strolled around for years acting like he’s the best in the ring.

    -Gunther says he’s really the best in the ring and says Rollins became a youthful idiot for Heyman. He says it’s personal for him to expose Rollins.

    Rollins & Gunther exchange right hands with one another but Gunther sets up for a powerbomb on Rollins.

    -Rollins sends Gunther crashing out off the ring with a thrust kick and sets up for a Curb Stomp but Gunther retreats through the crowd to avoid Rollins.

    -We then head over to Adam Pearce’s office where Dominik Mysterio tries to get his WrestleMania 42 match against Finn Balor cancelled due to Balor bringing back The Demon.

    -Pearce refuses to do so and tells Mysterio that he’ll get exactly what he deserves.

    Kairi Sane defeated Iyo Sky via Roll Up (9:56)

    -Adam Pearce says there’s 1 signature on the contract already and it’s time to get the 2nd one on there.

    -He introduces Oba Femi & Femi makes his way to the ring then Pearce hands the contract to Femi and he signs it.

    -Paul Heyman appears on the top of the entrance ramp and says he can’t remember the last time that he saw someone rise to the top as fast as Femi has.

    -He says Femi is the most violent person to come to WWE since Brock Lesnar and says he’s the fastest rising star to the top since Lesnar but says all of that will come to an end at Night 2 of WrestleMania 42 when everything comes crashing down and Lesnar defeats him.

    -Heyman says his door will always be open to Femi & Femi tells Heyman that it’s taking everything out of him not to beat him down right now.

    -He says the physical scars would heal for Heyman but the emotional scars of defeating Lesnar would last forever for Heyman.

    -He says 2 months ago, Heyman & Lesnar came into the ring and issued an Open Challenge for WrestleMania 42 for whoever cared to step up.

    -He says Heyman & Lesnar rightfully didn’t care who Lesnar faces because Lesnar would win but he has 4 weeks of history to prove that he can beat Lesnar.

    -He says himself, Heyman & the fans can feel it then says if Heyman was honest, he would have said that Lesnar is scared of him. He says he’s always been the one.

    Tag Team Match
    Je Von Evans & Dragon Lee defeated JD McDonagh & Rusev via Styles Clash on McDonagh (8:12)

    -World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk & 2026 Royal Rumble Winner Roman Reigns cut a promo on each other to hype up the main event of night 2 of WrestleMania 42.

  • WWE RAW: Kairi Sane Upsets IYO Sky, Asuka Gets Involved

    WWE RAW: Kairi Sane Upsets IYO Sky, Asuka Gets Involved

    In the first hour of WWE RAW tonight, Asuka and Kairi Sane interrupted an interview that IYO Sky was doing. There, Asuka made it clear that Kairi is on her side, and tonight, she wants IYO to go one-on-one with Sane. While hesitant at first, Kairi agreed and the match was made.

    https://x.com/bodyslamnet/status/2043862899425149351?s=46

    When the match began, both competitors were off to a fast start. Quickly, the match took a spill to the outside, where IYO Sky hit a Moonsault off the barricade onto Kairi Sane before heading to a commercial.

    As the match started to wind down, it looked like IYO Sky had this match won. But, Asuka got involved and slammed IYO’s head into the ring post. This caused Rhea Ripley to make her presence known. But, before she could hit Asuka with the Riptide, Jade Cargill attacked from behind.

    https://x.com/bodyslamnet/status/2043865840353775957?s=46

    IYO Sky hit a suicide dive to take Jade out, but when she turned her attention back to Kairi, Asuka got involved again and helped Kairi Sane pick up the win. Things are heating up!

    Stay tuned for more WWE RAW updates and news.