Update On Asuka Possibly Leaving WWE
Former Women's Champion Asuka has sparked speculation about her status with the company.
'The Empress of Tomorrow' is currently listed as an active member of the SmackDown roster, with no official announcement from WWE regarding any change to her employment or in-ring status.
Recent reports via the Wrestling Observer Newsletter suggested that WWE had described Asuka's situation as a semi-retirement related to family business obligations in Japan.
Dave Meltzer reported that he had been in contact with people in WWE for an update after the speculation among fans during 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 noted on Wrestling Observer Radio on Sunday morning that the story he was hearing was that Asuka was semi-retired, but 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."
Asuka was most recently involved in a tag-team with Kairi Sane, before the latter was released. Earlier this month, Asuka lost to IYO SKY at WWE Backlash Premium Live Event.
