Asuka's WWE future is now the subject of uncertainty following WWE Backlash, with Dave Meltzer reporting on Wrestling Observer Radio that the former champion is considered semi-retired, though the exact meaning of that status remains unclear.

"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."

The report adds an unexpected dimension to what took place at Backlash, where Asuka faced IYO SKY in a singles match that had been building for months following the release of Kairi Sane in the post-WrestleMania roster cuts. The backstage farewell atmosphere Meltzer described suggests those close to the situation were aware that something significant was changing for Asuka, regardless of the match outcome.

A separate update from Fightful complicates the picture further. According to their report, Asuka signed a long-term WWE deal in the summer of 2024, with most contracts signed during that period running for five years. The exact length of her specific deal is not confirmed, but a five-year agreement would run through 2029.

TKO has been actively seeking to restructure talent contracts across the roster in recent months, driven in part by a reduction in house shows and the reduced travel schedule that comes with fewer live events per month. Whether Asuka is among the names who have been approached about contract restructuring has not been confirmed, but the shift from full-time performer to semi-retired status would align with the kind of reduced arrangement TKO has been offering to other talents.