Asuka has addressed the speculation surrounding her WWE future in a video posted to her YouTube channel, confirming she is still with the company while strongly implying that her in-ring career is in its final chapter. Scroll down to watch.
The video came approximately two weeks after her Backlash match and was her first public statement on the wave of rumor and discussion that has followed. Translated from Japanese, she opened by acknowledging everything fans have been saying.
“There’s a lot of speculation going around: that you won’t be able to see Asuka’s matches anymore, that she’s going back to Japan, that she’s leaving WWE. The truth is, there are some personal circumstances, and I have consulted with WWE about them.”
She was careful to note she still has the physical ability to compete.
“As you can see from watching my matches, I can still perform. I can still move.”
But she quickly followed that with a statement that reads as a quiet acknowledgment that the end is near.
“I’ve been here for over 10 years, and it always felt natural, for me and for all of you too. It felt like it was just a given that I was there. But that’s not something that lasts forever. It’s finite.”
She did not announce a retirement but spoke about the rarity of what she has accomplished and how future appearances should be treated.
“Going forward, someone who debuts with the same level of impact as me, who accomplishes as much as I have and climbs all the way to the top the way I did, may not come along again. So if you do have the chance to see me, I think it will be something precious.”
On her plans going forward, she said she will remain active on YouTube and social media and has committed to posting more frequently than before.
“I won’t become a distant presence. I’m going to upload to YouTube even more than I have been. Please come watch. Please subscribe to the channel.”
Asuka has been with WWE since 2015 and holds the record for the longest undefeated streak in NXT history at 510 days. She is a former NXT Women’s Champion, Raw Women’s Champion, SmackDown Women’s Champion, and Women’s Tag Team Champion.
No official update has been made by WWE on Asuka’s status.