At this month's Backlash PLE, Asuka squared off with IYO SKY in an exciting, very personal match. However, after the latter defeated her former mentor, an emotional Asuka embraced SKY and seemed to say goodbye.
Rumours that Kairi Sane would return to officially end her involvement in the storyline proved false, and speculation about what it all meant for Asuka followed. We heard that the Empress of Tomorrow is "semi-retired," which was seemingly confirmed by a backstage appearance on RAW that saw her say another goodbye to SKY.
Now, Asuka has broken her silence on her WWE status. Translated from Japanese, she says, "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."
"As you can see from watching my matches, I can still perform. I can still move," Asuka continued. "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."
While stopping short of announcing her retirement, the former WWE Women's Champion did share some insights into what her future with the company will look like.
"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. 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."
During her WWE run, Asuka, who is 44, has won the NXT Women's Championship and is a four-time WWE Women's Champion. She's also held the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship five times and is a Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank winner.
The company is in something of a transitional period, with many top Superstars now in their 40s and 50s. In the past year alone, we've said goodbye to John Cena, AJ Styles, and, for several weeks, at least, Brock Lesnar.
You can hear more from Asuka in the player below.