Big WWE Injury Update: Latest On Asuka, Ilja Dragunov, and Tonga Loa's Returns (WWE News)
When are Asuka, Dragunov, and Tonga Loa due to make their WWE returns?
While all WWE focus is on WrestleMania 41 at present, there's now an update on the status of Asuka, Tonga Loa, and Ilja Dragunov - three talents who are currently on the sidelines due to injury.
As per PWNexus, Asuka is expected to return to the Raw brand at some point in May, likely after the Backlash PLE. For Tonga Loa, he should be back on SmackDown in June. And where the Mad Dragon is concerned, Ilja Dragunov is aiming to be cleared and competing on Raw once more in September.
In the case of Asuka, the Empress of Tomorrow is approaching a year since she last wrestled at Backlash 2024 last May. Prior to that, the 43-year-old damaged her knee on a March '24 episode of SmackDown but worked through that injury until Backlash, after which she underwent surgery.
Ilja Dragunov was the next notable WWE name to be struck by injury, suffering a suspected ACL tear during a September house show. The 31-year-old former NXT Champion was initially expected to be out for six to nine months, but if this September 2025 return date is indeed true, that would mark one whole year on the shelf for the hugely talented Russian.
Where Tonga Loa is concerned, he was one of three men who suffered injuries at Survivor Series: WarGames in November as the Bloodline saga came to an explosive head. For Loa, his particular injury was a torn bicep that required surgery. Elsewhere in that Bloodline WarGames match, Jimmy Uso broke a toe, while poor Bronson Reed broke an ankle when crashing through a table in the ring after going for his Tsunami Splash from the top of the WarGames cage onto Roman Reigns.
WWE's Current Injury List
Injuries are a hugely unfortunate part of the wrestling business, and WWE finds itself with several extremely talented grapplers forced out of action right now.
Away from Asuka, Tonga Loa, Ilja Dragunov, and Bronson Reed, the Judgment Day's JD McDonagh is out with a broken rib and punctured lung, Kairi Sane is recovering from an unspecified arm injury, Kiana James has been absent with a leg injury, Apollo Crews tore his pec in January, and NXT's Noam Dar has been out since last June after tearing a tendon in his leg. Hopefully, it's not too long before some of those names are cleared and ready to lace up their boots again.
In more positive news, this week's Raw saw the return of Tyler Bate, with the Big Strong Boi himself having spent nine months on the shelf following surgery for a torn pec. Of course, that return didn't go quite as planned, with Bate and Pete Dunne coming up short against the New Day.