8 New Directions For WWE After Backlash 2026

3. The End Of Asuka?

WWE Backlash 2026 IYO SKY Asuka
WWE.com

Asuka seemed to be very emotional after putting IYO SKY over on Saturday night. She smiled through the tears and waved to fans afterwards too, then took her leave. IYO also bowed to her real-life mentor after the match. So, is this the natural end of the ‘Empress’ in WWE? It feels rather sudden, because there was no build towards retirement heading into Backlash.

Big E spoke about it on the post-show and said she’d be deeply missed if she did leave. No question. Asuka is of the most reliable workers on the roster, and she has been for years. Both Vince McMahon and Triple H knew/know they can put her in any spot available and she'll find a way to make it work without complaint.

Promotions adore that kind of all-rounder, which is precisely what Asuka is.

If this is a wrap on her full-time WWE run, then it's been one hell of a journey. The great's NXT sprint was stuff of legend before she'd even made it to the main roster, then she made history by winning the first ever women's Royal Rumble match in 2018. Since then, Asuka has been totally reliable regardless of her place in the pecking order.

It'd be sweet if she and a reunited IYO got to hold the Women's Tag-Team Titles together, but nothing is certain at time of writing. Various reports have Asuka down as a part-time star for the rest of the year, which is interesting. If so, then WWE just shed one hell of an important foot soldier for weekly TV.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.