When Is Asuka Due To Return To WWE?
The Empress of Tomorrow has been out of action since July's Money in the Bank.
When you look at the lack of depth on WWE's Raw and SmackDown women's rosters, it's impossible to not think of superstars who have been on the shelf for some time.
Asuka has been out of action since July 2021, and her presence has been sorely missed. The Empress can always be counted on for an entertaining, competent match at worst, and a show-stealing, hard-hitting affair if given the opportunity. But a shoulder injury and dental work has kept her on the sidelines.
Initial reports indicated that she was considered for the Royal Rumble and then was rumored to return by the end of February, but clearly, neither have happened. Now, Fightful Select reports that Asuka is still listed on internal WWE inactive lists. One source said the "optimistic return is 'around spring' for Asuka," while another suggested that no creative plans have been written for the Japanese star because she's simply not available.
That sort of thing is maddening, that no one thinks a half-step down the road that at some point she's going to return, and they're going to need a plan for her. Instead, WWE's dozens of writers apparently are content to wait until she's cleared to try to concoct something for her to do on TV. So naturally, we can expect a story this spring that Asuka has been cleared to return, but "creative doesn't have anything" for her.
Fightful also notes that "top talent in the company" have said that they haven't gotten an update on Asuka in a while. That's a strange thing, that notable wrestlers haven't heard anything about her status, because you have to imagine some of them would be antsy to work with the three-time women's champion.