Asuka’s future with WWE is in question following an emotional scene at Backlash 2026 in Tampa. Big E openly speculated on the post-show panel whether Saturday night marked the end of the Empress of Tomorrow’s WWE career.
Following her match at the Premium Live Event, Asuka was visibly emotional and shared a tearful embrace with IYO Sky in front of the Tampa crowd. The moment immediately sparked speculation among fans and WWE personnel about whether the veteran was saying goodbye.
Corey Graves & Big E React to Asuka’s Emotional Moment
Speaking on the WWE Backlash post-show panel, both Corey Graves and Big E addressed the emotional scene — stopping short of drawing firm conclusions but leaving little doubt about the gravity of the moment.
Graves opened the discussion with measured caution:
“I have questions; you have questions. There was a lot of body language afterwards that might have suggested one thing or another. I don’t want to speculate, but either way, what a match.” — Corey Graves
Big E went further, directly raising the possibility that fans may have witnessed Asuka’s farewell:
“I don’t either. I wondered… is this a goodbye? We’ve never really seen Asuka this emotional. If this is goodbye, I know she will be dearly missed. She has been a pioneer; she had done truly incredible things in the ring even before she came to WWE, but she has further staked her claim as an all-time great here. I don’t know what this means, but shout-out to IYO SKY for another incredible performance. She’s someone I expect to be in that World Title picture again very, very soon.” — Big E
Asuka has been a cornerstone of WWE’s women’s division since her main roster debut. The former NXT Women’s Champion and multiple-time champion on the main roster has been one of the most decorated female performers in company history.
Neither Asuka nor WWE has confirmed whether Saturday’s appearance was her final match with the promotion. The emotional farewell with IYO Sky, her longtime friend and former tag team partner, added weight to the speculation about her departure.