Big E Questions Whether WWE Backlash Was Asuka’s Goodbye

Posted by admin on May 10th, 2026

Big E raised questions about Asuka’s future following the emotional ending to her match against IYO SKY at WWE Backlash 2026.

Although Asuka lost the match, the emotional post-match scene quickly became one of the biggest talking points coming out of the show.

Big E Teases Asuka Retirement

After the match ended, Asuka and IYO SKY shared a respectful embrace in the ring while fans in Tampa loudly supported “The Empress of Tomorrow.”

SKY also bowed to Asuka after securing the victory, showing respect toward her former ally and rival.

The emotional moment immediately led to speculation among fans regarding whether WWE could be hinting at a major change involving Asuka’s future.

That discussion intensified during the Backlash post-show when Big E openly questioned whether the moment may have represented a farewell.

“I am wondering if this was a goodbye. We’ve never really seen Asuka this emotional,” Big E said.

Big E then continued by praising Asuka’s impact on professional wrestling and everything she accomplished before and during her WWE career.

“If this is goodbye, I know she will be dearly missed. She has been a pioneer and has done truly incredible things in the ring before she even got to WWE, but has further staked her claim as an all time great here in WWE. I don’t know what this means.”

Asuka’s emotional reaction stood out because she rarely shows that level of vulnerability on WWE programming.

The reaction from both the crowd and the WWE panel afterward only added further intrigue surrounding her status.

At this point, WWE has not announced any plans regarding Asuka stepping away from wrestling or retiring.

However, the combination of the emotional ending, SKY’s show of respect, and Big E’s comments quickly fueled speculation online following Backlash.

The match itself marked another major chapter in the longtime relationship between Asuka and SKY, who have shared both partnership and rivalry throughout recent WWE storylines.