Former multi-time WWE champion Asuka has been out of action for over a year, last wrestling in May 2024 when she dropped the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles.
While many expected her to be recovered from her knee injury and back on WWE TV, it appears the veteran wrestler is still not ready to return, as per a report from fightfulselect.com. When Asuka initially was put on the shelf in 2024, WWE officials expected her to miss all of 2024 and through this year's WrestleMania 41. There were some reports that she would make a surprise return at that show, but sources within WWE said there was never any serious consideration bringing her back because simply put, she's still not cleared to return.
The fightful report added that at the beginning of 2025, creative ideas were pitched for her eventual return but nobody on the team ever considered her imminently coming back and some were even surprised that creative plans were being discussed so far in advance of her return, especially when it was unrealistic to see her being cleared for WrestleMania.
