During this past Saturday's 2026 WWE Backlash Premium Live Event (PLE), Asuka faced IYO SKY in a singles match, showcasing a classic teacher versus student dynamic. Both wrestlers delivered outstanding performances, but in the end, it was The Genius of the Sky who emerged victorious. After the match, an emotional Asuka hugged and kissed SKY and waved to the crowd before leaving the ring.
WWE veteran Big E participated in the Backlash post-show, discussing various topics, including Asuka’s future in WWE. While he refrained from speculating, Big E noted that if this was indeed Asuka’s farewell to the WWE Universe, she would be profoundly missed. He also praised Asuka's incredible achievements, calling her an all-time great. Additionally, Big E commended SKY's performance and expressed his anticipation that she would soon be involved in the World Title picture.
This is what Big E said, “I don’t [want to speculate] either. I wonder if this is a goodbye. I haven’t really seen Asuka this emotional. If this is goodbye, I know she will be dearly missed. She has been a pioneer; she 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, 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.”
You can check out Big E's comments in the video below.
(H/T to 411Mania.com for transcribing the above quotes)
