Asuka may be entering a new phase of her career following WWE Backlash, according to comments made by Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

Meltzer stated that he had heard Asuka is now “semi retired,” though he admitted the exact meaning of that status remains unclear.

“So, the story I heard is that she is semi-retired,” Meltzer said. “I haven’t really gotten an exact meaning of what semi-retired means, but I guess people were wishing her goodbye and things like that backstage. So I don’t know if that means she’s going to Japan and still wrestle. I don’t know if that means she’s going to still do stuff here and there, but I was told semi-retired.”

He went on to mention:

“I wonder if she was with other people that was cut. I mean, I don’t know,”

Alvarez responded by noting the recent release of Kairi Sane, saying,

“I can’t fathom that but I guess it’s possible. But I mean, Kairi was cut and she didn’t even get used to the end of this thing, so.”

Asuka has been with WWE since the summer of 2015 and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished women’s wrestlers of her generation, capturing multiple championships across both NXT and WWE’s main roster.

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H/T to f4wonline.com for quote transcription.