IYO SKY & Asuka Embrace After Match at WWE Backlash 2026, Big E Questions If That Was The End of Asuka in WWE on Post-Show

Saturday’s WWE Backlash 2026 event at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida featured IYO SKY defeating Asuka in a singles match. This match was notable for Asuka becoming very emotional and SKY bowing to her in a sign of respect. This led to the two embracing in the ring and Asuka waving to the crowd as she left to the back.

asuka getting emotional and hugging iyo after the match 🥹

#WWEBacklash pic.twitter.com/sGA2iq3swX

— 𝓙𝓸𝓱𝓷 (@TwistedJohnX) May 9, 2026

Asuka and Iyo Sky hugged it out after the match. #WWEBacklash pic.twitter.com/T8QCu4YZ0X

— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) May 9, 2026

This quickly lead to some online speculation of Asuka potentially might be done with WWE and could be leaving over the farewell-like nature of the post-match segment.

During WWE’s Backlash post-show, Big E gave his thoughts about Asuka and SKY’s post-match embrace and Asuka’s potential future in WWE.

“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 just 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.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com