WWE Confirms Return Of Top Superstar After Year-Long Absence
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
"The Empress of Tomorrow" is officially on her way back to a WWE ring. After being sidelined for over a year with a major knee injury, Asuka's return was announced during the June 9th episode of Monday Night RAW.
She has been out of action since the Backlash France event in May 2024. It was there that she and Kairi Sane lost the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship to the team of Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill.
Following that European tour, Asuka confirmed the severity of her injury and the need for time off. She underwent knee surgery in June 2024 and has been in recovery ever since.
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"After the Backlash of my European tour, I had to take a break to treat my knee that I had been hurting for a while," Asuka stated in a message to fans on her YouTube channel last year. "My partners Kairi and Dakota helped me a lot during this tour as I could not move at my best. I am very grateful to both of them."
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE...
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 11: A WWE logo is shown on a screen before a WWE news conference at T-Mobile Arena on October 11, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was announced that WWE wrestler Braun Strowman will face heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury and WWE champion Brock Lesnar will take on former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the WWE's Crown Jewel event at Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on October 31. More
Now, her return is set for the June 16th edition of RAW. She will be thrown directly into high-stakes competition as part of the 2025 Queen of the Ring tournament.
A video package that aired during RAW confirmed her entry. Asuka is scheduled to compete in a fatal four-way first-round match against Stephanie Vaquer, Ivy Nile, and Raquel Rodriguez.
A multi-time former world champion and tag team champion, Asuka is one of the most decorated women in WWE history. She famously held a long, undefeated streak that was eventually ended by Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34.
Her return adds significant star power to a stacked Queen of the Ring field. It also gives a boost to the women's division as WWE builds towards its second all-women's premium live event, Evolution, which is scheduled for July.
Asuka is someone who has a lot of experience and knowledge that she can pass down to the younger stars WWE has. Whether it's in the ring or behind the scenes, Asuka is a well-respected name in that locker room. It will be a good thing for WWE to have her back in action.
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