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“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.”
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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