Asuka has never been one to shy away from letting her feelings be known on social media. Recently, she hit back at a fan who harshly criticized her 2016 NXT TakeOver: Toronto match with Mickie James.

Initially, Asuka responded to a video clip of the match, commenting on how proud she was of her and James’ work, calling it a “great match.” However, one fan responded to Asuka’s comment, instead saying the bout was “boilerplate hardcam WWE slop.”

Asuka took the opportunity to send a message out to fans. Encouraging them not to allow “worthless, garbage reviews” to dictate their choices, the “Empress” of WWE suggested that fans think for themselves instead of relying on critics and online opinions.

Asuka and James went head-to-head back on November 19, 2016 at NXT TakeOver: Toronto. It was Asuka defending her then-NXT Women’s Championship against the veteran, who she eventually defeated via submission when it was all said and done. Now, years later, Asuka has established herself as one of the cornerstones of the WWE main roster.

She holds accolades such as being the winner of the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble, a three-time WWE Women’s Champion, and a former Women’s Money In The Bank winner, amongst others.

Asuka is currently out-of-action nursing a knee injury.

WWE’s first Women’s Intercontinental Champion, Lyra Valkyria, has made an impressive impact since joining the main roster in 2024. After reaching the Queen of the Ring tournament finals and capturing the inaugural Women’s Intercontinental Championship, she now sets her sights on WrestleMania 41.

In a recent interview with Pubity, Valkyria expressed her desire to face Asuka at the upcoming event in Las Vegas this April.

“A match that got away from me would be facing Asuka,” Valkyria revealed. “That would be pretty massive. When I was first debuting on Monday Night Raw, I was supposed to face her at Backlash in France, but she got hurt. Instead, I wrestled Dakota Kai, which was poetic since we later had a history-making moment together. But facing Asuka is definitely a match I’d love to circle back to.”

WWE’s biggest event of the year will take place across two nights on April 19-20 at Allegiant Stadium, where Valkyria hopes to make her WrestleMania debut memorable.

WWE Star Asuka’s X/Twitter Account Hacked

Rising Through the Ranks

Valkyria’s impressive run includes victories over prominent stars like Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, Kairi Sane, and Becky Lynch. Her NXT Women’s Championship victory against Lynch in 2023 proved to be a career-defining moment.

Lynch, a future Hall of Famer, has been instrumental in Valkyria’s development. “Becky has always made it clear that she’s there for me,” Valkyria shared. “She told me to never doubt what I bring to the table because it’s more than I realize. Betting on myself is the best advice she’s given me.”

With Lynch’s rumored return to the ring, speculation has grown about a potential all-Irish championship clash at WrestleMania.

WWE Superstar Asuka has announced that her X / Twitter account was hacked over the weekend. She addressed the situation through an urgent video message on her KanaChanTV YouTube channel, warning fans about potential scams and suspicious content appearing on her account.

The hacker posted cryptocurrency-related content on her account, specifically promoting “Solana” with the hashtag “$asuka”.

A “community note” was quickly added to the suspicious tweet, warning users not to engage with crypto links or scams.

This follows a pattern of cybersecurity challenges Asuka has faced. In January 2025, she reported multiple daily login attempts from various locations including Texas, New Jersey, and Colorado. She has also been actively fighting against online harassment and porch pirates.

Asuka’s Home Targeted by Package Thieves During WWE Injury

On January 29, 2025, Asuka took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to ask fans not to have romantic feelings for her, describling it as “meaningless” and “100% pointless.” The former Women’s Champion also shared that police had been contacted to deal with ‘advances’ from fans that had left her feeling in danger.

Unfortunately, Asuka’s request has fallen on deaf ears. In an update on X, Asuka shared that there are people who are still making advances and asked them to stop immediately.

Asuka’s update spawned plenty of responses, many of whom sympathized with the Japanese Superstar. When one shared their hope that the people advancing on her leave Asuka alone, the WWE star called the matter “troubling.”

WWE and TKO have stepped in to protect Asuka, the Superstar recently stated, and her situation has renewed talks about the nature of the fanbase’s relationship with talent. In 2024, many WWE Superstars spoke up against fans pressuring them for several autographs in a public setting, with Asuka being among those who were hounded.

Asuka has been out of action since May 2024 though recent reports have suggested that her return to action could be coming sooner than later. While Asuka is an internationally recognized star, she, like anyone else, has a right to privacy. One can only hope that those with advances against the Damage CTRL member eventually stop given the now-multiple requests from Asuka.

Asuka’s Home Targeted by Package Thieves During WWE Injury

WWE Superstar Asuka took to social media on Wednesday to issue a strong message regarding her personal boundaries. In a series of tweets, she made it clear that she rejects any romantic or personal advances from fans and emphasized that there is “absolutely no possibility” for others to interfere in her private life.

Asuka also expressed concerns for her safety, revealing that she has felt in danger recently and has even consulted the police. She stated that even casual interactions in public places, such as airports or city streets, could cause her distress, as she fears something unexpected might happen.

The wrestling star concluded her messages with a direct plea to her followers, saying that having romantic feelings for her is “meaningless—100% pointless.” Her statements suggest growing discomfort with certain interactions, reinforcing her desire to maintain clear personal and professional boundaries.

Asuka’s candid remarks have sparked discussion among WWE fans, with many expressing support for her right to privacy and safety. While public figures often deal with parasocial relationships from fans, Asuka’s firm stance serves as a reminder that personal boundaries should always be respected.

Alexa Bliss Impersonator Scams Elderly Man Out of $1 Million

Asuka appears to be edging closer to her return to in-ring action after an extended hiatus due to a knee injury.

According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, creative plans involving Asuka have been discussed, including a potential tag team match, though that idea was reportedly scrapped. As of now, her official return date remains unclear.

The former champion underwent knee surgery last year following an injury that, despite speculation, did not immediately sideline her. Asuka continued competing, including at Backlash France in April, where she and her partner lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles to Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. After announcing she would be taking a break to address the injury, Asuka underwent surgery and has since been focused on rehab. 

She has documented her recovery journey through vlogs on her YouTube channel, offering fans an inside look at her progress. Fightful added there have been no reports of Asuka training at the WWE Performance Center or any confirmation of her status for the Royal Rumble.

For now, fans can only wait and watch for updates as Asuka continues her road to recovery.

WWE Superstar Asuka is the victim of robbery after parcels delivered by Amazon were snatched from her door. On X, the Damage CTRL member shared that three children had stolen products delivered to her home, but the would-be bandits were caught on security cameras.

One can only hope that Asuka is reunited with her parcels in due time. In 2022, Bianca Belair shared that her attire worn at Survivor Series 2021 had been stolen. Belair, who often creates her own ring attires, wore a Raw-themed costume to represent the red brand in the night’s interpromotional action.

Championship titles are often the target of thieves. In 2019, the WWE United Kingdom title was stolen during GUNTHER’s reign with the gold at a non-WWE appearance for EVOLVE. It wouldn’t be until 2021 that a fan found the title being listed online, purchased the gold, and promptly returned it to WWE.

Asuka’s Hiatus From WWE

Asuka hasn’t competed since WWE Backlash: France in May, where she and Kairi Sane lost the Women’s Tag Team Championships to Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. The Empress of Tomorrow underwent knee surgery and has rehabilitating the injury ever since.

Asuka appeared during the WWE live event in her native Osaka back in July, where she welcomed fans to the show and introduced Damage CTRL. While there’s no word on how much longer the Japanese star will be out for, fans are eager to see the first-ever Women’s Royal Rumble winner back in the ring very soon.

Since 2015, Asuka has dominated on WWE programming as part of RAW, SmackDown, and WWE NXT. Though she’s currently out of action, fans should expect to see more of the Empress for years to come as PW Insider reports that Asuka has signed a new deal.

Asuka is a former RAW, SmackDown, and NXT Women’s Champion, in addition to being a Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank winner. The 42-year-old Superstar is a four-time Women’s Tag Team Champion and boasts the record for the most reigns with the titles.

Asuka hasn’t competed since WWE Backlash: France in May of this year, where she and Kairi Sane lost the Women’s Tag Team Titles to Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair. That same month, Asuka underwent knee surgery which has kept her out of the ring ever since. During WWE’s recent tour of Japan, Asuka appeared sans crutches in support of her Damage CTRL allies.

WWE Talent Signing New Contracts

The ‘new era’ of WWE has proven its immense popularity and success, with several top Superstars re-signing with the company in 2024.

In January, Logan Paul reaffirmed his commitment to WWE by signing a new contract. Following his lead, The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor renewed his contract in April.

That same month, Drew McIntyre also re-signed with WWE, quashing rumors of an ‘Elite’ move ahead of a show at Wembley Stadium. The Scottish Warrior, who received a ceremonial sword from TKO’s Dwayne Johnson, has since established himself as a top heel on WWE RAW throughout 2024.

In a significant development last month, Randy Orton confirmed reports of his new WWE contract, reportedly a five-year deal that will keep the Legend Killer with the company until summer 2029. Additionally, Nikki Cross has reportedly signed a new contract with WWE. Although Cross hasn’t competed since November 2023, she remains a prominent figure on WWE RAW due to her involvement with the Wyatt Sicks.

The fine readers of SEScoops know to respect the personal space of the talented athletes who put their bodies at risk for our entertainment. However, there are some folks out there who cross the line and put wrestlers in uncomfortable positions, including approaching them when they’re with their children, out eating or clearly making it known that they’d appreciate privacy.

Asuka is the latest WWE star to be swarmed by ‘fans’ at the airport expecting her to sign merchandise that many of them will directly put for sale online. Footage has been posted on social media of Asuka signing items for an eager gathering of wrestling fans while in between towns.

As seen below, it’s apparent that many of the items are likely bound for online auction. Some examples of this are individuals holding out full pages of what appears to be trading cards likely featuring the star, as Asuka is seen signing one item multiple times in different areas.

Can y'all leave Asuka tf alone?

She's the Empress of Tomorrow, not the Empress of helping you pay your rent. pic.twitter.com/fVG8FybRGQ

— Jay (@CreatureLives) November 17, 2023

Wrestlers Being Swarmed At Airports Has Become An Ongoing Problem

The trend of autograph seekers such as the ones mentioned above has become an unfortunate trend at airports. Over this last year, many fans on social media have became accustomed to the likes of Rey Mysterio, Jeff Hardy and Rhea Ripley all dealing in similar situations. 

Ripley was one name to express her frustrations at aggressive airport “fans” and started to set a strict guideline about what she would sign.

“Today has put me off completely! I will not sign ANYTHING that isn’t a personal photo of us anymore. Hate me, I don’t care.  Disagree with me, try putting yourselves in our shoes for one bloody day.”

Kris Statlander was another star to note about the boundaries these autograph seekers will step over to get an item signed.

Giulia’s immediate future in the ring remains uncertain at this time, but WWE has huge plans for the Japanese sensation once she joins NXT. 

The former NJPW Strong Women’s Champion is currently nursing a wrist injury she suffered during the inaugural event for Rossy Ogawa’s Marigold wrestling promotion ‘Fields Forever‘. This injury will see Giulia miss an upcoming tribute event for Hana Kimura and has put plans for her on pause. 

• Giulia Injured With Fractured Wrist At Marigold Event

Giulia in WWE NXT

It’s been believed for some time now that Giulia will join WWE NXT, an attitude galvanized when she appeared at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver in April. WWE is comfortable with Giulia healing while remaining in Japan, Fightful Select reports, and the promotion does not intend to interfere with any plans that were put in place for Giulia in Marigold pre-injury. 

WWE remains hopeful that Giulia will still be able to compete at the WWE NXT Heatwave event on July 7. The Japanese star will be thrown in at the deep end with her debut match expected to be for the NXT Women’s Championship that is currently held by Roxanne Perez. The Prodigy has had issues with WWE NXT General Manager Ava in recent weeks and it may be the fourth-generation star who officially brings Giulia in as an opponent for Perez. 

Giulia and Asuka

Giulia will be presented as “the female face of the brand” once she joins NXT, which may be a sign that Perez’s title reign will be ended by the Japanese star. One source even went as far as to say that Giulia’s role in NXT will surpass what Asuka achieved during her tenure. The Empress of Tomorrow went entirely undefeated in WWE NXT and her 510-day reign as NXT Women’s Champion remains a record to this day. 

Eddie Kingston wants to push back against pro wrestling tribalism and did just that on his Instagram profile.

Kingston is notorioiusly out of this weekend’s AEW Double Or Nothing Anarchy In The Arena match with a fractured tibula, and tears in his ACL and meniscus.

The injury has not hampered Kingston’s love for the one true sport, however as he’s clearly an active watcher of all wrestling. That’s all kinds of indicated on his latest Instagram post.

While on YouTube, Kingston happened to share a screenshot of Asuka, adding the caption that the Damage CTRL member is “One of my modern day favorites.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C7PRly2uahl

• Eddie Kingston Has Another Major Setback With Injury

Kingston suffered his devastating injury during his unsuccessful NJPW Strong Openweight title defense against Gabe Kidd at Resurgance. The Elite took Kingston out in an attack after the match, which opened up a spot to be filled for Double Or Nothing. The surprise entrant to fill in for Kingston will be Darby Allin, who returned in the closing moments of last week’s AEW Dynamite.

Kingston isn’t the only member of the AEW roster to tip the cap to WWE names. Kenny Omega recently praised Triple H for being a “body guy” and using that physical presence to his advantage. 

Although they also worked together, Ricky Starks recently just went to bat for CM Punk, saying that he was sick of the tribalism that continues to go down in pro wrestling.

Transversely, former AEW EVP Cody Rhodes has taken plenty of opportunities to credit some of his former colleagues.

WWE Superstars put their bodies on the line for the entertainment of fans every time they step into the ring. Unfortunately, injuries are a regular part of the job and virtually nobody is exempt. Earlier this week, Asuka announced she’s been dealing with a knee injury and we’ve got an update that underscores the importance of this decision.

Approximately two months ago, we covered when Asuka ‘tweaked’ her knee on WWE SmackDown. She’s wrestled a lot since then, which gave us a sense of optimism that she might be able to avoid time off. Unfortunately, the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter confirms it’s the same injury that persists.

Now that she’s gotten through WrestleMania 40 and Backlash France, where she and Kairi Sane dropped the Women’s tag titles, Asuka will take some time to recuperate and get back to 100%.

No, Asuka might be hurt! Please let it be a minor tweak and nothing more! pic.twitter.com/gMSmz83P0R

— Adikrit (@laknightingale) March 16, 2024

More WWE Injuries

WWE Superstars regularly work through injuries, especially during WrestleMania season. Here are some additional wrestlers currently out of action for various reasons:

Charlotte Flair: Torn ACL, MCL, & Meniscus, out since December 8, 2023, return timeline 9 months.

Erik: Neck Fusion Surgery, injury date September 2023, recovery time unknown.

Sonya Deville: Torn ACL, injury date July 28, 2023, recovery time 6 – 12 months.

Seth Rollins: Suffered a Grade 2 MCL tear and a partially torn meniscus in his left knee in January. He underwent surgery to repair the torn meniscus on April 16.

Ivar: Storyline injury due to a backstage attack on NXT, to give the Viking Raider some time off.

CM Punk: Successfully underwent surgery to repair torn triceps, stopped using brace, mobility improving through recovery and physical therapy.

Alexa Bliss: Pregnancy, out since February 2023, return timeline unknown.

Big E: Broken neck (fractured C1 and C6 vertebrae) that did not require surgery, injury date March 11, 2022. The former WWE Champion has dropped hints that he may never wrestle again.

Carmella: Pregnancy, out since March 2023, currently dealing with drop foot syndrome.

Damage CTRL member Asuka has revealed to her fans that she is dealing with a knee injury.

Taking to her YouTube channel ‘Kana Chan TV’, the former WWE Women’s Champion stated that she is taking her time off after Backlash: France Premium Live Event to treat recover from a knee injury. In her vlog, Asuka expressed her gratitude towards Damage CTRL teammates, Dakota Kai and Kairi Sane for their help during the European tour. She revealed that he had not been at her best. She wrote the following caption in the video:

“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. 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.”

At the end of her vlog, she wrote “See you soon.”

Injury scare

Back in March, reports emerged that Asuka suffered a possible knee injury and missed house shows due to the injury. It took place during an edition of SmackDown and fans in attendance noted that the Japanese wrestler was hobbling in the ring which raised concerns.

However, at a WWE Live Event in Springfield, Illinois on March 23, Asuka made her return to in-ring action. She joined forces with Damage CTRL teammates, IYO SKY and Kairi Sane, and faced the team of Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair & Naomi in a losing effort. 

• Asuka Returns To In-Ring Action After Injury Scare

Asuka’s last match before her hiatus took place at WWE Backlash: France earlier this month. The powerful team of Jade Cargill and Bianca Belair dethroned Asuka and Kairi Sane to capture the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Meanwhile, in the Queen of The Ring Tournament. ‘The Empress of Tomorrow’ was replaced by Dakota Kai, who endured a loss against Lyra Valkyria in the First Round match. Check out the latest results of the tournament below:

The trio of Jade Cargill, Naomi, and Bianca Belair proved to be a force to be reckoned with by emerging victorious at WWE WrestleMania 40.

In the fifth match of WWE WrestleMania 40: Saturday, the trio dispatched of Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Asuka & Kairi Sane.) The finish of the match saw Asuka accidentally mist Kairi Sane before the Empress of Tomorrow was dispatched of by Bianca Belair. Cargill would then level Dakota Kai to get the win for her team. 

You can check out some highlights from the match below.

What a #WrestleMania entrance for Damage CTRL! pic.twitter.com/2sDQepPqpC

— WWE (@WWE) April 7, 2024

The trio of @BiancaBelairWWE, @TheTrinity_Fatu & @Jade_Cargill arrive in style at #WrestleMania XL! pic.twitter.com/ZG9RBssrLb

— WWE (@WWE) April 7, 2024

The STORM has arrived at #WrestleMania XL! ??#JadeCargill pic.twitter.com/UXC1dTbZzJ

— WWE UK (@WWEUK) April 7, 2024

The EST of #WrestleMania! pic.twitter.com/d58Ar3V6KP

— WWE (@WWE) April 7, 2024

The Storm is Here

Going into this six-woman tag-team match, there was a lot of interest in how Jade Cargill would fare at her first WrestleMania. It wasn’t long into the match that “We Want Jade” chants rumbled throughout the massive crowd inside Lincoln Financial Field. Cargill certainly looked like she belonged in the ring at WrestleMania 40 and fans can expect the Storm to be at many WrestleManias and other Premium Live Events to come. 

Cargill signed with WWE in September 2023 and was immediately treated as a massive high-profile acquisition for the company. Before arriving in WWE, Cargill made her name in All Elite Wrestling, where she was the first AEW TBS Champion. Her 508-day reign with the gold remains the longest title reign of any champion in AEW history.

Welcome the Daily Drop, your daily roundup of wrestling news and rumors for Monday, March 25. Monday Night RAW is tonight, and there are a lot of stories to get to, so let’s jump right into it!

Days Until WrestleMania 40: 12

WWE:

– WrestleMania 41 Location: Minneapolis is very confident that they are going to land the location for WrestleMania 41.

–Bayley Gets Love From WWE Shop: Bayley got a new t-shirt for the road to WrestleMania 40. She’s very excited about this new drop as well. You can click here to see what they have to offer in the WWE Shop.

Been a couple years, but we finally got one! Buy yours now before Mania so we can make more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Muahahahaahaha https://t.co/orxwpoUN8v

— Bayley (@itsBayleyWWE) March 22, 2024

– Baszler Wants Stinkfaced: Rhea Ripley’s stinkface activities got around the roster. Now, Shayna Baszler is begging to receive one from The Nightmare.

– Meek Mill x WrestleMania 40: Triple H sent rapper Meek Mill an invitation to attend WrestleMania 40 in Philly. We will have to see if he is spotted at the show with his sons.

– Asuka Is Cleared: Good news for Asuka and Damage CTRL, because she was cleared to compete again. The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion took part in live events over the weekend.

WWE RAW (3/25) Advertised Card:

• C.M. Punk returns to Raw
• Ricochet vs. J.D. McDonagh
• Ivy Nile vs. Candice LeRae
• Andrade vs. Ivar
• Jey Uso vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
• Sami Zayn vs. Bronson Reed

AEW:

– The Snake is All Elite: While speaking to SEScoops, WWE Hall of Famer Jake “The Snake” Roberts confirmed he inked a new deal with AEW.

– AEW Avoiding WrestleMania Competition: AEW Collision’s April 6 episode will air at 11:30 PM EST. They are being bumped up due to college basketball on the schedule, but this change will also see them avoid direct competition with WWE’s WrestleMania 40 event.

– AEW Dynasty Ticket Sales: WrestleTix reports on their Patreon that AEW Dynasty in St. Louis on April 21st has sold 5,321 tickets, with 783 tickets left out of the current setup of 6,104. This turnout is significant, particularly when compared to AEW’s previous event, which drew 3,109 fans on January 20th for a Collision episode.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events

Looking ahead, here are some of the major upcoming shows that we have in the pipeline:

April 6: NXT Stand & Deliver and WrestleMania XL Saturday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 7: WrestleMania XL Sunday from Philadelphia, PA.

April 21: All Elite Wrestling presents AEW Dynasty live on pay-per-view from St. Louis, Missouri at the Chaifetz Arena.

May 4: WWE Backlash France from Décines-Charpieu, France at the LDLC Arena.

WWE is on the road to WrestleMania 40, and they don’t need any top stars out of action. Now, there is one less situation to worry about when it comes to Asuka’s status.

There was some concern that Asuka was out of action with an injury. SEScoops has learned that Asuka is cleared to compete after missing last week’s events. She wrestled during last night’s WWE house show in Springfield, Illinois.

Asuka’s Return

The March 23 WWE event in Springfield, Illinois included a positive update concerning Asuka, as she made her return to the ring.

During the live event, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, and Naomi emerged victorious against Damage CTRL, consisting of Asuka, IYO SKY, and Kairi Sane. Although it was a six-woman tag team match, Asuka still saw action.

This comes following concerns about a potential injury sustained during her recent match on WWE RAW. As a precautionary measure, she was granted time off from last weekend’s live events.

The Kabuki Warriors

Asuka is not booked for a match at WrestleMania 40 yet. She will likely be on hand for IYO Sky’s WWE Women’s Title defense against Bayley.

The Kabuki Warriors reunited after Kairi Sane made her return. She was previously with STARDOM during the interim time between her WWE runs, but the Pirate Princess decided to leave her Japanese pro wrestling home after Rossy Ogawa’s ousting.

They won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions during a January 26th episode of WWE RAW, and the two have remained champions since, as Damage CTRL has been covered with gold on the road to WrestleMania 40.

Former Universal Champion Bill Goldberg isn’t pleased that “some Japanese girl” eclipsed his WCW undefeated streak, in his latest shot against WWE. 

During an interview with Nothing Left Unsaid, Goldberg was asked if there was any ill will towards him in WWE due to his time in WCW. Goldberg argued that the fact that WWE had Asuka surpass his undefeated streak proved there were some issues. 

“A girl beat my winning streak… beat my undefeated streak. Yeah, I can’t even remember… ‘A-soo-ka’ is her name. Some Japanese girl. And they touted her as being the one to have the longest winning streak.”

Goldberg added that when he returned to WWE in 2016, he also noticed a lot of wrestlers using the spear as a finisher, a move he also used. Goldberg insinuated that WWE management had something to do with this influx of spears. 

Issues with Triple H

During the interview, Goldberg suspected that previous issues with Triple H led to WWE choosing Asuka to surpass his streak and for the influx of spears. 

“The fact that I didn’t get along with Paul Levesque (Triple H), which is Vince’s son-in-law, I think had everything to do with it.”

Streak Vs. Streak

Goldberg’s WCW streak began in September 2017 which saw Hugh Morrus become the future World Champion’s first victim. It ended at WCW Starrcade 1998 at the hands of Kevin Nash (though a cattle-prod-wielding Scott Hall certainly helped the former Diesel.) W

Asuka’s undefeated streak began in late 2015 and would last for 914 days before she was defeated by Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34. She surpassed Goldberg’s 173 wins at NXT TakeOver: Chicago in 2017. While Goldberg isn’t happy that his streak was surpassed now, he was far more gracious when Asuka passed him 7 years ago. 

? ……the "streak" is in very good hands? #Congrats ? RT @WWEAsuka: I respect Goldberg so … https://t.co/MKx7eO1LbG

— Bill Goldberg (@Goldberg) May 25, 2017

Was Goldberg’s Streak Legit? 

With wrestling websites dedicated to counting every match and appearance, there’s no doubt Asuka’s streak is anything but entirely legitimate. Given that Goldberg’s streak was during the 1990s, when such websites were not as common, there have been claims his streak was not all it appeared to be. 

It has been claimed that WCW inflated the number of wins, with the figure rising dramatically from week to week. Goldberg had actually lost before the streak ever began. His final wrestling match prior to his WCW TV debut was a dark match defeat to Chad Fortune. 

WWE’s road to WrestleMania 40 has hit another unfortunate speed bump. With just weeks to go until pro wrestling’s biggest weekend of the year, a key player on Triple H’s roster has gone down with an injury. During last week’s WWE SmackDown broadcast, Asuka appeared to sustain a knee injury.

Fans immediately noticed something was off when she began hobbling in the ring, which sparked fears about the severity of her condition. 

No, Asuka might be hurt! Please let it be a minor tweak and nothing more! pic.twitter.com/gMSmz83P0R

— Adikrit (@laknightingale) March 16, 2024

The reigning Women’s tag team champion did not appear this weekend’s live events, a concerning sign about her health. We’ve got an update on Asuka’s status, courtesy of PWInsider. The Empress of Tomorrow’s knee injury is legitimate, as confirmed by multiple sources. 

The extent of Asuka’s injury is still being determined and she’s been temporarily pulled from action as a precaution. 

Asuka’s absence from the Women’s Tag Team division will undoubtedly be felt, as she is 1/2 of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. As of this writing, the Kabuki Warriors don’t have a match booked, but she was obviously expected to be involved in Bayley and IYO Sky’s Women’s Title match some time during the show.

SEScoops will continue following this story closely and will provide an update when the details about Asuka’s medical evaluation are made public.

The road to WrestleMania 40 has been quite a ride so far. The Kabuki Warriors are still holding the company’s Women’s Tag Team Titles, as Kari Sane and Asuka are fighting champions. This may have caused a bit of an issue.

A new report has dropped saying that there is some frustration over having The Kabuki Warriors defending their titles on RAW next week after a brutal defense at NXT Roadblock.

Some Upset Over Title Picture

Asuka and Kairi Sane had a successful title defense at NXT Roadblock against Tatum Paxley and Lyra Valkyria. There is no rest for the champions, as they are already set to defend their titles on RAW.

Zoey Stark & Shayna Baszler have a title shot on the March 11th episode of the longest running weekly episode show in history. That is not being received too well by some backstage.

Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that officials expressed their happiness with Asuka and Kairi Sane’s presence on the Roadblock show. That being said, some aren’t too happy that Sane and Asuka have to turn around to defend those titles again.

”Officials were very happy to have Asuka and Kairi Sane on the show. However, there was some frustration with the champions having a title defense booked for next week’s Raw during Monday’s show.”

What’s Next for the Kabuki Warriors

The Kabuki Warriors do not have a match booked for WrestleMania 40 yet. IYO Sky will defend her title against Bayley during the show of shows, and it’s anyone’s guess whether they will be around for that match.

Damage CTRL is covered in gold. It’s anyone’s guess how the faction will look after they leave the grandest stage of them all, but the road to WrestleMania has been a wild one for the stable so far.

SEScoops will have more on this story as additional details are made available. 

The Superstars of WWE have weighed in as to whether it’ll be the San Francisco 49ers or the Kansas City Chiefs who stand tall at Super Bowl LVIII. 

The Big Game is mere hours away with excitement for the Super Bowl at a fever pitch. The match will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, which WWE fans will recognize as the host of SummerSlam 2021. 

WWE Stars Give Their Picks for Super Bowl LVIII: 49ers or Chiefs?

Football fans have their picks for who’ll be winning Super Bowl LVIII, as do the WWE Superstars. In a recent video, the Superstars were asked for their predictions for the Big Game. 

In the 49ers’ corner, the team has Jey Uso, who made it clear he’s red and gold ’til he’s dead and cold and threw in a YEET for good measure. San Francisco’s own ‘Dirty’ Dominik Mysterio is unsurprisingly backing the 49ers, as is the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match winner Bayley and Alpha Academy’s Otis. 

The Kansas City Chiefs have some considerable star power of their own, in addition to Taylor Swift. R-Truth is backing the Chiefs, while Baron Corbin was practically offended anyone thought he wouldn’t be rooting for the team. Carlito is also backing the 49ers, as is WWE SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis. WWE Raw announcer Samantha Irvin is also backing the 49ers. 

Who ya got for the BIG GAME tonight? ? pic.twitter.com/B1zgdEj0Wd

— WWE (@WWE) February 11, 2024

Not everyone had a clear-cut favorite, as Byron Saxton said that Taylor Swift was going to win the game herself. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Asuka and Kairi Sane simply laughed off the question. When the pair were asked the question in 2020 (which again featured the 49ers and the Chiefs), the Kabuki Warriors made it clear that they didn’t care. 

There’s some WWE involvement happening right now at Super Bowl LVIII… 

Matt Riddle made many memories while he was in WWE. One segment is still remembered by many, because it did not end the way it was scripted at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouvevLTfz2A

Matt Riddle Comes Clean About His Flubbed Lines

Riddle sat down with Signed By Superstars, and he was asked about the promo where he forgot his lines. It sounded like he was happy to finally get asked about this, so he could get it off his chest.

The Original Bro alluded to the idea that he didn’t know he was live. He assumed it was a taped segment, but that was not the case. He flubbed his lines, and then Asuka was forced to just laugh it off and keep walking down the hallway after he scooted away.

“Let’s talk about that promo. One, usually when they go live, they tell you. Sometimes, you go through a couple of rehearsals beforehand. I had the scooter, they gave it to me and said, ‘We don’t want to see you. Go 20 yards that way and roll down.’ I rolled down, and I didn’t know it was live TV. The promo they originally had was me talking about how I had been to Japan before, which I hadn’t, and how I would go to underground robot fights and I was going to ask Asuka if scooters would be a big hit in Japan. Yeah, I forgot everything. I forgot everything when I rolled up.”

“I scoot back to the locker room. Me and Randy [Randy Orton] didn’t really talk, I guess Randy didn’t really like me when I first started working there because I am who I am. Randy comes up to me and goes, ‘I don’t know if that shit was planned, but that was your best promo yet.'”

What’s Next For Matt Riddle

Matt Riddle is now onto his adventures in the pro wrestling world. He is working for NJPW and MLW. When it comes to AEW, Riddle made it abuandatly clear that he is not in any rush to wrestle on television again.

A WWE return is not out of the realm of possibility, because anyone can come back at this point. Don’t expect an immediate return, because it seems that Riddle is doing his own thing right now.

As I already exclusively noted on SE Scoops, WWE always had a plan for Matt Riddle and Randy Orton’s breakup. The idea was for Orton to turn on the Original Bro, but then he took off for 18 months due to back fusion surgery. 

Kairi Sane made her return to WWE, and she joined Damage CTRL. That also meant that Sane reunited with her former tag team partner, Asuka, and now the two are the Kabuki Warriors once again. Of course, that name has some baggage attached, but Asuka isn’t afraid to take on her critics.

The Kabuki Warriors’ Return to WWE

Last month, Asuka turned heel on SmackDown, aligning herself with Damage CTRL, particularly due to her connection with Kairi Sane. Fans, naturally, expressed their desire to see The Kabuki Warriors return. They didn’t have to wait long for that to happen.

In the recent episode of Friday Night SmackDown, The Kabuki Warriors, consisting of Asuka and Kairi Sane, were in action for the first time in over three years, marking their reunion.

Asuka Shuts Down Critical WWE Fan

However, a fan on Twitter ridiculed the name of The Kabuki Warriors, suggesting that women don’t participate in traditional Kabuki plays. A private X account called, “SpineOnThePine” posted to say, “It’s funny because women don’t act in Kabuki plays.”

Asuka took to social to respond, shutting down the fan and emphasizing that the fan lacked Japanese knowledge.

It’s funny because Not that Kabuki.

We know more about Japanese culture than you do.

The Future of the Kabuki Warriors in WWE

The future booking of Asuka and Kairi Sane on Friday Night SmackDown remains uncertain, and fans are eagerly anticipating their continued presence on WWE television. The return of the duo has been well-received by the audience.

Asuka isn’t afraid of any opponent, she steps in the ring with. The same is true for haters online, or people who want to throw knowledge at her that she’s really not looking for.

Keep checking back with SE Scoops for more of the top headlines in the pro wrestling world, and follow us on social media to stay up-to-date.

It’s funny because Not that Kabuki.

??

We know more about Japanese culture than you do.

— ASUKA / ??? (@WWEAsuka) December 18, 2023

The Empress of Tomorrow Asuka is heading back to the Raw Women’s Championship picture after a historic victory inside the Elimination Chamber.

Asuka bested Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, Nikki Cross, Carmella, and Natalya to earn a shot at Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 39.

The Japanese Superstar had been considered a favorite to win by many entering the match, following her return to action at last month’s Royal Rumble, where she was the penultimate woman eliminated from the Women’s Rumble match.

History Maker

Asuka’s seven-year career with WWE has seen her accomplish many historic feats, including surpassing Bill Goldberg’s undefeated steak with a streak of her own from 2015 to 2018.

With her win inside the Chamber, Asuka has now become the first woman to win an Elimination Chamber, a Royal Rumble match, and a Money in the Bank ladder match.

The Empress of Tomorrow won the very first Women’s Royal Rumble match in 2018, entering at #25 and scoring three eliminations.

In 2020, Asuka added the Money in the Bank briefcase to her collection of accolades, winning the cinematic match at Titan Towers.

Asuka would not cash in a contract though, as on the post-MITB Raw, it was revealed that the match had been for the Raw Women’s Championship, which had been vacated by the pregnant Becky Lynch.

Asuka at WrestleMania

While Asuka made an impact for the first three years of her career by remaining undefeated, WrestleMania has not been kind to the Empress.

Asuka’s first loss in WWE would come via submission to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34, and Asuka would be eliminated from the Women’s Battle Royal the following year.

At WrestleMania 36, the Kabuki Warriors lost the WWE Women’s Tag Titles to Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, and Asuka’s reign with the Raw Women’s title ended at WrestleMania 37.

Asuka was not used for WrestleMania 38, and remains winless at WWE’s biggest event of the year.

Asuka is going to WWE WrestleMania 39 with her win at Saturday’s Elimination Chamber PLE. 

She beat in the bout Liv Morgan, Nikki Cross, Carmella, Natalya, and Raquel Rodriguez. As a result of her victory, she has earned the opportunity to challenge Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair for the title at WrestleMania 39 in April. 

The match started off with Morgan and Natalya. Rodriguez was the third star to enter the bout followed by Cross. Moments later, Cross jumped off one of the pods to take everyone out. The fifth star in was Carmella, who talked some trash to Asuka and Cross before Rodriguez tackled Cross through one of the pods. Rodriguez pinned Cross for the first elimination.

There was a near-fall spot when Morgan hit a sunset flip powerbomb to Rodriguez from one of the pods. Carmella caught Morgan with a superkick. Natalya put her in the sharpshooter while Asuka put her in an armbar for the elimination. Natalya was eliminated by Carmella, who connected with a superkick. Asuka and Carmella hit Rodriguez with several kicks for the elimination. Asuka won with the armbreaker. 

When the bout was first announced, Morgan, Asuka, Raquel, and Cross were set for it. WWE held qualifying matches for some of the competitors in the match. Natalya defeated Zelina Vega, Shotzi, and Shayna Baszler in a four-way match to join them. Carmella pinned Candice LeRae in a match that also featured Michin and Piper Niven to advance. 

Belair didn’t defend her championship on this show. Instead, her previous title defense on a PLE was in January at the Royal Rumble when she beat Alexa Bliss. 

What are your thoughts on Asuka earning the chance to challenge Bianca Belair for the Raw Women’s Title at WrestleMania 39? Was this the right call by WWE officials? Sound off in the comment section.

New WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Asuka and Alexa Bliss won’t have long to savor their win, as the titles will be up for grabs at this Saturday’s Crown Jewel.

Bliss and Asuka won the titles during this week’s Raw, in what was Asuka’s first televised match in close to two months.

This marks both women’s third reign as Tag Champions (albeit with different partners) and the third partner for Asuka, who previously held gold with KAIRI and Charlotte Flair.

The Rematch

Just five days after winning the titles, Asuka and Bliss will put the Women’s Tag Team Championships on the line against Damage CTRL.

Bliss and Asuka will face former Champions Dakota Kai and IYO SKY, who had a 49-day reign before it was ended this week.

On Twitter, Damage CTRL’s Bayley added that she will “stop at nothing” to make things right for the group.

Bayley will also compete at Crown Jewel, where she will face Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair for the gold in a Last Woman Standing match.

Crown Jewel 2022 will mark the first time Asuka, SKY, and Kai have competed at a Saudi Arabia event.

Crown Jewel 2022

In addition to these two title matches, WWE Crown Jewel will see Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defend against Logan Paul.

The O.C. will be in action against the Judgment Day while Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley will have their long-awaited rematch from January.

Drew McIntyre will face Karrion Kross inside a Steel Cage, as the Scottish Warrior seeks to finally defeat his nemesis.

The Usos will put the Undisputed WWE Tag Titles on the line against the Brawling Brutes while Braun Strowman will have a meeting of the giants with Omos.