Popular WWE Star Returns After 13 Months Out

The WWE roster is stronger once again as a missing star has finally returned to the company after 13 months on the shelf.

Asuka was last in action at Backlash France, where she and Kairi Sane lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship to Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill. That win saw Jade Cargill pick up the first gold in her WWE career.

On her YouTube channel in May 2024, Asuka released a video where she wrote a message to fans confirming her knee injury:

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.

The Japanese star underwent knee surgery in June 2024 as a result of the injury that has kept her out of action until now.

Asuka Back In WWE With Big Win

The June 16th edition of Raw saw Asuka finally make her long-awaited return to the ring as part of the Queen of the Ring tournament. The Empress of Tomorrow was part of a four-way match involving Stephanie Vaquer, Ivy Nile, and Raquel Rodriguez.

Rodriguez looked to have the match won when Rhea Ripley intervened and nailed her with a Rip Tide on the floor. Asuka then hit the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion with a hip attack now dubbed the Empress Impact to pick up the win and advance to the Queen of the Ring semi-final.

Asuka will now face her former tag team partner Alexa Bliss in the semi-final. The pair held the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship for just five days in 2022.