The Empress of Tomorrow could be making her way back to the WWE ring soon, as a new report suggests Asuka is nearing recovery from the knee injury that has kept her sidelined since May. While it’s unclear if she’ll return at the Royal Rumble, plans appear to be taking shape for her long-awaited comeback.
Fightful Select shared an update on Monday, noting that WWE has begun brainstorming creative options for Asuka’s return. One idea reportedly involved a tag team match, but it ultimately didn’t go forward. Asuka’s injury occurred before WrestleMania 40 last March and has kept her out of action since she and Kairi Sane lost the Women’s Tag Team Championships at Backlash.
Though Fightful couldn’t confirm if Asuka has resumed training at the WWE Performance Center, fans have been following her recovery journey through her social media vlogs. The former WWE Women’s Champion initially posted videos documenting her surgery and rehab process, which have since transitioned to workout clips showing her progress.
If Asuka returns at the women’s Royal Rumble, it would mark her fourth appearance in the match. She made history as the inaugural winner in 2018, but her victory road hit a detour at WrestleMania 34, where she was unable to defeat Charlotte Flair for the title.
While no official timeline for her return has been set, the prospect of Asuka re-entering the Rumble adds an exciting layer of unpredictability. Will the Empress reclaim her throne, or will her return take another form? The countdown to the Rumble is officially on.