WWE RAW Superstar Natalya issues statement after veteran officially hangs up her wrestling boots 

WWE Superstar Natalya has issued a statement after a 27-year veteran officially brought the curtain down on her in-ring career. Sumie Sakai wrestled her last match this past weekend.

Sumie Sakai isn't a name many wrestling fans would recognize easily, but she was the mainstay of Ring of Honor's women's division for many years. She remained loyal to the promotion until it was sold to Tony Khan in 2021.

During the NJPW Battle in the Valley event on Saturday Night, Sumie Sakai joined forces with EVIL and SHO to face Hiromu Takahashi, Mayu Iwatani, and Yuka Sakazaki in a match that saw her teammates turn on her. As a result of their actions, she lost her retirement match.

After the match, Sakai received a ten-bell salute as the entire locker room came out and bid an emotional farewell to one of the all-time greats in women's wrestling.

WWE Superstar Natalya paid her respect when she took to her Instagram handle to issue a lengthy message, in which she recalled old memories with her friend.

"I want to congratulate my beautiful friend @sumiesakai on an amazing career in professional wrestling. Sumi wrestled her retirement match yesterday. I met Sumi in 2005 in Tokyo. It was my first trip to Japan and I was going there to live, train and wrestle for a few Japanese women’s promotions. It was my first big break in wrestling, with my hopes of one day getting signed by WWE. I was intimidated, very scared of failing and I definitely didn’t think I was good enough at the time to work with the greatest women wrestlers in the world."

The Iron Woman of WWE went on to congratulate Sumie Sakai on an incredible career.

"So congratulations Sumi on your incredible career and THANKYOU for all you’ve given. In wrestling, it’s never really the end. It’s like Hotel California, you can check out any time you want, but you can never leave."

Check out her Instagram post below:

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What's next for Natalya in WWE?

Natalya, at 42, isn't getting any younger and she wants to make the most of the time she has left in the ring.

The former Divas Champion last competed on the RAW tapings on December 16, 2024, where she competed in a Triple Threat match against Alba Fyre and IYO SKY as part of the Women's Intercontinental Championship tournament.

Natalya took a pinfall loss that night and hasn't been seen on television since.

With Royal Rumble right around the corner, it will be interesting to see if she will declare her entry into the 30-women battle royal.