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It has been several months since we last saw Asuka competing in WWE. The former Women's Champion suffered a knee injury during the March 15 episode of SmackDown, when she landed awkwardly in the ring during a match between Bayley and Dakota Kai of Damage CTRL.
Asuka returned on time for WrestleMania 40 and also worked Backlash in Lyon, France, in early May. However, after she and Kairi Sane lost the Women's Tag Team Titles to Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill, WWE ruled out Asuka indefinitely.
A few weeks after Backlash, the Japanese wrestler had successful knee surgery and started rehabilitation without providing any timetable for her return.
Asuka recently took to social media and informed her fans that she was midway through her recovery without giving any more information on her status. Given the nature of her injury, though, she could be back in time for the Royal Rumble (February 1, 2025), but it could be safer to say that she will be back during the Road to WrestleMania 41.
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A couple of months ago, it was also revealed that the former Women's Champion had signed a new deal with WWE, which would keep her with the company long-term. No further details on the new deal were revealed, though.
Sonya Deville calls Asuka a 'dream opponent'
Sonya Deville had to miss several months with a serious injury, but she is now back in WWE as the leader of Pure Fusion Collective alongside Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark.
Speaking with Chris Van Vliet, Deville recently opened up about a dream match she would love to have and named Asuka as a dream opponent.
"I’ve had a million matches with her but not a lot televised, and never a singles televised to my knowledge. Asuka is one of my favorite opponents. We would have awesome matches down in NXT seven years ago, eight years ago on live events and road loops. And it was my favorite match to this day, but we never got an angle on TV," Sonya Deville said.
Pure Fusion Collective has been in a middle of a feud with Damage CTRL, so if Asuka is back soon, she could go after Sonya Deville.
