The first WWE Premium Live Event post-WrestleMania 42, 2026 Backlash in Tampa, is officially in the history books. The card had five blockbuster bouts: two title bouts, two singles matches, and one tag team contest.

The major attraction on Saturday night was Roman Reigns‘ first title defense as WWE World Heavyweight Champion against his own real-life Bloodline member, Jacob Fatu. But the only women’s contest on the card, a singles match featuring Asuka and IYO SKY, also stood out and became one of the highlights for this year’s Backlash.

The Genius of the Sky and The Empress of Tomorrow have been engaged in a feud over the last several months. Their bad blood gradually turned personal. Kairi Sane was also a major part of the saga, but she was shockingly released from the company a few days back. This was a major shocker for the fans.

Despite the massive personal setback, Asuka and SKY locked horns in a singles matchup at WWE Backlash 2026. The former Women’s World Champion proved that it’s her time now by beating the 44-year-old star clean. Fans were highly entertained by the level of the match between the two Japanese female stars and rated it highly.

However, that wasn’t the shocker. Following the bout, Asuka broke character and burst into tears. In a passing-the-torch moment, she hugged SKY, kissed her on the cheeks, lifted her hand, and bid farewell to the crowd, potentially hinting at retirement.

In this listicle, we will explore four potential reasons why The Empress of Tomorrow lost to SKY at Backlash 2026.

#4. Asuka leaving WWE

A WWE superstar breaking their heel character is a rare sight that fans do not see often. The Empress of Tomorrow is known for keeping kayfabe. At Backlash, she broke down into tears and bid farewell to the fans, hinting that this might be the end of her in-ring stint with the Stamford-based promotion.

Brock Lesnar had a similar moment at WrestleMania 42, and he retired and left WWE, as he has been placed in the alumni section on the company’s official site.

Hence, her losing the match could be her perfect departure from the sports entertainment giant. If she were to leave the promotion, a win would mean nothing to her at this point, and putting a rising star would benefit the company in the long term.

#3. ⁠Passing of the torch moment

Since Triple H took over the WWE creative team, one of the things they have been focusing on the most is building new superstars. The former Women’s World Champion IYO SKY has been one of The Game’s favorites.

Asuka has been a mentor to The Genius of the Sky throughout her professional wrestling career, and the Stamford-based promotion built their rivalry as a student versus teacher angle.

By losing to her protégé at the Backlash 2026 Premium Live Event, The Empress of Tomorrow has passed the torch to IYO to carry the legacy she and other Japanese stars have built over the years.

A win over a veteran star like former Damage CTRL leader has elevated the former Women’s World Champion’s credibility as a superstar even more.

#2. WWE is rebuilding IYO SKY as a singles star again

It’s been a while since The Genius of the Sky has been placed into the main title picture. She last held a singles title in 2025, which she lost in July.

She then formed a tag team with Rhea Ripley and ruled the division up until early this year before dropping the Women’s Tag Team Championships to the Irresistible Forces on Friday Night SmackDown before the 2026 Elimination Chamber.

Ripley climbed to the top quickly as she won the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, punched her ticket to WrestleMania, and got a Women’s Championship match against Jade Cargill. Moreover, Mami captured the Women’s Championship, beating Big Jade at the Granddaddy of Them All, becoming a singles star once again.

Meanwhile, SKY got stuck in the mid-card mix with her feud with Asuka. By handing her a personal win over her fellow Japanese star, WWE may have begun rebuilding Ripley’s tag team partner as a singles main-event star, and she might soon enter title contention.

A Women’s World Championship match between IYO and Liv Morgan would be a major box-office attraction, as they are both stylistically dynamic and know how to grab the audience’s attention.

#1. Taking time off

Another potential reason the 44-year-old veteran may have lost to IYO is that she may be going on a hiatus from the company. Being a WWE superstar can be stressful, as the life of a star is not easy.

They have to travel all around the world every week and compete tirelessly away from their family. Asuka is among the few workhorses who have been on television constantly grinding and working hard.

However, she may have finally decided to take some time off to spend some time with her family, as her retirement is not confirmed as of the writing of this article.