Io Sky climbed the ropes one last time at Backlash 2026 to bury her mentor Asuka, ending a technically brilliant exchange with a perfectly timed Over the Moonsault and a story-driven moment that has fans wondering whether the Empress of Tomorrow has just delivered a quiet farewell.
The Tampa crowd at the Benchmark International Arena chanted "we want Kairi" through the opening exchanges as Sky and Asuka traded crisp chain wrestling. Cultaholic's Tom Campbell captured the early tempo. "Chain wrestling at the start with the soundtrack of chants of we want Kyrie from the Tampa Faithful," he wrote. "They speed it up with Sky keeping Asuka at bay until Asuka stops an Asai moonsalt by driving Sky's head into the steel ring post."
Asuka, ever the technician, set up shop on Sky's arm and never let go. "Asuka began to lay in the kicks, which ends up waking Sky up," Campbell wrote of the turn. "She executed a sunset flip into a double stomp followed with a plethora of show uppercuts, a missile drop kick, and a bullet train attack for two."
The Wrestling Battle's match recap echoed the precision. "Asuka controlled much of the middle portion of the match applying a standing armbar, Fujiwara armbar, and multiple punishing kicks while constantly focusing on Io's damaged arm," the channel observed. "Sky fought back with her trademark resilience landing a double stomp, a missile dropkick, and a series of corner knees to stay in contention."
Asuka twice attempted her green mist finisher. The first attempt was famously thwarted by Wade Barrett's commentary notebook, with Cultaholic noting Barrett's empty page. "Asuka's poison mist avoided courtesy of Wade Barrett's notebook. Notice that it's empty." The image stoked debate on social media about whether the company is winking at recent rumours.
The closing stretch turned into an emotional showcase. "Both women exchanged dangerous submission attempts with Asuka locking in both the Asuka Lock and a cross armbar while Io stunned the Empress by countering with an Asuka Lock of her own," Wrestling Battle wrote. "In the closing moments, both competitors traded German suplexes and strikes before Io found one final burst of energy. After connecting with her signature corner knees, Io Sky climbed to the top rope and delivered a perfectly timed diving moonsault to secure the pinfall victory in an outstanding contest."
Campbell described the post-match moment that has dominated WWE discussion since. "Post-match, a very emotional Asuka embraces Io Sky. Very polite words are exchanged between the two, with Asuka celebrating Sky's win with tears in her eyes. Was this just a really touching moment between protege and teacher? Or maybe Asca, the latest one we could be saying goodbye to. We'll keep an eye on it and when we know more, we'll let you know."
Wrestling Battle's account underlined the same body language. "After the match, an emotional Io Sky bowed deeply to her mentor, Asuka. Overcome with pride, Asuka embraced Sky, kissed her forehead, and raised her hand in victory before sharing a hug and departing as Io thanked the crowd."
The match itself is destined for end-of-year showcases. Both women drew on years of joshi wrestling pedigree to construct a contest that earned a thunderous standing ovation, and Asuka's willingness to centre Sky as the story's heart aligns neatly with WWE's longer plans to put the women's championship picture in Sky's hands later in the year. The image of Sky bowing deeply to her senior, followed by a teary Asuka holding her hand aloft, will travel further than any of the night's bigger main events.
Whether Asuka returns on Raw or wrestles again before the summer remains unclear. WWE has not made any contractual announcement, but the staging of the embrace, the kiss on the forehead and Asuka leaving the ring alone with the camera lingering on her face all carry the hallmarks of a measured farewell.
