Nattie (Natalya) Opens Up About Asuka’s WWE Status, ‘I Felt Like She Had Something Weighing Heavily On Her Heart’

WWE

WWE star Nattie Neidhart (Natalya) has shared her persective on the emotions of Asuka and what it could mean for her status going forward.

Asuka faced IYO SKY at WWE Backlash this past Saturday in a match that saw Asuka drop her heel character afterwards and embrace SKY with a passing of the torch.

Them on Raw on Monday, Asuka embraced SKY again and said goodbye, signalling that she’s leaving WWE TV, at least for the time being.

On the latest episode of Busted Open, another legendary former WWE Women’s Champion, Nattie Neidhart, has shared her take on what’s happening with Asuka.

Nattie explained:

“I could sense prior to the match that Asuka was really emotional. For those of us that know Asuka, we know that she’s not an overly emotional person. In my entire time of knowing Asuka on the main roster, which has been over a decade, I have never ever seen Asuka cry, ever.

“Before she went out through the curtain, I could sense that her eyes… she just looked like she was about to cry. Because this means everything to her. This match means everything to her. Asuka and IYO, you don’t just get to be two of the best women wrestlers, two of the best wrestlers hands down, by not having that kind of passion. So I felt that passion pouring out through Asuka.

“I felt like she also just had something weighing heavily on her heart. I don’t know exactly what it is. My thing is, especially with girls in the locker room – if women want to open up, I will let them open up and I’m always gonna be there to listen, but unless Asuka personally shares with me exactly what’s going on, I’m not going to pry.

“So they go out there, Asuka and IYO give this masterclass in professional wrestling, it was a beautiful match, the crowd was chanting, ‘This is awesome,’ and it was amazing.

“When Asuka got back, I don’t know what it was, but I just had this feeling that something was going on with Asuka. But again, nothing has been confirmed. Nobody has said, ‘Hey, Asuka is retiring.’ Asuka has not said that she’s retiring.

“I’m a big believer – I will say this now and I will stand by this – breaks are very healthy for people. Mental health and taking breaks, and I’m not saying it’s Asuka’s mental health, we don’t know exactly what’s going on, it could be a personal situation. I know Asuka’s very close to her family.

“But whatever it is that’s going on, if she needs to press pause, that is more than okay.”

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Likely Not The End Of Asuka In WWE

While, as Nattie stated, nothing has been confirmed, it does seem like Asuka will be back in WWE and on TV at some point.

After 10 years with the company and the legendary run she’s had, Asuka deserves a full send-off similar to that of AJ Styles after his retirement match against GUNTHER.

Of course, it may not be time for that if she’s not retiring, in which case she’ll be back in the ring anyway, but if it is the end of her in-ring run, Asuka has earned a moment like that in front of the fans,

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• wwe
• Asuka
• Natalya
• Nattie

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