How WWE Changed Plans For Asuka's Heel Turn Revealed

WWE changed their original plans for Asuka reverting back to being a heel

Aidan Gibbons smiling in front of a green screen in an Adidas hoodie

Aug 13, 2025

Asuka WWE Studio 2023.jpg

A heel turn for Asuka was very much set up for the former WWE Women's Champion on the August 11 edition of Monday Night Raw from Quebec City.

IYO SKY was booked to face Roxanne Perez on Raw, which resulted in Asuka and Kairi Sane offering to be at ringside for their former Damage CTRL stablemate on the show. SKY declined the offer, but the Kabuki Warriors got involved in the singles match anyway, accidentally costing SKY the match when she missed on a lariat to Perez while the Judgment Day member was being held by Asuka and Sane. This allowed Perez to roll up SKY for the win.

An upset IYO SKY confronted Asuka backstage following the match, which led to Asuka shoving SKY before she walked away, followed by Kairi Sane.

WWE's original plans didn't call for Asuka to turn heel quite so quickly, however. IYO SKY was originally planned to challenge Naomi for the Women's World Championship on Raw, but the match was scrapped just hours before the event when WWE announced Naomi wasn't medically cleared to compete. It has since been noted that Naomi could be away from WWE programming for a long time.

PWInsider has reported that due to Naomi being pulled from the show, WWE pushed forward with plans for Asuka to turn heel on August 11, changing their original plans which called for the angle to be more of a slow burn over the next few weeks. WWE also changed their initial amended plans on Raw, which were for IYO SKY to team with Rhea Ripley against Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez.

Asuka has spent much of her time on WWE TV in recent years as a heel. She was a heel as part of Damage CTRL prior to spending over a year out of action from May 2024 until June 2025 due to requiring knee surgery.

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