“She will be dearly missed,” says Big E after WWE icon bids farewell at Backlash 2026

WWE Backlash 2026 surpassed everyone’s expectations. Although every match lived up to the hype, Asuka vs. IYO SKY had everybody talking, not just because of their stellar performances, but also because of what happened after the match.

The Empress of Tomorrow broke character in a rare moment, leaving everyone wondering whether she had bid farewell to the WWE Universe.

Big E has now shared his reaction after what went down in Tampa last night.

After being at each other’s throats for months, Asuka and IYO SKY finally put an end to their rivalry at Backlash 2026. The two Japanese wrestlers put on a match for the ages, keeping fans on the edge of their seats up until the end.

The closing moments of the match saw the Genius of the Sky block Asuka’s mist with Wade Barrett’s notebook and pulling off Over The Moonsault moments later to come out on top.

After the match, a visibly emotional Asuka hugged her former protege and waved at the WWE Universe before bowing out.

During the Backlash post-show, Big E questioned whether Asuka bid goodbye, and said she would be dearly missed if she did.

“I wondered, ‘Is this is a goodbye?’ We’ve never really seen Asuka this emotional. If this is goodbye, I know she will be dearly missed. She has been a pioneer, she has done truly incredible things in the ring before she even got to WWE, but has further staked her claim as an all-time great here in WWE.”

You can check out the Backlash post-show below:

What’s next for IYO SKY after WWE Backlash 2026?

Big E also gave props to IYO SKY for her clinical performance last night. The former New Day member expects to see the Genius of the Sky back in the title picture soon.

“Shout out to IYO SKY for another incredible performance. She is someone I expect to be in the world title picture again very, very soon.”

IYO SKY missed WrestleMania 42 and spent the better part of 2025 with Rhea Ripley in the tag team division. She went on a losing streak after parting ways with Mami.

Her hard work finally paid off. She has now returned to winning ways, and it’s only a matter of time before she enters the title scene again.

If you use quotes from this article, please give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.