Report: Asuka Was Pulled From WWE Raw Because Of A Legitimate Wrist Injury

Ahead of this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw, WWE announced what many consider to be a dream match as Shayna Baszler was set to face off against Asuka. 

However, just hours before the show began, the company announced The Empress Of Tomorrow had been pulled from the match because of a wrist injury and would be replaced by her tag team partner Kairi Sane.

Speculation ran rampant as to whether Asuka had suffered a legitimate injury, or if she was just injured in kayfabe as WWE had decided to save the match for a later date. 

The former SmackDown Women’s Champion appears to have legitimately injured herself, however, as Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that Asuka sprained her wrist when she teamed with Sane against Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair at a house show over the weekend. 

Fans don’t need to worry, however, as Asuka is expected to be cleared for in-ring action at the Elimination Chamber. 

Meltzer said: "She hurt her wrist. I think it was at the house show in Salisbury, Maryland in a tag match. I think it was Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair against Asuka and Kairi. I think it was a sprained wrist and they’re hopeful that it’ll be okay for the pay-per-view on Sunday…She showed up at TV and she wasn’t cleared and they had to switch the match."