A clip from a recent Chris Van Vliet interview with former WWE star Shayna Baszler has just gone viral, with Baszler putting over Asuka’s toughness after she unintentionally kicked out one of her teeth during the match. However, Asuka has now emphasized to X that, while she harbors no blame toward Baszler, she lied about not being hurt, saying, “I did not want her to carry the guilt.” However, she expressed disappointment with online reactions to the viral clip, in which some users mocked her for downplaying the injury at the time.
44-year-old Asuka, real name Kanako Urai, debuted in joshi puroresu in 2004, winning titles such as the JWP Openweight and Reina World Women’s Championship, and establishing herself as one of the most talented pin-ring workers in Japan. She signed with WWE in 2015 and dominated NXT with a record 510-day Women’s Championship reign and an undefeated streak. Once called up to the main roster, she was presented as a massive star, with feuds with Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, and Becky Lynch being a highlight of WWE television.
