Iyo Sky Defeats Asuka in 18-Minute Wwe Backlash Match

Iyo Sky beat Asuka at wwe backlash in Tampa on May 9, 2026, finishing an 18-minute match with a clean pin after a moonsault from the top rope. The result ended their first singles meeting since September 2023 and closed with an emotional embrace that shifted the tone after a hard-fought match.

Iyo Sky and Asuka in Tampa

Asuka controlled much of the opening before Sky turned the match with a cradle that nearly produced a three-count and later escaped the Asuka Lock. Sky also blocked Asuka’s blue mist with Wade Barrett’s laptop, then finished the job with the top-rope moonsault that led to the pin. Fans chanted for Kairi Sane throughout the match, adding another layer to a bout built around old ties and recent friction.

Asuka and Sky after the bell

The post-match scene carried the biggest emotional shift of the night. Sky bowed to Asuka after the match. Asuka broke down in tears and gave Sky a big hug. They embraced and Asuka held up Sky’s hand.

That reaction fit the wider story around the match: Asuka had previously trained and developed Sky, and their relationship fractured over recent months. The clean win gives Sky a notable result over a former mentor, while the embrace suggests the rivalry did not end with the final pinfall. For a match that ran 18 minutes, the final image was the one that will follow both wrestlers out of Tampa.