Kairi Sane was a fan favorite who never got a real long run at the top in WWE. Her April 24, 2026 release came during a mass wave of cuts and left a recent storyline with Asuka unresolved.
Early career and NXT rise
Kairi Sane started wrestling in Japan in 2011 as Kairi Hojo. She became known as the “Pirate Princess” in Stardom. In 2017 she joined WWE’s NXT and became Kairi Sane. Her pirate character was fun and she connected with fans.
Sane won the NXT Women’s Championship and formed a strong team with Io Shirai called the Sky Pirates. On the main roster she teamed with Asuka as the Kabuki Warriors. They won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships and worked well both as heroes and villains. Still, Sane rarely got a full singles push. Injuries and stop-start booking slowed her momentum. She left WWE in 2020 by her own choice.
Return and Damage CTRL
Sane returned to WWE in November 2023. She showed up at Crown Jewel to help Iyo Sky keep the WWE Women’s Championship against Bianca Belair. She then joined Damage CTRL with Bayley and others. Sane and Asuka reunited and held tag gold again. She looked like the same skilled wrestler fans remembered.
In January 2025 Sane tore a ligament in her thumb and missed several months. WWE kept her on the roster. When she returned, the company put her in singles action right away. She beat Liv Morgan and reconnected with Asuka. In a surprise moment, Sane and Asuka turned on Iyo Sky and attacked Rhea Ripley. That turn set up a slow-burn story that many fans were eager to see paid off.
Unfinished feud with Asuka
WWE built a slow storyline where Asuka bullied Sane on TV. Sane often looked scared and unsure. The tension made Sane’s character more interesting. Fans expected a final moment where Sane would stand up and break free from Asuka’s control, possibly at WrestleMania.
Instead, Sane’s release on April 24, 2026 came as part of a large set of roster cuts. UFCcoverage reported the company let go of over 20 performers that day. Iyo Sky and Asuka were not booked for WrestleMania 42, so the story had no obvious place to reach its next chapter. That left fans without the satisfying payoff they were expecting.
Legacy and what’s next
For many fans, Kairi Sane’s WWE career will feel unfinished. She spent years close to superstardom but rarely got a long singles run. At 37 and with two main runs in WWE, a return seems unlikely. Still, she has a strong reputation from Japan and WWE. She should find good opportunities outside WWE and will likely do well wherever she goes.
WWE missed a clear chance to push Sane and resolve the Asuka storyline. Fans wanted to see her stand up and claim her place in the division. Instead, her time in WWE ends with questions and a feeling that she deserved more.
