Kairi Sane has spoken publicly for the first time about the sudden end of her latest WWE stint. Released in April despite being regularly featured on RAW alongside Asuka and IYO SKY, Sane admitted the decision came as a complete surprise and interrupted what she believed was a major turning point in her character’s trajectory.
Speaking with Ring Plus, Sane explained that she was heavily involved in ongoing storylines and felt her character was on the verge of a significant shift. She described the release as something that blindsided both her and those around her.
“It was just as much of a bolt out of the blue for me as it was for everyone else—my friends around me felt the same way. I was appearing on RAW almost every single week without missing a beat, and I was involved in storylines both inside and outside the ring. The storyline was reaching a turning point where my character was about to explode into action… I had been building up frustration and holding back for so long, and I was finally at the stage where I thought, ‘Now I can unleash my true potential!’ So getting released right at that moment was a huge shock.”
Sane, who previously departed WWE in December 2021 before returning in November 2023, said she returned to Japan roughly two weeks after being let go. While reflecting on the abrupt ending, she acknowledged that she may have considered retirement had her storyline with Asuka reached its intended conclusion.
“To be honest, if the storyline with Asuka and me had reached a proper conclusion, I might not have had any regrets. That was how much resolve I had going into it, and I gave it everything to make it exciting. But as I mentioned, it ended right in the middle of everything, so the idea of retiring didn’t cross my mind right away.”
Sane Says the Unfinished Storyline Strengthened Her Desire to Continue Wrestling
Sane noted that the incomplete nature of the angle only reinforced her determination to keep wrestling. She said she wanted to see the story through and refused to walk away before feeling she had fully delivered on her potential.
“I wanted to give it one last push until the very end. That’s why I couldn’t retire halfway through like this—not until I felt within myself that I had truly given it my all and done everything I could…. So retirement never crossed my mind. Though, this release is probably the biggest setback of my entire career. But isn’t it great material for an autobiography? (laughs)”
Looking ahead, Sane confirmed she has already received interest from numerous promotions following her release. She said the volume of offers has been overwhelming and expressed gratitude for the opportunities now available to her.
“Right after the release, my head was an absolute jumble, so I tried not to think about it for a bit. But now, I’m extremely grateful… I’ve received offers from so many promotions around the world that I can’t even count them on both hands—both inside Japan and internationally. I actually met with the people who reached out from Japan.”
Sane’s comments paint a clear picture of a performer who believed she was on the verge of a major breakthrough before her release. With multiple promotions already expressing interest, her next move now becomes one of the most closely watched decisions in the women’s wrestling landscape.
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