Andrew Ravens
Kairi Sane is no longer a member of the WWE roster. Sane was among 25 wrestlers released by WWE on April 24 as part of the company’s post-WrestleMania 42 roster cuts, and PWInsider has since moved to confirm that her release stands and that no reversal is forthcoming. Claims circulating on social media suggesting her release had been rescinded are incorrect. Sane has already returned to Japan, making any WWE appearance impossible regardless of her contractual status.
The timing of the release drew immediate criticism given Sane’s active involvement in an ongoing storyline with Asuka and IYO SKY. According to Fightful Select, there was considerable shock within the company over the decision, with her departure before any meaningful payoff to the feud generating heavy frustration among those inside WWE. The program had been building toward a resolution that will now never happen, at least not with Sane involved.
The fan reaction was equally swift. The hashtag WeWantKairi circulated on social media for an extended period following the news, and WWE backstage interviewer Jackie Redmond posted a public response to the release before quickly deleting the tweet — a moment that reflected how widely the decision had caught people off guard both inside and outside the company.
Sane was in her second WWE run, having returned to the company in 2023. During that stretch, she won two additional reigns with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships alongside Asuka as the Kabuki Warriors, adding to a legacy that also includes her first run with the company between 2017 and 2020. Her exit leaves the Kabuki Warriors storyline unresolved and removes one of the more established names from a women’s division that is now navigating an altered roster heading into the post-WrestleMania season.
For what’s next involving Sane, she won’t have much trouble finding work with multiple promotions interested in bringing her in.
