This is another of those rare exceptions to the rule of this site not really covering WWE, AEW or non-Japan promotions because it does involve Japanese wrestlers-yesterday was the annual day WWE fans secretly dread after WrestleMania-where lots of wrestlers get cut/released by the promotion. One Japanese name was among them…Kairi Sane, fka Kairi Hojo and KAIRI, was cut by WWE. No specific reason given but one could think it’s to make room for new developmental talents and call-ups from NXT, EVOLVE and the new LFG show (and cut costs although owner TKO has absolutely no shortage of money in part because they also own top MMA promotion UFC). The surprise is because Kairi was in a current TV program with fellow Japanese wrestlers Asuka (Kana) and Iyo Sky (Io Shirai).
So what does this mean for Kairi? My first thought was she may come back to Japan and possibly follow her old boss, the poker-faced grandpa pervert Rossy Ogawa-to Marigold, who could use a big boost because the Japanese wrestling media is reporting Marigold is imminently losing top star Utami Hayashishita (I believe it’s an expiring contract). Of course Stardom, her former home promotion, is another possibility but she could also go the route of ex-WWE release Sareee and be a freelancer while occasionally doing her own events. It also may depend on if Kairi has a no-compete clause, although that usually doesn’t necessarily apply outside of the US. IF there is such a clause, typically it’s between 30-60 days, worst-case is 90 days. AEW also can’t be ruled out as they have some notable Japanese names in Hikaru Shida & Mina Shirakawa. Japanese news website Puroresu Today reports, based on a translation, that fans have already started a social media campaign to get WWE to bring Kairi back for what would be a 3rd time (she was in WWE from 2017-2021, released and returned in 2023), given she was just on Monday night’s “Raw” program.
More as it becomes available.