There’s been a lot of speculation

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Kairi Sane opened up about her WWE release today. The veteran was involved in a storyline with Asuka and IYO SKY on RAW but was still let go by the promotion this past Friday night ahead of SmackDown.

Sane was a part of the company’s wave of releases last month, which saw other stars such as Zoey Stark, Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, Santos Escobar, and the entire Wyatt Sicks faction be let go.

The Pirate Princess took to social media today to address the speculation about her release and the reports that she was cut because she wanted to move back to Japan. The former champion stated that she had never walked away and that she loved wrestling.

“What I can say is I know there’s been a lot of speculation, but I truly love this work, my teammates, and my fans. I’ve never walked away, and I’ve given my all in everything I do. I hope you’re all doing well ❤️,” she wrote.

Kairi Sane and Asuka were known as The Kabuki Warriors as a tag team. The duo lost the Women’s Tag Team Championships to Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY on the January 12, 2026, edition of WWE RAW.

WWE star pays tribute to Kairi Sane

IYO SKY shared a heartfelt tribute to Kairi Sane following her surprising departure from the company.

The Genius of the Sky took to social media to praise Sane and noted that she was sad she wouldn’t be traveling with her anymore. However, Sky added that whatever the 37-year-old does next would be amazing.

“It’s so hard to accept that Kairi won’t be in the passenger seat of the rental car anymore, but… I’m absolutely certain that with her innate talent and the incredible knowledge and experience she’s gained in WWE, Kairi’s new journey will be something truly amazing. From the bottom of my heart, I wish for my beloved Kairi’s success and happiness. I love you so much Kairi. We’ll be best friends forever and always,” wrote SKY.

IYO SKY, Kairi Sane, Asuka, Bayley, and Dakota Kai used to be members of the popular Damage CTRL faction. It will be interesting to see what lies ahead for Sane following her departure from WWE.