AJ Styles didn’t hold back when discussing WWE’s latest roster departures. While reacting to several names leaving the company, the former WWE Champion admitted Kairi Sane’s exit caught him completely off guard and predicted Santos Escobar won’t be unemployed for long.
During the latest episode of The AJ Styles Show, Styles and co-host Tony Charles reviewed WWE’s recent releases. One of the first names brought up was Kairi Sane, whose departure surprised Styles more than most. Styles acknowledged that Sane has left WWE before and wondered if returning home to Japan played a role in her decision this time around. He pointed to her family situation but made it clear he was only speculating.
“Very surprised that we got rid of her, but I do believe that she is married and has a husband in Japan, so that makes sense that she’d want to get home. I think that was the first reason why she left because this is her second time leaving WWE. I think it was maybe being homesick, wanting to get home and being in Japan. I get it. I understand that. When you’re away from family, it’s got to be tough.”
Styles said Sane may simply feel she’s accomplished what she wanted in WWE, but he doesn’t believe she’s finished wrestling.
“Maybe she’s done enough where she felt like, ‘Okay, I can move back home.’ But it doesn’t sound like she’s retired yet, so I don’t know what’s going on.”
The conversation then turned to Santos Escobar, another departure that left Styles scratching his head. While Escobar briefly resurfaced in AAA after leaving WWE, Styles believes the former LWO leader has far too much talent to stay on the sidelines for long. Styles then predicted that Escobar could easily land with another major promotion, mentioning two companies by name.
“I like Santos. I think he’s an awesome freaking dude. Great wrestler. I think he fit perfect in AAA. I don’t know what the reasoning for that is. So, where’s the next step? Where are we going to find him next?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me if we saw him in AEW or CMLL or something like that. He’s definitely got the tools. Looks amazing right now. Why not take a chance?”
While Styles admitted he doesn’t know the circumstances behind either departure, he made it clear he believes both wrestlers still have plenty left to offer. He expects Sane to continue her career after returning home, and he doesn’t think Escobar will have trouble finding another place to showcase his talent. With WWE continuing to reshape its roster, Styles’ reaction shows that even veterans inside the business are surprised by some of the names walking out the door.
Were you more surprised by Kairi Sane leaving WWE again, or do you think Santos Escobar has the bigger future outside the company? Let us know your thoughts and leave your feedback in the comments.
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