Subhojeet Mukherjee on April 28, 2026
Kairi Sane’s WWE release is still drawing reactions, but a new report suggests the reason behind it may not be what many initially believed.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer addressed the situation first, offering a different explanation for why Sane was let go. As he broke down what he’s heard, Meltzer said the move may have been influenced by Sane herself, rather than WWE making a strictly business-driven decision.
“So, the Kairi thing. The reason she was cut was I think she had kinda indicated that she wanted to move back to Japan.”
He also pointed out how unusual the timing was, especially with Sane still involved in a storyline at the time of her release: “I agree (Kairi should show up at Backlash), we’re in the middle of a program.”
Meltzer then pushed back on the idea that the decision had anything to do with money, talking about the scale of WWE and TKO’s financial position. He added that finishing her storyline wouldn’t have been a costly decision compared to other expenses.
“The reality is, this is not a money issue. You know what I mean? This company makes... whatever it is. The revenue between UFC and WWE and throwing everything in, the revenue's in the billions of dollars. To keep a cohesive storyline, it’s not that expensive to do. They probably spend way, way more on things that are inconsequential compared to that.”
This paints a very different picture, but it also contrasts with WWE’s reported stance on bringing her back. During a WrestleVotes Q&A session on April 27, 2026, it was made clear that WWE has no intention of reversing her release, even with strong fan demand. When asked if a situation similar to R-Truth’s return could happen, WrestleVotes explained why that’s not expected.
“The big part here is—could we see a reversal much like R-Truth? No. They didn’t want to bring Truth back—they caved in, broke down, and said, ‘Come on back.’ You can’t do that again within a calendar year, because every time the critics or voices get too loud, people are going to expect that talent to get brought back.”
He also addressed the ongoing #WeWantKairi movement, suggesting WWE is simply waiting for it to lose momentum.
“The ‘#WeWantKross’—that died. This, ‘#WeWantKairi’—they’re hoping it dies, and that’s that.”
All of this comes after reports that Sane has already returned to Japan, and earlier backstage reactions described shock and frustration over her being released mid-storyline with Asuka and Iyo Sky.
Put it together, and the situation looks far more complex than it first appeared. One side says WWE won’t bring her back, another suggests the decision may have been influenced by her own plans, and fans are still pushing for a reversal anyway. WWE isn’t budging, Meltzer says it wasn’t about money, and Sane may have already been on her way out. This story has turned into a lot more than just a standard release.
Do you think WWE should have kept Kairi Sane to finish the storyline, or was letting her go the right call if she wanted to return to Japan? Let us know your thoughts and feedback.
3 hours ago
Disqus Comments Loading...