Despite a previous report that Kairi Sane‘s WWE contract had expired, an update notes that her deal isn’t up until February.
On December 10, Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter wrote that Sane’s contract expiration date had come and gone without an extension. But now Meltzer has provided a correction by reporting that Sane will remain under contract with WWE until February. But he makes it clear that the former Kabuki Warrior has publicly indicated that she won’t extend her time in WWE.
Sane and WWE reportedly reached an impasse; the company hoped to have her come back and resume her in-ring run, but she didn’t want to live in the United States following her return to Japan. After WWE wrote her off TV in July 2020, Sane went back overseas to work as an ambassador. The former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion sought WWE officials’ approval to appear at the Stardom 10th Anniversary event on March 3, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
WrestleZone will provide more details as they become available.
Update: Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that, per WWE sources, Sane’s exit isn’t a “done deal,” though it’s expected. These same sources somewhat confirmed the previous reports about Sane’s desire to return to Japan, and WWE allowed her to do so because they wanted to keep her with the company. Ross Sapp’s report also noted that there are “no ongoing plans” for global Performance Centers, though this initiative was still on the table at the time of Sane’s departure from the United States.
Lastly, Ross Sapp cited a WWE “higher-up” who isn’t concerned about Sane jumping ship to AEW, though the same source wouldn’t be surprised if she eventually appeared for AEW in some capacity.
