10 Ways WWE Has Shot Itself In The Foot In 2026

1. Firing Kairi Sane In The Middle Of A Storyline

Kairi Sane
WWE

The title speaks for itself. After months of building an intricate plot between Asuka, Iyo Sky, and Kairi Sane, WWE made the baffling decision to release Sane before the storyline was resolved. 

It was rumoured that Sky and Asuka were going to fight at WrestleMania 42, with Sane playing a vital role in deciding the outcome. However, for whatever reason, this match was bumped to Backlash instead, by which time the Pirate Princess was one of dozens of names the promotion had decided were surplus to requirement. 

Whether WWE had originally planned to finish this storyline at Mania and then release Sane or if her firing wasn't given that much thought, this was a huge embarrassment. They now had to awkwardly continue telling a story without one of its key players.  Imagine if they'd fired Lorraine Bracco from The Sopranos in the middle of Season 5 and then pretended that Tony had never gone to therapy? That's what it was like. 

Would it have really made that much difference to keep Kairi on the books for another month? 

Contributor
Contributor

Jacob Simmons has a great many passions, including rock music, giving acclaimed films three-and-a-half stars, watching random clips from The Simpsons on YouTube at 3am, and writing about himself in the third person.