Every WWE Release Of 2021 - Where Are They Now? (Five Years Later)
4. Kairi Sane
Then: Strap in for quite the topsy turvy story! Kairi Sane formally signed with WWE in 2017 and became a popular addition to the NXT women's division. Her main roster work alongside Asuka as The Kabuki Warriors was also held aloft as everything right with the doubles ranks, but then Sane herself decided she'd like to return home to Japan.
WWE gave Kairi a role as an ambassador, and she did some international commentary work on the side as well. Then, in December 2021, Sane's contract ran out and most believed that'd be the end of her story with the market leader.
Now: Kairi returned to the WWE fold by assisting IYO SKY at Crown Jewel in November 2023. After that, she quickly joined Damage CTRL, but the group was quietly disbanded whilst she was off TV rehabbing a torn ligament injury. When Sane returned, she resumed her Kabuki Warriors team with Asuka.
That's what Kairi is still doing now.
Together, The Warriors captured the Women's Tag-Team Titles from Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair on the 10 November 2025 episode of Raw. They'd hold the gold until 5 January when they dropped them to Rhea Ripley and IYO, so it's pretty clear that Sane and Asuka were transitional champs more than anything else.
More recently, Sane has been doing some more singles work (as a bit part player during Elimination Chamber qualifying and that sort of thing), but the union with Asuka is still going strong. WWE would be foolish to split them, because it's honestly a tandem that works for both.