Kairi Sane's Wrestling Return CONFIRMED

Full details on Kairi Hojo's return to wrestling after leaving WWE last year.

Kairi Sane
WWE

KAIRI is returning to Stardom.

This was confirmed during a press conference held by the promotion earlier today. KAIRI, who wrestled as Kairi Sane in WWE, will work Stardom's 26 and 27 March events at the historic Ryōgoku Sumo Hall venue in Tokyo.

Now going by KAIRI rather than Kairi Hojo, which she used prior to signing with WWE in 2017, the former World of Stardom Champion was attacked by members of the Oedo Tai faction while posing for press photographs towards the end of the conference.

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Stardom has produced the following promotional graphic for KAIRI's return:-

This will be the first time she has wrestled for her old home promotion since departing for WWE five years ago. Prior to that, KAIRI was one of the group's biggest stars, contesting, amongst other notable matches, a high-profile rivalry with Io Shirai, whom she later reunited with in NXT.

Absent from WWE since July 2020, when she returned to her native Japan to be with her husband and slot into an ambassadorial role, KAIRI has been a free agent since her contract expired in December 2021.

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She joins one of the most talented rosters in all of wrestling, with Stardom pumping out acclaimed show after acclaimed show over the past year or so, solidifying it as one of the most widely-praised in-ring products in the world.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.