Report: Kairi Sane Interested In "Options Outside Of WWE"

Sane's WWE contract reportedly expires in March 2020.

Kairi Sane disappointed
WWE

Last week brought reports that World Wonder Ring Stardom's new parent company Bushiroad, who own and operate New Japan Pro Wrestling, were interested in bringing WWE's Io Shirai and Kairi Sane back to the promotion upon the expiration of their current WWE contracts.

It's thought that Sane's deal expires in March 2020, given that she originally signed a three-year contract in March 2017. In addition, Kairi's current tag team partner, Asuka, is also working on a deal that ends soon.

Dave Meltzer commented on both wrestlers' situations on a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio. Regarding Asuka, he said that he had "heard no rumblings whatsoever of [her] leaving," and was "under the impression that she is very happy in this country," though that may not be the case for Sane, who has "definitely expressed interest in exploring other options."

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As Meltzer notes, this doesn't mean that Sane is definitely going to leave WWE, though it isn't hard to understand why she might not feel 100% creatively fulfilled in the promotion, despite her current status as a pushed Women's Tag Team Champion.

It's hard to imagine a universe in which WWE don't extend a big-money offer to convince Sane to stay. Let's see if that happens.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.