On the May 19 episode of Monday Night RAW, Kairi Sane returned to WWE programming for the first time in nearly six months after previously being ruled out with an injury. She competed in a qualifying match for the upcoming women’s Money in the Bank ladder match, though she came up short in a triple threat match including Rhea Ripley and Zoey Stark. With Sane now back on WWE programming and away from the Damage CTRL faction – a group that she’s been a part of since her 2023 WWE return – she now has a chance to truly make an impression in WWE. However, if Sane fails to become a star this time around, it might be curtains on her WWE career.
Kairi Sane’s WWE Career Has Been Underwhelming
Sane’s Main Roster Run Fell Below Expectations
- In NXT, Kairi Sane was a big success.
- She has been stuck in the tag team division on the main roster.
- Bad booking and injuries have gotten in the way of Kairi’s WWE run.
Kairi Sane arrived in WWE back in 2017, debuting in and winning the inaugural Mae Young Classic tournament. She developed an instant connection to the WWE audience, and showcased a lot of talent in the ring in her matches with the likes of Shayna Baszler, Tessa Blanchard, Bianca Belair, Dakota Kai, and Toni Storm. Over the next few months and into 2018, Sane displayed natural babyface charisma and fire inside the ring, leading her to the NXT Women’s Championship. For all intents and purposes, it seemed as though Sane was on the verge of big things in WWE as the next big international star, following in the footsteps of Asuka in the women’s division. It wasn’t to be.
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Sane was called up to the main roster in 2019, aligning with Asuka as part of the Kabuki Warriors tag team – though they struggled to truly build momentum despite winning the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Eventually, WWE decided to turn the pair heel – a completely different character from the one Sane has been used to in NXT, negating all the aspects that turned her into a potential star in the first place.
Even though she did a decent job, WWE was not focused on committing to her as a star, putting the spotlight on others and neglecting Sane in the tag team division. She eventually left WWE and rebuilt her stock in the likes of Stardom, where she felt like a defined star once again. This prompted an eventual WWE return in 2022… but she instantly got lost in the shuffle in the heel Damage CTRL faction, with WWE once again preventing her from thriving in a role as a babyface. Ever since, Sane has been presented as the least important member of the faction.
Kairi Sane Finally Has A Chance To Break Out In WWE
Sane Returned To WWE And Can Get A Singles Push
- Damage CTRL has fallen apart during Sane’s absence.
- This could mark her first singles push on the main roster.
- This is Kairi Sane’s chance to step up on Raw and gain momentum.
Kairi Sane got injured at the back end of 2024, and in the meantime Iyo Sky has been propelled to the world title picture as a red-hot babyface, Dakota Kai received her release from WWE, and Asuka remains on the shelf. For the first time in her main roster career, Kairi Sane is on her own. This could be the best thing for her, as she could finally get the spotlight she’s been overdue for. With the right presentation and booking, Sane could be given time in the ring to showcase her abilities and skills as a singles competitor, gradually building her up, much like WWE did with Iyo Sky.
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Whether it be a run in the midcard as either Intercontinental or United States Champion, or an eventual push to the world title picture where she could do battle with former ally Iyo Sky, there are plenty of avenues for WWE to go down. Sane showed in NXT that she could lead a brand as a babyface, and she must step up and remain consistent now, putting her all into trying to build a connection with the audience and momentum as a performer, forcing WWE to book her in prominent positions.
This Is Kairi Sane’s Last Chance To Be A Star
Kairi Sane Needs To Succeed In WWE
- After so many years, Kairi Sane has one big chance left in WWE.
- If Sane doesn’t perform well, she may very well fall away.
- She has a smaller window than some of the younger stars on the roster.
As noted, it has been eight years since Sane first arrived in WWE. Given that she has yet to make it as a solo star on RAW or SmackDown, with few memorable moments or matches, this is very much her last chance to make an impression. Kairi Sane is 36, and although she still has years left at a top level, WWE’s viewpoint on the women’s division has been unfavorable to those reaching their late 30s – for instance, Dakota Kai was reportedly let go due to being too old at 37, per Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. This is a poor approach on WWE’s part, but it means that Sane doesn’t have much time left to turn her fortunes around.
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If Kairi Sane doesn’t put together strong matches and if she fails to get over now that she’s on her own as a solo competitor, WWE may decide to cut their losses and either drop her down the card, or else let her go as they did with Dakota Kai. She has always had the potential to be something great in WWE, but the company has failed to see it nor have they even tried making it work. This is the final chance.
