During his most recent The Phenomenally Retro podcast, WWE Hall of Famer AJ Styles said the release of Kairi Sane caught him off guard.
“I think everybody’s a little confused. Asuka and her as a tag team, and then it just kind of- We don’t know exactly what the case is. I mean, that one caught me off guard as well because it was a great tag team thing. I feel like Kairi was doing her best work as of now. I wish I had answers. I don’t have these answers for you guys. I don’t know what this means for her. I don’t know, if maybe if she done wrestling. Is she going to go back to Stardom? Like, what’s next for Kairi Sane? But I know that she was loved, and she was amazing. Yeah, I just hate that.”
Styles also had a message for all the talent that have been released by WWE.
“My biggest fear in my own career was that I wouldn’t get to finish. It’s kind of one of those things where they didn’t get to finish what they signed to do and I know that’s going to bother them. Don’t let it bother you. Don’t let this business destroy who you are. You are obviously great because you made it to one of the biggest wrestling companies in the world. There’s no doubt about that. We have no idea what the circumstances were to get you where you couldn’t be there in the WWE anymore. But that doesn’t mean it’s over for you. So, just keep that in mind. Keep your head up and see whether it takes you next. Who knows where that’d be. It maybe wrestling, maybe not, but just don’t let it destroy you.”
You can watch the full episode below:
Sane was among the 23 talents released back on April 24. It was reported on Saturday that JC Mateo (Jeff Cobb) and Tanga Loa were released. Long-time tag team The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) mutually parted ways with WWE after it had been said the duo were asked to restructure their current contracts.
(Quote source: Fightful)
Following his retirement, Styles signed a multi-year deal with WWE as a talent scout and developmental coach.