As Mercedes Moné (formerly Sasha Banks) comes up against Kairi Sane, you might have heard the stories about how Sane left WWE to be with her husband.
On January 3, Banks, under her new ring name Mercedes Moné, surprised Kairi Sane at the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 in the Tokyo Dome. After Sane successfully defended her IWGP Women’s Championship against Tam Nakano, Moné entered the stadium in a rather dramatic fashion.
Walking out to the ring, Moné looked set to shake Kairi Sane’s hand before laying her out.
With the two wrestlers now signed to New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) having left WWE, you might be looking into why Kairi Sane to return to Japan. As a hint, it might have something to do with marrying her husband. Let’s take a look.
Kairi Sane left WWE after three years with the promotion
Born on September 23, 1988, Japanese wrestler made her professional debut at the age of 23. Sane, real name Kaori Housako, made her debut on January 7, 2012.
She first wrestled for Japanese promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom using the ring name Kairi Hojo. Sane was signed to this promotional team from 2012 to 2017 before moving to WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) stateside.
It was with WWE that Kairi Sane adopted this ring name and became a wrestling favorite in the United States. She was signed to WWE for three years before announcing her departure in 2020.
Kairi Sane confirms she got married to husband
On February 22, 2020, Kairi Sane confirmed that she had got married to her unknown fiancé. She confirmed the news in a Twitter post thanking WWE Japan for their well wishes.
WWE Japan reportedly sent out Sane’s statement about tying the knot.
“Today I’d like to announce that I got married to my fiancé on February 22, 2020. We had a long distance relationship from the beginning of our long journey, but he has always been there for me through thick and thin, and I knew I wanted to live the rest of my life with him,” Sane wrote.
She continued: “I’m looking forward to building a family filled with laughter and joy with a man I can respect so deeply from his attitude towards work, warmth towards people and animals, and his genuine way of living.”
Kairi Sane returned to Japan after marrying her husband
Shortly after announcing she tied the knot, Kairi Sane announced that she was moving home to Japan.
The general consensus amongst wrestling fans is that Sane moved to Japan so she could be with her new husband. This was also confirmed by Fightful.
The couple have kept much of their private life out of the spotlight, despite Sane confirming they had married. Wrestling News Plus reports that her husband’s name is Johnny Sane, although Kairi has not confirmed this is her partner’s name.
Mercedes Moné sets herself up as Kairi Sane’s next opponent
Mercedes Moné made a splash this January, entering the Tokyo Dome all guns blazing. During the event, Moné officially introduced her new ring name and then described herself as the “CEO of this women’s division.”
Moné added that she will leave Kairi Sane “bankrupt” at San Jose’s Battle In The Valley on February 18.
Some fans are speculating that all the talk from Moné (Sasha Banks) will remain talk. Instead, they believe Sane will enter the 2023 WWE Women’s Royal Rumble with IWGP Women’s Championship, also bringing the “treasure” secured at Wrestle Kingdom to Los Angeles’ Wrestle Mania.
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