AJ Styles on Kairi Sane’s WWE Departure Had “Caught Him Off Guard”
As noted before, Kairi Sane was recently released from WWE as part of a larger batch of talent releases and departures.
A recent episode of the Phenomenally Retro podcast featured co-host and WWE Hall of Famer AJ Styles giving his thoughts about how the news of Sane’s departure from WWE had caught him off guard.
“We don’t know exactly what the case is. That one caught me off guard as well because it was a great tag team thing. I feel like Kairi is doing her best work as of now. I wish I had answers. I don’t have these answers for you guys. I don’t. I don’t know what this means for her. I don’t know. I mean, is she done wrestling? Is she going to go back to Stardom? What’s next for Kairi Sane? But I know that she was loved and she was amazing. Yeah, I just hate that.”
Styles also gave his thoughts about the rumors of Sane wanted to return to Japan playing a role in WWE’s decision to release her.
“I will say this: the first time that she left, she went home to Japan. And I don’t know if that had anything to do with this. I doubt it was her choice because I felt like she was really rolling well. But I don’t know. I’m just saying that she went back to Japan last time that she left. I think she wanted to go home.
So I get it. Given the opportunity, living in another country, I’d always want to go home myself.”
Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com
Ted DiBiase Jr. Reportedly Was Never Considered for Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes WrestleMania 42 Feud
Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that WWE officials never seriously considered plans for former WWE talent Ted DiBiase Jr. to be involved in Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes’ feud for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42.
It was reported that while DiBiase Jr. had attended this past April’s WrestleMania 42 event with his lawyer, he was not invited by WWE as a guest for the show. Instead, DiBiase Jr. reportedly was in town for WrestleCon’s WrestleCon Vegas convention that week in Las Vegas. It was also reported that one source spoken to believes that DiBiase Jr. was sponsored by the water company on his shirt for his ticket at WrestleMania 42.
In the lead up to Orton and Rhodes’ match at WrestleMania 42, DiBiase Jr. had been rumored online to be potentially part of the storyline feud with his past connection with Orton and Rhodes during their time together as The Legacy stable.
WWE Cancels June 9th WWE NXT Show in Lowell, MA
WWE recently cancelled their upcoming WWE NXT tapings on June 9th at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in Lowell, Massachusetts.
It was stated that the upcoming show at the venue had been cancelled due to “unforseen circumstances.”
WWE Presents NXT Live on the CW – CANCELLED
Lowell Memorial Auditorium
June 9, 2026 7:30 PM
Due to unforeseen circumstances, WWE Presents NXT Live on the CW at Lowell Memorial Auditorium originally scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, has been cancelled.
No additional action is required to obtain a refund for your ticket. It will be processed to the original method of payment used at time of purchase. Please allow 14-21 days for processing to complete.
For additional questions or concerns, please contact our Box Office at 800-657-8774 or boxoffice@spectaclelive.com.
WWE’s NXT Live on The CW comes to Lowell Memorial Auditorium! See your favorite NXT Superstars Joe Hendry, Jacy Jayne, Ethan Page, Blake Monroe and many more live!
All sales are final. No request for cancellations, exchanges, changes or refunds shall be honored.
Prior to its cancellation, WWE had sold and distributed around 1,184 tickets for the show based on their last update.
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