Kairi Sane has officially returned to WWE.
Today’s WWE Crown Jewel PLE in Saudi Arabia saw IYO SKY retain the WWE Women’s Championship over Bianca Belair. The finish saw Bayley hit the apron to distract Belair as she was about to pin SKY. Belair fought Bayley on the floor until SKY tried to make the save for her Damage CTRL stablemate. However, Belair side-stepped and SKY crashed into Bayley.
Belair then looked to nail Bayley with a KOD, but Sane made her return and pulled Bayley to safety. Sane then connected with a back-fist to Belair, and followed up with a knee strike from the barrier to send her into the ring post, while the referee was busy with SKY. Belair crawled back in to avoid the count-out, but SKY was waiting with a moonsault for the pin to retain.
After the match, Sane and SKY double teamed Belair. A confused Bayley looked on as Michael Cole recalled how Bayley attacked Sane a few years ago and that led to her WWE exit.
It was revealed back in August that Sane was re-signing with WWE after officially leaving in December 2021 when her contract expired following a 4 year stint with the company. Sane finished up with STARDOM and it was reported in August that she was returning imminently. She was added back to WWE’s internal roster just this week amid reports that said she was returning this month, perhaps as soon as this weekend in Riyadh.
While away from WWE, Sane became the inaugural IWGP Women’s Champion back in November. She lost the championship to Mercedes Moné in February. Sane’s first stint with WWE included a NXT Women’s Championship reign and a run as WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion with Asuka.
Live Crown Jewel results can be found here. You can see Sane’s return below:
KAIRI SANE IS BACK!!!#WWECrownJewel pic.twitter.com/YAQtJE9W31
— WWE (@WWE) November 4, 2023
The landscape of the #SmackDown Women's Division has changed as we know it!#WWECrownJewel pic.twitter.com/zyHgrsE5Vo
— WWE (@WWE) November 4, 2023
IYO SKY BEATS BIANCA BELAIR THANKS TO KAIRI SANE AND BAYLEY CAN'T BELIEVE IT
I GODAMM CALLED IT #WWECrownJewel pic.twitter.com/riJDpCGaxR
— CrispyWrestling (@CrispyWrestlin) November 4, 2023
PERFECT Insane Elbow by KAIRI#WWECrownJewel pic.twitter.com/1ZKZehflgm
— Peps #MaikaStyle🍧 (@Peps_Wrestling) November 4, 2023
KAIRI SANE OH MY GODDDDF pic.twitter.com/Hh5B6NFn30
— iBeast (@ibeastIess) November 4, 2023
Kairi Sane’s last appearance in WWE was getting taken out by Bayley in the summer of 2020.
Kairi Sane is now back in 2023 & on IYO’s side & Bayley is bewildered on the outside.#WWECrownJewel pic.twitter.com/sFxUw6CTAt
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) November 4, 2023