Summary

AJ Styles said Kairi Sane's latest WWE departure surprised him, especially because he felt she and Asuka had found real momentum together as a team.

Speaking on his podcast, Styles said there is still confusion around the situation and admitted he does not know what comes next for Sane.

Quote from AJ Styles

"I think everybody's a little confused. We don't know exactly what the case is. That one caught me off guard because it was a great tag team thing [with Asuka]. I feel like Kairi Sane is doing her best work as of now."

Styles later went on to say:

"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. I mean, is 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 referenced Sane's previous exit from the company and noted that she returned to Japan after that run ended.

"The first time that she left, she went home to Japan. I don't know if that had anything to do with it. 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."

What Kairi Sane's exit means for Asuka and WWE

Styles pointing to Sane's team with Asuka matters because it frames this as more than just one roster departure. If Sane is gone for the long term, WWE loses a pairing that Styles himself said was clicking, and Asuka is left without that tag direction.

It also adds more uncertainty to where Sane fits next. Styles did not offer any firm details, so the biggest takeaway for now is that even people inside the wrestling world seem unsure about whether this is a temporary break, a full exit, or the start of a move back to Japan.

Sources

AJ Styles while speaking on his podcast