Kairi Sane, billed as KAIRI, surprised fans on Chris Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Rager at Sea cruise last weekend by getting physical in the ring with a few male wrestlers.
The Japanese star had been announced for a meet and greet session, but she was not billed for any in-ring time, and her run-in during one of the cruise’s last matches was the first time KAIRI has been seen in any wrestling capacity since she was shockingly released by WWE in April. (The fact that she executed one of her signature diving
elbow drops on Jay Lethal was a special bonus.)
An interesting new report from veteran wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer indicated KAIRI’s appearance on the cruise was possible due to a legal loophole.
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer explained The Pirate Princess working the Jericho event had nothing to do with AEW, and she had a workaround from not having a U.S. visa because the ship was on international waters.
“That has nothing to do with being signed with AEW,” Meltzer said. “She does not have a visa for the United States, and she can perform on international [waters]. She can go on the boat, she cannot work in the United States yet, but she can go on the boat, it’s out of the U.S. jurisdiction, and she can do matches, and she can perform there. So they did that.”
Last month, Fightful Select reported on KAIRI’s visa status. The outlet wrote that her U.S. visa had expired, and she’d “need to either be sponsored by a wrestling company or agency for renewal.”
Despite much speculation that AEW boss Tony Khan is interested in signing KAIRI, she reportedly remains a free agent. Given the excited fan reaction she received on Jericho’s cruise as evidenced by social media clips, Khan might now have more motivation to get a deal done.
What do you think, Cagesiders? How much longer will we have to wait until KAIRI signs with a promotion? And do you think it will be with AEW or somewhere else? Let us know in the comments.
