Report: No Contact Between WWE & Stardom About KAIRI Royal Rumble Return

Despite speculation online, WWE had not reached out to World Wonder Ring Stardom about bringing in KAIRI for the 2023 Royal Rumble as of last weekend, according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 

That doesn't necessarily mean WWE won't, though, as Meltzer noted the company could reach out at a later date. Politics could get in the way of any deal but WWE did manage to work out a deal with IMPACT Wrestling that saw Mickie James return in the 2022 Royal Rumble while Knockouts World Champion. 

KAIRI was previously a popular talent in WWE where she performed as Kairi Sane. The Pirate Princess competed for the company from 2016 until 2020 and she is a former NXT Women's Champion and WWE Women's Tag Team Champion. KAIRI headed back to Japan in October 2020 and she worked for WWE behind the scenes until her contract expired in December 2021.

KAIRI then returned to Stardom in February 2022 and she became the inaugural IWGP Women's Champion at Historic X-Over in November. She will defend the belt against Tam Nakano at Wrestle Kingdom 17 and she may well face Mercedes Varnado (AKA Sasha Banks) in 2023 as The Boss is reportedly set to appear inside the Tokyo Dome as part of her short-term deal with New Japan.