One of the biggest angles on WWE Monday Night Raw is the brewing situation between Asuka and IYO Sky. It is clear this is going to turn into a brawl between the two former champions, but do not take your eyes off the third woman in the fray. Kairi Sane is playing her role perfectly, and this split should lead to some interesting openings for her in the future.
Kairi Sane balances perfectly on the line between being a threat to any champion or playing a comedic part of an angle. Yes, she’s used more frequently as an enhancement talent to the main event, but that is not the depth of her talents. She’s the perfect performer to give Stephanie Vaquer shine, as she did on the September 15 episode of Raw, but she can achieve so much more than that.
Take this angle, for example. There are a few different ways things can go. The lazy booking would be for Kairi to become Asuka’s underling, only to eventually split from her. That is the typical way that WWE and professional wrestling as a whole book these types of stories. But what if she’s the first one to break away from the toxic nature of Asuka and Sky’s relationship? Seeing Kairi Sane go on her own accord, only to eventually have to face both women down the line would give her a chance to stand out on her own, while building another name for WWE’s developing women’s midcard. Seeing Kairi Sane as either the WWE Women’s Intercontinental or Women’s United States Championship does not seem too far off.
WWE has a talented women’s division, and Kairi Sane is one of those names who deserves more respect. She may not have reached the same level of acclaim on the main roster, but she’s a multiple-time champion in WWE NXT and beyond for a reason. To be the first woman to hold the IWGP Women’s Championship is a career accolade that should be talked about more, and it speaks to her value in the business, 13 years into her career.
Monday Night Raw is doing well, highlighting several different stories in the women’s division. The most interesting one going is framing the impending split between IYO Sky and Asuka. But do not forget about Kairi Sane. She’s thriving as the “third wheel” in this angle but it can lead to so much more for her on either main roster show.