Kairi Sane’s voice trembled as she read her farewell message from IYO SKY, calling her best friend “kinder than anyone” and lamenting the sudden end of their shared journey in WWE.
The emotional tribute came just hours after WWE confirmed Sane’s release on Friday, April 24, less than a week after WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, joining a wave of departures that included Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, and the entire Wyatt Sicks faction.
While mass roster cuts following WrestleMania are not unprecedented — WWE last conducted a similar purge in February 2025 — the timing and scale of this year’s exits have raised questions about the company’s post-event strategy, particularly as several released talents were actively featured in ongoing storylines or recent title pursuits.
Damage CTRL’s fracturing leaves a void in the women’s tag team division
Sane’s departure marks the second major exit from Damage CTRL in recent months, following Bayley’s reduced role and the ongoing tension between Asuka and IYO SKY, whose heartfelt message underscored the personal bonds fraying behind the scenes.
The trio had reunited Sane with Asuka to revive the Kabuki Warriors, a partnership that yielded three WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships in the past year, including a reign that saw them defend the belts at WrestleMania 40 alongside Dakota Kai.
IYO SKY described Sane as a “comrade-in-arms” who “shed so many tears” navigating life in America, emphasizing that the release came at an “unexpected time” despite Sane’s recent return from injury and continued in-ring activity.
Aleister Black and Zelina Vega’s exit shocks fans given recent momentum
Black and Vega’s releases stood out as particularly surprising, given their recent prominence on SmackDown, where Black had won three consecutive matches against high-profile opponents including Sami Zayn, Randy Orton, and Matt Cardona.
The married couple, who returned to WWE in 2023 after Black’s stint in AEW, had been positioned in the upper midcard, with Vega confirming her departure during a Twitch stream and Black’s last notable victory coming in a Last Man Standing match against Damian Priest in October.
CBS Sports noted that Black’s recent run suggested upward mobility, making his sudden release appear incongruent with his in-ring trajectory, especially after beating the then-United States champion in a non-title bout.
The Wyatt Sicks’ tribute run concludes amid broader roster realignment
The Wyatt Sicks, formed in honor of Bray Wyatt following his death in August 2023, were among the most symbolic departures, having debuted in June 2024 as a living tribute to his creative legacy.
Led by Bo Dallas as Uncle Howdy, the group captured the WWE Tag Team Championships with Joe Gacy and Dexter Lumis before losing them in an eight-man street fight just days before their release, wrapping up a feud with Solo Sikoa and the MFTs that had dominated SmackDown programming for months.
Nikki Cross, a founding member, echoed the sentiment of gratitude and uncertainty in her social media farewell, thanking WWE personnel and expressing excitement for her “next chapter,” a refrain repeated by several departing talents.
Why did WWE release talents who were recently active in storylines or title matches?
WWE has not publicly explained the reasoning behind specific releases, but the timing suggests a routine post-WrestleMania evaluation rather than a reaction to individual performance, as several released talents had recent wins or championship involvement.
What does Sane’s exit mean for the future of the Kabuki Warriors and Damage CTRL?
With Sane gone and the Asuka-IYO SKY dynamic strained, the Kabuki Warriors reunion is effectively dissolved, leaving Damage CTRL without one of its core trios and raising questions about the group’s direction on SmackDown.