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Entertainment • Professional Wrestling

Kairi Sane

Kairi Sane is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for her work in WWE and World Wonder Ring Stardom.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 10, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Kairi Sane is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for her work in WWE and World Wonder Ring Stardom. She won the 2017 Mae Young Classic, held the NXT Women's Championship, and has been a multiple-time WWE Women's Tag Team Champion with Asuka. Before WWE, she wrestled as Kairi Hojo in Stardom, where she won several major championships.

Early life and background

Kairi Sane was born Kaori Housako on September 23, 1988, in Hikari, Yamaguchi, Japan. Public profiles list her billed hometown as Yamaguchi, Japan.

Professional wrestling career

She began her major wrestling career in Stardom under the name Kairi Hojo, then joined WWE in 2017 as Kairi Sane. In WWE, she won the Mae Young Classic, the NXT Women's Championship, and multiple Women's Tag Team Championships with Asuka.

Championships and accomplishments

Sane's résumé includes major titles in Stardom and WWE. Sources list her as a former World of Stardom Champion, Wonder of Stardom Champion, and multiple-time Artist and Goddess of Stardom Champion, along with WWE title wins.

Recent career

After time away from WWE, she returned in late 2023 and rejoined Damage CTRL. She also won the inaugural IWGP Women's Championship in 2022.

Key facts

  • She is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to WWE and associated with the Damage CTRL stable.
  • She won the inaugural 2017 Mae Young Classic and later became NXT Women's Champion.
  • With Asuka, she has won the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship multiple times.
  • Before WWE, she wrestled in Stardom as Kairi Hojo and won the World of Stardom Championship and Wonder of Stardom Championship.
  • In 2022, she won the inaugural IWGP Women's Championship at Historic X-Over.
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Canadian context

Kairi Sane is relevant to Canadian wrestling readers through WWE's international television and live-event reach, as well as the broader Canadian interest in Japanese women’s wrestling and global cross-promotional events.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Kairi Sane?
Kairi Sane is a Japanese professional wrestler known for her work in WWE and Stardom.
What is Kairi Sane’s real name?
Her birth name is Kaori Housako.
What championships has Kairi Sane won in WWE?
She has won the NXT Women's Championship, the 2017 Mae Young Classic, and the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship with Asuka.
What name did Kairi Sane use in Stardom?
She wrestled in Stardom as Kairi Hojo.
Did Kairi Sane win the IWGP Women's Championship?
Yes. She won the inaugural IWGP Women's Championship in November 2022 at Historic X-Over.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kairi_Sane
    Supports: Career history, Stardom name, IWGP Women's Championship win
  2. WWE — https://www.wwe.com/superstars/kairi-sane
    Supports: WWE profile, hometown, height, career highlights
  3. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/26610902/wwe-profile-page-kairi-sane
    Supports: Birth date, billed height, hometown, WWE accolades
  4. Sportskeeda — https://www.sportskeeda.com/player/kairi-sane
    Supports: Real name, WWE signing, Damage CTRL membership, Stardom history
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6172452/
    Supports: Wrestling name history and championship overview