Why Were Asuka And Kairi Sane Missing From The Royal Rumble Match?

According to a new report on Fightful Select, we now know the reason why we didn’t see Asuka or Kairi Sane enter the Royal Rumble match as previously rumored.

Per the report, while their names were brought up, WWE didn’t feel Asuka was physically ready and that it was “easier to bring in other talent than Kairi Sane.”

In her first interview since being released from WWE, Lina Fanene (formerly known as Nia Jax) noted that she was approached to be an entrant in the Royal Rumble however was told by talent relations that it wasn’t a guaranteed appearance, rather talent relations was compiling a list of willing women for Vince McMahon to choose from.

Fanene said of her Royal Rumble offer to return:

“They were accumulating a list. This is what I was told. They’re accumulating a list. They wanted to offer me the opportunity. Accumulate the list. Then that list goes to Vince, then Vince goes to the list and he decides who wants and who he doesn’t. So you’re asking me to be part of a list to see if I can go to the next step. F**k no. How much more can you s**t on me, dude? Someone said, ‘we didn’t want her to feel left out’. F**k you, that is so much bulls**t. You needed people.”

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The Royal Rumble 2022 match featured many returning stars as nostalgia entrants including Cameron, Alicia Fox, Michelle McCool, Ivory, the Bella Twins and Summer Rae in addition to current WWE talent such as Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, Charlotte Flair and the returning Ronda Rousey who went on to win the match.

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