Heel WWE star surprisingly receives a standing ovation after title match
WWE is headed into the final week before the 37th annual SummerSlam Premium Live Event after a mini-tour of Japan. A certain heel Superstar is still celebrating after a standing ovation from the WWE Universe following a recent championship opportunity.
Kairi Sane was among the Japanese Superstars who returned home with WWE for three non-televised live events this past weekend. The company ran Osaka on Thursday, and then on Friday and Saturday, they were in Tokyo. The Friday and Saturday shows saw Sane team with IYO SKY, Dakota Kai, and Tiffany Stratton for a loss to Bayley, Meiko Satomura, Jade Cargill, and Bianca Belair.
The Pirate Princess then challenged Liv Morgan for the WWE Women's World Championship on Saturday in Tokyo. While the Damage CTRL member came up short with the title on the line, she received a post-match standing ovation from her compatriots.
Damage CTRL continues to run rampant as a top heel faction on RAW. Sane, SKY, and Kai defeated Lyra Valkyria, Katana Chance, and Kayden Carter on RAW earlier this month. Sane's last televised singles bout was the loss to Valkyria on May 27.
Japanese WWE Superstars pose for photo on tour
World Wrestling Entertainment just wrapped up its latest tour of Japan. The company ran a non-televised live event in Osaka on Thursday, then in Tokyo on Friday and Saturday.
Asuka is still out of action with an injury, but she made a special appearance to speak to fans this weekend. She took to X after the tour to post a photo with Shinsuke Nakamura, IYO SKY, Kairi Sane, and the legendary Meiko Satomura.
"Thank you Japan [Japanese flag emoji] Japan really is the best," Asuka wrote via Google Translate.
Satomura was in action on this tour as she prepares for retirement in the near future. She teamed with Bayley, Bianca Belair, and Jade Cargill for wins over Kairi Sane, IYO SKY, Dakota Kai, and Tiffany Stratton on Thursday and Friday, then lost a title match to Bayley on Saturday.
Shinsuke Nakamura wrestled his first matches in more than a month on the tour of Japan. He and AJ Styles worked a Triple Threat with WWE Champion Cody Rhodes on Thursday, and then he teamed with LA Knight and Kevin Owens for a win over The Bloodline on Friday. Saturday's show was headlined by a repeat of the Triple Threat with Nakamura, Styles, and Rhodes.