Kai Kavari announced his WWE departure in an Instagram video posted on Wednesday (July 29) despite reportedly having around two years left on his contract.
Kavari (real name Cyrus Habibi-Likio) signed with WWE in 2025, and he said in the video that his deal was for three years. However, Kai said he decided to quit due to struggling to keep up with his work in real estate in California and having to travel to Florida to wrestle.
During his time in WWE, Kavari competed in NXT and wrestled on television in WWE Evolve. Prior to his wrestling career, he played college football at Boise State and Oregon.
“It was not an easy decision, but I had to make it,” Kavari said in the video, adding that he has a third child on the way. “I just feel like our life belongs in California with our family.”
He then briefly described some of the financial difficulties many wrestlers face early in their careers.
“When you start in WWE, you don’t get paid the most. Potentially, you can make bread. But me specifically, I’m not at a time in my life where I can live off potential,“ Kavari said. ”And being brutally honest, I can go back to California and make main roster, main eventer-type money through real estate.”
Kai also said his faith played a part in his decision to walk away from WWE.
“I feel being a professional athlete, which is nothing wrong with it, but when you’re constantly chasing to better yourself, I feel like it’s been pretty hard to glorify my Lord and Savior,” he said. “So I feel now that I have more time on my hands, I’m not traveling, I can spend more time with my church community, and honestly just building a healthier relationship with Jesus.”
Kavari’s Instagram post — which received positive comments from WWE talent such as Nikkita Lyons and PJ Vasa — concluded with him thanking WWE and coach Matt Bloom.
But even though the video was posted to publicly announce he was stepping away from WWE, Kavari added at the end that someday he “may jump back into wrestling.”
What do you think about Kavari’s decision to step away from WWE? Let us know in the comments.
