Evil Io Shirai turns heads in NXT
Tensions continued to rise between Shirai and LeRae throughout the summer. Things finally came to a head when the two clashed on August 10 at TakeOver: Toronto. There was certainly no love lost between the former friends. Once the dust settled, Shirai won after making LeRae pass out in a Grounded Koji Clutch.
Three months later, Shirai was picked to be on Team Baszler for the first ever women’s WarGames match. At the event on November 23, she, Baszler, Belair, and Kay Lee Ray took on the team of Ripley, LeRae, Kai, and Tegan Nox. Kai ended up turning on Nox, essentially making it a four-on-two handicap match in favour of Team Baszler. However, Ripley and LeRae were able to overcome the odds and pick up the win.
At Survivor Series the following night, Shirai wrestled for Team NXT in the five-on-five-on-five women’s elimination match. Early in the match, both she and LeRae were taken to the back after apparently suffering injuries. However, they returned towards the end of the match to help Ripley earn the win for Team NXT.
The Genius of the Sky finally wins gold
2020 did not start out well for Shirai. During a match against Storm on January 22, she suffered a knee injury that put her on the shelf for about two months. She returned on March 25, defeating Aliyah and earning a spot in a ladder match to crown a new number one contender.
On April 8, she won the ladder match to earn a shot at Charlotte Flair’s NXT Women’s Title. That match came a month later, but Shirai failed to capture the title after Flair got herself disqualified. She continued going after Flair and Ripley, with things culminating in a triple threat match for the title at TakeOver: In Your House.
The match took place the following month on June 7. Shirai risked it all—quite literally, after jumping off the stage—finally capturing the title for the first time. Her first title defense came on the July 15 episode of NXT, where she beat Nox.
As Shirai celebrated, Kai blindsided her and declared herself as her next challenger. While Kai claimed that she was now in Shirai’s head, the champ stated that all she did was piss her off. They finally collided at TakeOver: XXX with the title on the line. Shirai was able to hold off Kai and Raquel González en route to retaining the gold.
In September, a familiar foe returned in the form of LeRae. They had two title matches in October, one at TakeOver: 31 and the other at Halloween Havoc. The latter bout made history, as it was the first tables, ladders, and scares match. But Shirai was able to triumph in both contests and retain the title.
November saw Shirai face her toughest opponent yet in Ripley. Their title match came on the November 18 episode of NXT, where Shirai once again held onto the gold. A few weeks later, she wrestled in her second women’s WarGames match, this time with Ripley, Shotzi Blackheart, and Ember Moon. They took on Team LeRae (LeRae, Storm, Kai, and González), but just like last time, Shirai was on the losing side of things. To add insult to injury, González pinned her to pick up the win for Team LeRae.
During the 2020 NXT Year-End Awards, Shirai won the awards for Female and Overall Competitor of the Year.
With a match against González looming, Shirai had to deal with two other challengers first. On February 14, 2021, at TakeOver: Vengeance Day, she defended the title in a triple threat match against Storm and Mercedes Martinez. She made it out with the title, however Storm did not go away that easily.
The two fought for the title again on the March 10 episode of NXT, where Shirai again retained. With Storm behind her, Shirai again turned her attention to González. The challenger picked up some momentum before their title match, with her and Kai beating Shirai and Zoey Stark on March 24.
Then, on April 7 at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver Night One, Shirai and González finally clashed for the title. While the champ put up quite a fight, she just couldn’t match the challenger’s size and strength. González walked away with the title, ending Shirai’s reign at 304 days. It currently stands as the fourth longest NXT Women’s Title reign, only behind Asuka, Baszler, and Paige.
This week on NXT, Shirai sat down with Beth Phoenix to discuss her future. She said that while she wants her rematch against González, she also wants time to rest. But before she can get to the champ, she may have to deal with Franky Monet first. NXT’s newest signee interrupted the interview to promise that she will fill Shirai’s shoes in her absence.
Regardless of how long she’s gone, Io Shirai will certainly return refreshed and hungry to get her title back. That doesn’t bode well for not only González, but seemingly Monet as well. But for now, the former champion deserves some rest after a very successful and dominant reign.
Thanks for joining us as we looked at the career of Io Shirai! It speaks for itself, and further proves why she is considered one of the best joshi wrestlers of all time. Whether she stays in NXT or moves to RAW or SmackDown, that respective division will have a star for years to come.