Io Shirai was a dominant force in the NXT women’s division

For 304 days, Io Shirai ruled the NXT Women’s division as its champion. In that time, she became one of the company’s best wrestlers and one of the best in the world currently. She is a high-flying daredevil. She will do whatever is necessary to entertain the fans while keeping a tight grip of the championship.

Shirai is just one of three NXT Women’s Champions to hold her title for over 300 days joining Asuka (522) and Shayna Baszler (416). On June 7, NXT brought back an old WWE pay-per-view, In Your House as a TakeOver event. “The Genius of the Sky” beat Rhea Ripley and then NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair.

Although it was a non-title match, Shirai defeated Sasha Banks at the Great American Bash, another old pay-per-view that NXT decided to make a television event. At NXT TakeOver XXX, she successfully defended her title against Tegan Nox and Dakota Kai.

A feud reignited

In the fall, she renewed her 2019 rivalry with Candice LeRae. Back then, she earned herself the nickname “The Joshi Judas” from Mauro Ranallo. The former friends faced each other at NXT TakeOver 31 after LeRae won a battle royal to be the Number 1 contender. Johnny Gargano tried to help his wife by distracting the referee, but it backfired and Shirai was able to retain in a great match.

Just a few weeks later, LeRae would get her rematch in the main event. Halloween Havoc was hosted by Shotzi Blackheart who spun a wheel to determine the type of match that would happen. The wheel landed on “Tables, Ladders, and Scares”.  This was a brutal affair that reminded fans just how good these two women are. At times, it looked like Shirai’s title reign would come to an end. That was not to be as Shirai pushed over the ladder that the “Poison Pixie” was on and through another ladder on the outside, ensuring her retaining the title.

Io Shirai dominates the division

After putting this round of their feud to rest, Shirai once again defends her title against Ripley.

In a bit of foreshadowing, Shirai was pinned by Raquel Gonzalez when Team Blackhart faced Team LeRae at NXT TakeOver: WarGames.

On Valentine’s Day, “The Genius of the Sky” defended her championship in a Triple Threat match with Mercedes Martinez and Toni Storm. She was successful and was challenged again by Storm on a March episode of NXT.

In a match that lasted 12:56, Shirai’s dominant title reign came to an end at the hands of Gonzalez.

What’s next for Io Shirai?

Since losing her championship, there has been speculation of whether or not she would move to Monday Night RAW or Friday Night SmackDown. On a media call after NXT Stand and Deliver with HHH, the question was asked.

"“Io Shirai has earned the right to do what she wants to do,” Triple H said. “To me, if Io Shirai wants to take time off, she takes time off. If she wants to come back and go after Raquel Gonzalez, she’s earned that right. If she wants to do something else for a bit, or any of that, she’s earned the right to do all of it."

Although Shirai has faced a majority of the women in NXT, HHH reminds everyone that “there’s always more to proving you’re the best. There’s the next challenge. The next competitor. There’s the next all of those things. For me, it’s whatever Io wants to do, but I don’t see that as she lost one match over the past three hundred something days she’s been champion, all of a sudden she’s just moving on.”

If there was any question that Io Shirai was one of the best, during her 300+ day title reign, she proved over and over again that she is indeed one of the best in all of wrestling.