Io Shirai: Stay in NXT or Go to Raw or Smackdown

Io Shirai led the most talented women’s division in the world for over a year. Her ascension began long before winning the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT TakeOver: In Your House, when she noticeably took no pinfalls of any kind on her ascent to the top of the card. That run of dominance continued until her loss to Raquel Gonzalez at NXT TakeOver: Stand and Deliver.

It might as well have been etched in stone that Gonzalez would become champion the moment she pinned Shirai in War Games late last year. Now, a new era is has arrived in NXT, which begs the question: What’s next for “The Genius of the Sky”? Shirai should absolutely depart the NXT brand.

Io Shirai should be destined for Friday Night Smackdown

It’s time for Shirai to elevate another women’s roster in WWE. Despite a brief appearance on the April 20 episode of NXT, where Shirai proclaimed it’s time for rest, the decision to remain in NXT does not have to be final.

The interview with Beth Phoenix seemed to do more to put Gonzalez over as champ, and shed more light on Franky Monet’s character rather than celebrate Shirai’s run. There is nothing left to prove in NXT, and the division is growing fast and needs room to allow new superstars like Zoey Stark and Sarray to shine. It’s notable that Shirai is still featured in the new NXT opening, but with time away from competition, that decision should be altered to send her to Friday nights.

A move to Smackdown would help the blue brand more than Shirai. The move would give the SmackDown women’s division some much-needed depth and a credible challenger for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, currently held by Bianca Belair.

The current roster features Sasha Banks, Bayley, Carmella, Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, Natalya, Tamina, and the champ Belair. The Riott Squad and Tamina & Natalya are in the hunt for the Women’s Tag Team Championships, which means there are only three viable challengers for the recently crowned Belair. This is currently not a problem, but it could present some trouble down the road.

A debut could be done very simply: have Shirai crash a segment of Bayley’s “Ding Dong Hello” talk show or have Adam Pearce or Sonya Deville book her as a mystery guest. Considering how Bayley has quietly become the resident gatekeeper in the women’s division to the main event scene, this would be a good first feud for Shirai. After her historic title reign and work in the pandemic, she deserves credit for her work with Belair and putting the EST over. The very same can be done for Shirai until she is ready for title contention. There’s also unfinished business with Banks from their NXT match back in 2020.

There are a number of storylines and feuds that could be created by a small move where all parties win. Keeping Shirai in NXT doesn’t serve much purpose outside of reclaiming the NXT Women’s Title. If Gonzalez were to win in a rematch, Shirai will have been effectively cooled off. With WrestleMania season over, and possibly a pending roster shakeup to come, the decision should be easy for Io Shirai. Making the jump to the blue brand makes too much sense.