NXT sensation Io Shirai is gearing up for perhaps the biggest match of career on this week’s episode of NXT where she challenges none other than Charlotte Flair for the NXT Women’s Championship. Being the benchmark figure in the women’s division, facing Flair inside the squared circle has become an honor for the current roster members.
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Heading into the match, Io Shirai recalled an unfortunate incident from earlier this year which could have been a memorable moment in her career but an unfortunate injury ruined the day for her. The Japanese star revealed that she was supposed to compete in this year’s women’s Royal Rumble match but an MCL injury forced her out of the match.
Io Shirai recently spoke with Tokyo Sports to disclose that she was chosen as one of those lucky NXT superstars who were supposed to compete in the women’s Royal Rumble match. But then she picked up an injury in a match with Toni Storm prior to the big-four pay-per-view event, this year.
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“I had a match with Toni Storm before Royal Rumble, when Storm hit a tope to me at outside of the ring, my knee had bent to the wrong direction,” Shirai said. “I was scheduled to participate (in the) Royal Rumble, but I was so frustrated that I (couldn’t) participate.”
WWE started the tradition of hosting a separate Women’s Royal Rumble match from 2018 onwards. Several fortunate names from the NXT roster get a chance to compete in this contest to fill up the 30-women slot. Io Shirai hoped to be one of those lucky names but the unfortunate injury didn’t let her compete in the match.
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Thankfully, the injury didn’t keep Io Shirai out of the context, for a long time. She recovered from the injury and returned in action from March. She then became the number one contender to Charlotte Flair’s NXT Women’s Championship in April by winning a ladder match that also involved Candice LeRae, Tegan Nox, Mia Yim, Dakota Kai, and Chelsea Green.
Io Shirai has been gunning for the NXT Women’s Championship twice previously, against Shayna Baszler, losing on both the occasions. She joined the WWE roster in 2018 after spending several years in World Wonder Ring Stardom. She debuted by participating in the second Mae Young Classic, coming up short against Toni Storm in the final.
