Io Shirai was built to be one of the highlights of NXT’s women’s division over the past several years. The transformation from the former black and yellow brand to the now colorful brand have had sent several former superstars out of the company. The former NXT Women’s Champion could also very well be following them after enjoying several top-notch feuds in the company.
It was recently revealed by outlets that Io Shirai’s WWE contract will expire soon as many wonder what could be next for her, down the road. Many believe that she will eventually return to NXT but the chances seem extremely low, at this point.
It appears that Io Shirai is well on her way out of the WWE, according to the reports of Dave Meltzer on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio. It was previously reported that she has not renewed her contract with the company. Her current deal comes to an end in August and that means that she will become a free agent at that point if the situation doesn’t change.
Io Shirai is expected to cut ties with the WWE
Per the source, Io Shirai can be considered pretty much gone from the WWE, already. She has reportedly been informing people in Japan about returning home in order to stay closer to her family. This is a similar situation that Kairi Sane was but then she stayed with the company and started working as a WWE Ambassador until her deal expired. Afterward, she has gone on to compete for World Wonder Ring Stardom.
Right now the expectation is that Io Shirai would not work in any kind of WWE Ambassador role like Sane once her contract is going to be officially over with the company. If that happens then it would bring the end to a five-year run with WWE as she first signed with the company in 2018.
During her tenure in the WWE, Io Shirai had only worked for the NXT brand and never officially moved to the main roster. She is a one-time NXT Women’s Champion and a former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion alongside Zoey Stark. The last time we saw her performing in a WWE ring was at NXT Stand & Deliver after which an injury sidelined her from the competition.
