Uncertainty around the WWE future of Io Shirai continues to swirl as a new report suggests that she would be willing to remain with the company if one condition is met.
On July 12th NXT 2.0 star Io Shirai took to social media to hit back at reports suggesting that she is preparing to leave WWE.
The reports came after it emerged that the Japanese star hadn’t signed a new deal with the company and would be a free agent in the coming months. However, Shirai responded to reports that she had one foot out of the door as “rumours.”
Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer notes that Shirai still hasn’t signed WWE’s latest offer, although a deal remains on the table. Interestingly, those who know the star believe that she will stay with the company if she’s moved to the main roster.
“Those at NXT said last week that at the time Shirai had not signed a new contract that had been offered. They believed she was returning to Japan and Stardom now that Stardom has stronger financial backing from Bushiroad. Those close to Stardom did not indicate she was coming back, although did believe she would be moving back to Japan if she wasn’t on the main roster.
As noted, if she lets her contract expire without renewing she could work anywhere, whether it be Japan or the U.S., immediately. Still, she disputed this report. She had been injured and not been used in months but has been back training at the PC lately.
Those who know her from Japan said she went to WWE with the goal of making the main roster and believe she would stay with a main roster deal. We haven’t heard about her signing a new deal this week after checking but there is an offer on the table and her current deal hasn’t expired yet.”
Io Shirai signed with WWE in 2018, and over the next five years enjoyed a glittering run with WWE’s third brand, winning the NXT Women’s Title, the NXT Women’s Tag Team Titles and the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic earlier in 2022.
The star has been out of action since NXT Stand & Deliver on April 2nd due to injury.