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Io Shirai's impressive run as NXT Women's Champion came to an end at the hands of Raquel Gonzalez. TakeOver: Stand & Deliver could have very well been Shirai's farewell match in NXT. The same has happened in the last year for Damian Priest, Riddle and Rhea Ripley.
Each performer had a showcase match that essentially closed the NXT chapter of their WWE careers. TakeOver: Stand & Deliver seemed like the same for Shirai. She may return and get a rematch for her title, but the Genius of the Sky is more than ready for a move to either RAW or SmackDown.
Triple H was even asked the question about Shirai following Night 1 of TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. He essentially said that Shirai has earned the right to decide what her next move will be. What that move might be is up for debate.
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Several fans and fellow Superstars would probably like Shirai to stick around in NXT. She might be comfortable there. One strike against her staying, however, is that she has already beaten a lot of the women in NXT. Outside of going for the NXT Women's Tag Team titles with Zoey Stark, Shirai has nothing left to prove.
For that reason, it's possible that she will debut on RAW or SmackDown following WrestleMania 37. Big debuts take place on the shows following WrestleMania's conclusion and Shirai could do so this year. Here are five reasons why Io Shirai is more than ready for a call up to RAW or SmackDown
#5 Shirai proved in NXT that she is one of the best wrestlers in the world
Before Io Shirai signed with WWE and NXT, it was well known that she was one of the best wrestlers in the world. During her entire run in NXT, that point was driven home even more after classics with Candice LeRae, Rhea Ripley and others.
She also proved to be one of the most fearless wrestlers in all of WWE. Shirai jumped off the top of the WarGames structure with a trash can around her torso. At TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, she jumped off of the large prop skull on the entrance ramp.
Not every performer is willing to put their body on the line but Shirai has done that in spades in NXT. She offers up a different all-around package than what is already on RAW and SmackDown. Her joining the main roster would also force everyone else to up their game.
#4 There are new feuds on the main roster and some holdovers from NXT
In terms of the meat and bones of the NXT women's roster, Shirai has faced most of them. She's battled Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez, Toni Storm, Shotzi Blackheart, Zoey Stark and many others. Shirai has also faced Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair from the main roster.
If Shirai does join the main roster after WrestleMania 37, it should be on SmackDown. RAW just added Ripley to Asuka, Shayna Baszler, Flair, Nikki Cross, Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax and Peyton Royce. They already have a lot of depth and adding Shirai would lessen the chances of the middle of the roster advancing.
Joining SmackDown would add another main-event level woman to the division. Sure, she's already faced Banks and Belair, but there are other feuds to be had.
She'd likely enter into a gatekeeper type of angle with Natalya since Nattie is often like the Dolph Ziggler or Cesaro of the women's division. Newer stars from NXT get their feet wet on the main roster against trusted veterans like the Queen of Harts.
The SmackDown women's roster also features the likes of Carmella, who loves herself, Bayley and members of the Riott Squad. Tamina and Billie Kay are also part of the division, but Bayley did well in welcoming Belair to the main roster. Unfortunately, the former SmackDown Women's Champ doesn't even have a match at WrestleMania 37.
The division on the blue brand is a lot different than that of RAW or NXT. RAW and NXT have good depth throughout their rosters. SmackDown, however, has four main-event level women - Banks, Bayley, Belair and Carmella. Mella lost several title matches to Banks but is still a good character.
Bayley had a long and fruitful reign but was defeated by Banks. Whichever woman walks out of WrestleMania 37 will need new challengers. While challenging for the title shouldn't happen right away, Shirai would be a great addition to Friday nights.
If she went to RAW, she could rekindle feuds with Ripley, Flair and Baszler. Shirai could also face Royce, Cross or Naomi. There are just more opportunities to test herself against the best on either RAW or SmackDown than there are staying on NXT.
#3 Leaving NXT would allow some other Superstars to debut
Every week during NXT, it's often said that it has the best women's division around. When statements like that are made by WWE, it's often only partially true. The declaration about the NXT's women's roster, however, is completely accurate.
Even last year, NXT featured the likes of Ripley, Shirai, Belair, Candice LeRae, Kai, Tegan Nox, Gonzalez, Toni Storm, Ember Moon, Blackheart and many others. Those are just the main stars of the brand.
Ripley moved to RAW only a month ago while Belair joined SmackDown after last year's WrestleMania. Zoey Stark debuted earlier this year, as did Gigi Dolin and Cora Jade. Stark has received the most attention out of those three and she's knocked every opportunity out of the park.
The woman pictured above, formerly known as Brandi Lauren, has been waiting at the WWE PC. She was a member of Evolve, so officials have already had a look at what she can do. Renamed Skyler Story, she battled Blackheart in Evolve many times. Story is another name that is ready for a shot to make an impact in NXT.
There have also been the arrivals of Franky Monet (formerly Taya Valkyrie) and Sarray over the last week. Those two names can slot into the upper mid-card if Shirai moves on from NXT. A vignette for Monet debuted during NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. Sarray was seen in the stands by the side of Stephanie McMahon.
In order for some other stars to get the chance to shine, stalwarts need to advance to RAW or SmackDown. It happened with Ripley and Belair over the last calendar year. Shirai is next in line.
Ripley lost a Last Woman Standing in her final NXT appearance before participating in the 2021 Royal Rumble. She would later debut on RAW weeks before WrestleMania 37.
Losing the title to Gonzalez might be Shirai's send off from NXT. She could opt to stay and battle with other women or attempt to reclaim the title. Whatever she decides, her departure would more than likely open up a spot for some other women looking to make their impact in NXT.
#2 SmackDown could use another top-level NXT star
Similar to the #4 slide, adding the talents of the former NXT Women's Champion to SmackDown would instantly reinvigorate the women's division. Carmella returned to SmackDown as a different character in November of 2020 following the WWE Draft.
After the 2020 WWE Draft, the SmackDown women's roster consisted of top stars Belair, Banks and Bayley. Banks had just won the SmackDown Women's title from Bayley at Hell in a Cell. Carmella would then challenge Banks in several title matches going forward. She was unsuccessful in each attempt.
Natalya and Tamina are veterans of the division but their best days are in the past. They are currently being pushed as threats to the WWE Women's Tag Team titles. The Riott Squad have primarily been used as a team and have traded wins and losses. They are also in the Tag Team Turmoil match at WrestleMania 37 but have not been built up yet as viable threats to anyone.
Billie Kay was also drafted to Friday nigths but has been used as a comedic character. That's all well and good because she knocks her segments out of the park every time she is on screen. Chelsea Green was supposed to join the ranks of the blue brand around Survivor Series but was hurt in her debut match.
There are a lot of names in the division but there is a clear divide. Banks, Bayley and Belair are the top three women at the moment. After losing most of her recent matches, Carmella has lost some luster. The rest of the roster has its roles, but those roles don't necessarily translate into serious title threats.
Adding Shirai to the SmackDown roster would help both NXT and the blue brand. NXT gets to run different feuds for the NXT Women's Championship with Gonzalez as Champion. Other women will debut and integrate themselves into the roster.
SmackDown would be getting one of the best wrestlers in the world. Shirai was regarded to be that before she signed with WWE. All of her work since signing with WWE and NXT has only confirmed that thinking. Big debuts always come after WrestleMania and Shirai joining SmackDown (if she chooses to) would certainly fit that bill.
#1 Shirai has already conquered NXT
As a member of the NXT roster, Shirai basically did everything she could possibly do while in NXT. She had an impressive title run of over 300 days. She competed in great matches against every challenger. Shirai also appeared in the 2018 Mae Young Classic.
The Genius of the Sky also competed in two WarGames matches and stole the spotlight last year. She managed to jump off of the top of the cage with a trash can around her head and torso.
Another facet of her NXT run is that she tried out being both a heel and a face. She started out as a face, turned heel when she couldn't beat Baszler and then turned face again last year. When there isn't much left to do from a heel and face perspective on a brand, a change is needed.
A big reason why WWE utilizes the draft every year is to reshuffle the rosters of both RAW and SmackDown. It allows for new feuds, character shifts and different title programs. Since Shirai has had a great title run and has been a heel and a face in NXT, it's time she tries her luck on the main roster.
That's not to say she is guaranteed success on the main roster in WWE. Every mega star in NXT does not experience the same on either RAW or SmackDown. It's a bit disappointing because fans expect to see similar booking of the NXT stars on RAW or SmackDown.
When it doesn't happen, it can somewhat cause people to lose faith in that star. It helps if officials know that certain stars from NXT (Keith Lee, Shirai, Baszler) should be pushed the same on the main roster.
The simple fact is that the Genius of the Sky has nothing left to prove in NXT. She might want to get her title back, but newer challenges exist on RAW and SmackDown.
There have been rumors recently speculating that she may indeed be called up to RAW or SmackDown soon. Shirai can handle pressure of any type and is more than ready to depart from NXT. Will it happen after WrestleMania?
