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WWE NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver Night 1 saw Io Shirai's 300+ day reign as NXT Women's Champion finally come to an end.
In the main event of the spectacular TakeOver show, Raquel González won her first NXT Women's Championship as she defeated Io Shirai, putting the former champion down with her signature one arm powerbomb finisher.
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After dropping the NXT Women's Championship, many within the WWE Universe are questioning if NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver was Io Shirai's final appearance on the black and gold brand.
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Considering Io Shirai's tenure as a member of the NXT roster and the huge amount of success she has achieved during her run, there doesn't appear to be much left for The Genius of the Sky to accomplish on NXT. This has led many to speculate that Shirai could soon be destined for Monday Night RAW or Friday Night SmackDown after WrestleMania 37.
Let's take a closer look at five WWE main roster opponents for Io Shirai.
#5 Former WWE RAW Women's Champion Ronda Rousey
WWE WrestleMania 37 will mark two years since Ronda Rousey was last seen on WWE television. The former RAW Women's Champion last competed inside a WWE ring at WrestleMania 35 in 2019 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Becky Lynch defeated both Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair in the main event of WrestleMania 35 to become both the RAW and SmackDown Women's Champion in the "Winner Take All" match.
But the match wasn't without controversy. The Baddest Woman on the Planet was pinned by Becky Lynch in the closing moments of the match. However, it was clearly visible that Rousey had managed to get her shoulder off the canvas in the process.
Nevertheless, a dejected Ronda Rousey cut an incredibly frustrated figure as she left the ring and hasn't returned to the world of professional wrestling since.
With WrestleMania 37 on the horizon, the WWE Universe has already begun to speculate that Ronda Rousey's WWE return could be approaching in the near future. Should Io Shirai move from NXT to Monday Night RAW, a match against Ronda Rousey would no doubt be a dream match to the entire WWE Universe.
#4 Current WWE SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks
Current WWE SmackDown Women's Champion Sasha Banks will face off against Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 37. The EST of WWE chose to face The Boss for the SmackDown Women's Championship on the grandest stage of them all after winning the 2021 Women's Royal Rumble match.
However, could Sasha Banks be set to feud with Io Shirai if she successfully defends the championship against Belair at WrestleMania 37?
Sasha Banks and Io Shirai have faced off once before inside a WWE ring. Last year, during Night 1 of NXT's The Great American Bash, Io Shirai defeated Sasha Banks in the main event of the broadcast.
Despite outside interference from Bayley, Sasha Banks' tag team partner at the time, Io Shirai was able to defeat The Boss thanks to some assistance from RAW Women's Champion Asuka.
The match between Shirai and Banks was critically acclaimed by members of the WWE Universe on social media around the world. With rumors suggesting Io Shirai could be set to join Monday Night RAW or Friday Night SmackDown after WrestleMania, there will be a plethora of fans hoping we see a Banks vs Shirai rematch soon on WWE television.
#3 Current WWE RAW Women's Champion Asuka
WWE RAW Women's Champion Asuka has dominated Monday Night RAW since capturing the RAW Women's Championship in 2020.
Currently in her second reign as RAW Women's Champion, Asuka is set to defend the championship against former NXT Women's Champion Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 37.
Should Asuka prove able to defend the RAW Women's Championship against Ripley, could Asuka then turn her attention to Io Shirai on Monday Night RAW?
Io Shirai and Asuka have never squared off before inside a WWE ring. Both Japanese wrestlers have had brief interactions with each other in 2020 on NXT during Asuka's feud with Sasha Banks and Bayley. However, a match between the two Japanese WWE Superstars is yet to happen.
As two of the best female in-ring performers on the WWE roster currently, Asuka vs Io Shirai would without a doubt be considered a dream match to many members of the WWE Universe. Shirai's high-flying offense provides a perfect contrast of style to Asuka's striking, submission-based offense.
One can only hope we see the match sooner rather than later.
#2 Former WWE SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley
Former WWE SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley is one of the most decorated superstars in the WWE women's division today.
The role model is a former RAW Women's Champion, Women's Tag Team Champion, NXT Women's Champion and the longest reigning SmackDown Women's Champion in WWE history.
However, in recent months, Bayley has found herself treading water on WWE television. After her lengthy feud with former best friend Sasha Banks culminated on WWE television, Bayley quickly transitioned into a feud with Bianca Belair.
Now that the feud with Bianca Belair has ended, Bayley hasn't been seen too frequently on SmackDown. The former Women's Champion also does not currently have a scheduled match for the upcoming WWE WrestleMania 37 pay-per-view event.
Perhaps the perfect way for Bayley to be featured once again on WWE television would be to enter a feud with former NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai on Friday Night SmackDown.
Bayley and Io Shirai have never faced off inside a WWE ring before. Bayley and Shirai did have a brief interaction at NXT's The Great American Bash in 2020 during Shirai's match with Sasha Banks. However, Bayley and Shirai are yet to officially face off in one-on-one action.
Io Shirai and Bayley could make for some fantastic matches and highly entertaining television. Furthermore, Io Shirai could be the perfect opponent for Bayley to once again be featured front and center on Friday Night SmackDown.
#1 Former WWE RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch
The WWE Universe is eagerly awaiting the return of former RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch to WWE programming.
The Man hasn't been seen on WWE television since she vacated the RAW Women's Championship after announcing she was pregnant on Monday Night RAW in May of 2020.
Since then, Becky Lynch has largely kept a low-profile while on maternity leave, giving birth to her and Seth Rollins' first child together.
However, with WrestleMania 37 on the horizon, rumors about Becky Lynch's return to WWE have gone into overdrive once again. WWE President Nick Khan fuelled these rumors by recently stating Becky Lynch would be returning to WWE in the future.
Perhaps a perfect first opponent for The Man on her return to WWE could be none other than Io Shirai. Becky Lynch and Io Shirai have never had a match against each other in WWE.
The Man has always looked to make the biggest impact possible during her WWE career. A feud against the debuting Io Shirai would certainly garner a lot of attention from the WWE Universe and remind everyone that The Man has come back around.
