We recently brought you news that WWE was courting a couple of international talents from Japan’s World Wonder Ring Stardom, and that they have already signed Kairi “holy crap did you see that elbow drop” Hojo. Now it appears WWE has also locked up someone who many think is the best women’s wrestler in the world right now.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Io Shirai has accepted an offer from WWE and will be heading to Florida shortly to join the company. One imagines that both Shirai and Hojo will be considered for — if not positioned as stars of — the upcoming WWE Women’s Tournament.
If you haven’t watched any of her Japanese joshi work in Stardom and elsewhere, you probably know her best as Hitokiri, the final boss (more or less) of the Black Lotus Triad in Lucha Underground. (Her match against Pentagon Dark is included in full below for your viewing pleasure.) Pretty much everyone who saw that episode of Lucha Underground sat up and took notice.
Shirai has been wrestling since 2007 and was Stardom’s version of John Cena, for all intents and purposes. The Observer‘s Dave Meltzer has stated several times that the loss of both Hojo and Shirai could prove devastating for the company.
Check out some of Io Shirai’s work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQ3DtclOALQ
