15 Ups & 6 Downs For WWE NXT In 2019
Ups...
15. Io Shirai's Turn
Io Shirai wasn't exactly floundering as a babyface following the dismantling of her Sky Pirates tandem with Kairi Sane, but the originators somehow felt second rate when WWE condescendingly chucked Sane with fellow Japanese star Asuka to create The Kabuki Warriors on the main roster.
NXT follows the old wrestling rules more than the WCW-obsessed Cody could ever dream of, and just like it always used to be, a transformative heel turn was the answer.
Turning on best friend Candice LeRae after one loss too many to Shayna Baszler (in one of the best matches of the year, by the f*cking way), Shirai allowed her psychopathic side to come out in the most glorious and grizzly fashion. A sensational match at TakeOver: Toronto followed, and Shirai's been revitalised as a crazed killer ever since. All the goals she failed to achieve as a babyface last year will surely come to fruition for her in the next 12 months. She's too good at everything to permanently deny.