Backstage Update On Io Shirai's WWE Status
What's going on with Io Shirai, who hasn't wrestled on WWE NXT 2.0 since April?
Io Shirai's continued absence from WWE programming is due to injury.
The former NXT Women's Champion hasn't appeared onscreen since April. Per Fightful Select, this is because she is hurt, though there is no word on the severity or nature of her injury. Shirai's return timetable is therefore a mystery.
Fightful's source added that Io had not been considered for any creative plans for the time being. It was also stated that the Japanese star is a well-liked figure in the promotion, with people close to the situation hoping that she'll be back in action by summer - though this hasn't been confirmed.
Shirai last wrestled for WWE at NXT Stand & Deliver 2022 on 2 April. There, she competed in a four-way for Mandy Rose's NXT Women's Championship, which the Toxic Attraction leader one after fending off Io, Kay Lee Ray (now Alba Fyre), and Cora Jade.
Prior to this, Shirai had been teaming with Ray as part of the Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. The duo won the tournament after defeating Dakota Kai and Wendy Choo in the finals, but were granted singles title shots over the expected Women's Tag Team Championship bout.