10 Best Booked WWE Champions Of 2020
3. Io Shirai (NXT Women's Championship)
As the Ramones once (almost) sang, Hey, Ho, Io! Hey, Ho, Io!
When you have the best women's division in the world you need a wrestler who represents that, and the über-talented Io Shirai fits the bill perfectly. Shirai has excelled as the undisputed ace of the NXT's female locker room, putting on great matches against all manner of opponents from alpha-bitch Dakota Kai to fiery babyface Shotzi Blackheart, and proving her steel in hard-hitting matches like the TLS (not a typo) match against Candice LeRae and her recent bloody battle with Rhea Ripley.
Io's best-in-class performances in all her title fights have justified WWE's decision to keep the belt on her for the latter half of 2020, and WWE have rounded out the package by covering Shirai's one weakness in a manner Paul Heyman would be proud of. Shirai's English promos, while acceptable, have always been the least effective part of her act so WWE deserves a pat on the back for the decision to have Io hype matches through subtitled video packages. Each video is expertly crafted to enhance Io's aura and badass appeal, as the NXT Women's Champion's natural charisma comes through far more clearly when she is speaking in her native language rather than good-not-great English.
WWE are to be commended for working around Io's only weakness rather than exposing it, allowing the Genius of the Sky to be the best version of herself and one of the greatest champions on the roster.