10 Things You Need To Know About WWE's New Signing Kairi Hojo

1. She Probably Isn't Coming Alone

Io Shirai Kairi Hojo
Twitter, @we_are_stardom

Asuka became WWE’s first major joshi signing in several years when she joined the company in 2015, and Hojo appears to be the next in line. She’s expected to join up with the company following WrestleMania, and while she is the only Stardom wrestler to be confirmed at the moment, it’s extremely unlikely that she’ll be coming alone.

Io Shirai has been on WWE’s radar for a long time, and was approached to join the company at the same time as Hojo last year. Considered the promotion’s biggest star, Shirai is a phenomenal in-ring talent who can match anyone on the planet when it comes to raw skill. Like Hojo, she’d immediately be one of WWE’s best wrestlers, and at the age of 26, her prime years are still ahead of her.

Shirai is reportedly travelling to Orlando to negotiate with WWE during the first week of April. She and Hojo have wrestled each other on a number of different occasions, and while Shirai is still mulling over WWE’s contract offer, bringing her in makes all the sense in the world. Losing two of their three aces is potentially terrible news for Stardom, but WWE couldn’t possibly make a stronger set of female acquisitions in 2017.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.