10 WWE Wrestlers Who Are Almost Unrecognisable Since Debuting
4. Io Shirai
As mentioned earlier, the Mae Young Classic always brings in a new and vibrant variety of superstars who can go on to experience significant success in WWE. The tournament has particularly found luck with bringing in Joshi wrestlers, with Shirai once such name.
Io made her first appearance for WWE in a house show in Japan but was soon shown off to the world in the Mae Young Classic, which saw her make it to the finals, only to be bested by Toni Storm, but she soon became a fixture on NXT alongside Kairi Sane as one half of The Sky Pirates.
Shirai sported a classic Joshi look during this time, with bright and vibrant ring gear and an entrance mask with Luchador inspirations. It was a solid look, but ditching it is what would take her career to the next level.
After some time losing and failing to achieve her goals, Shirai turned heel and brought with it a whole new appearance. She went from a smiling bright star to a black leather-clad badass, who erratically walked to the ring to strobe lighting. This change helped her career and gave her a fantastic NXT Women's Championship run.
Sometimes, losing the colour in your life can be a big help.