20 Best Women's Wrestlers In The World Today
1. Io Shirai
Io Shirai was pegged as a potential Mae Young Classic winner long before the tournament had commenced, and sure enough, it looked like Stardom’s crown jewel was on her way to WWE in June.
Shirai had been linked with the promotion for months, and announced her imminent Stardom departure soon after losing the company’s top title. The move fell through, though. Shirai’s WWE medical examination revealed a serious neck injury, and while the Wrestling Observer reported that Io would sign as soon as she’d healed, she returned to Japan in August.
WWE’s loss is Stardom’s gain, because Io Shirai is the best women’s wrestler in the world. An incredible seller with unmatched charisma, she’s just as capable of working from beneath as she is on top. She doesn’t have the belt anymore, but she remains Stardom’s ace, and a long string of ****+ matches against opponents as diverse as Shayna Baszler and Kairi Sane means her resume is incomparable.
The neck issues are worrying, and Shirai has shown no signs of toning down her trademark hard-hitting, high risk style since returning. Let’s hope she’s able to overcome her injuries and enjoy a long, prosperous career, because she’s far too good for such a dismal fate.