Io Shirai Responds To WWE Departure Rumours

Top NXT star calls hearsay on talk she is on her way out of WWE.

by Andy H Murray
Io Shirai vomit
WWE

Top NXT 2.0 star Io Shirai appears to have responded to talk that she is on her way out of WWE.

The former WWE NXT Women's Champion tweeted the word "rumors" accompanied by a vomiting emoji on Tuesday:-

This follows a report from the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer that Shirai already had one foot out WWE's door and was "pretty much gone" from the promotion, which broke overnight on Monday. Previously, Meltzer had reported that Shirai was working on an expiring contract and had yet to sign WWE's offered extension, putting her future in the company in jeopardy.

Shirai's native Japan was pinpointed as a potential landing spot for the 32-year-old in the original report. It was stated that Io was interested in returning home to be closer to her family, having worked out of the United States for over five years since signing with WWE in 2017.

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Io hasn't appeared on WWE television since April. That month's Stand & Deliver event saw her suffer an injury while competing in an NXT Women's Title four-way, thus putting her out of action for an undetermined period of time. Whether or not Shirai is still struggling with the issue remains to be seen. For now, though, rumours about her future persist.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.