Top WWE NXT Star Injured?

One of WWE NXT 2.0's biggest and best has been pictured on crutches recently.

NXT 2.0 Logo Io Shirai
WWE

Io Shirai has been photographed sporting a medical boot (and seemingly crutches as well), sparking speculation that the former WWE NXT Women's Champion is injured at the moment.

Credit to Twitter user Sean Slate for pointing this out. In the first picture below, Shirai is seen behind SmackDown star Shinsuke Nakamura (shot alongside joshi standout Hiroyo Matsumoto), clearly wearing a support boot around her right ankle - with crutches by her side:-

Io's position at the table is clarified in the second photograph.

Again, it should be stressed that conclusions on Shirai's injury status are speculative at the moment. WWE has not provided an update on the Japanese star's status and concrete reports have not been forthcoming. That she has been seen using such medical apparatus isn't a great sign, though.

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Shirai hasn't wrestled since competing for the NXT Women's Title in a Fatal Four Way at the Stand & Deliver live special on 2 April. Mandy Rose won that bout, successfully retaining the belt, with Io taking a nasty bump to the outside at one point. Moonsaulting from the top rope, her ankle appeared to collide with the announce table on the way down:-

If she is injured, all the best to Shirai in her recovery.

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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.