WWE NXT 8 Ups And 1 Down (Jun 15)

2. Io Shirai Finds A Friend To Fight LeRae's Way

Though more than a few people were left feeling a little disappointed that the idea of Io Shirai teaming with Poppy to take on Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell for the NXT Women's Tag Team Championships appeared to be dead on arrival, the alternative thrown up this week may not be a half bad change of direction.

Interrupting Shirai as she was set to announce her next target, LeRae revealed that she still cannot stand her former sparring partner and opened the door for an Indi Hartwell sneak attack on the former NXT Women's Champion. Then, just as it looked like Shirai was about to be sent crashing through the announce desk by a flying elbow, Zoey Stark soon showed up to help fight off The Way.

Injecting the talents of Shirai and Stark into the Women's Tag Division isn't the most terrible back-up plan if the aforementioned Poppy direction was even the original direction. And seeing LeRae and Shirai clash again, regardless of the environment, is something most fans will never grow tired of seeing.

There is a point to be made about Stark being NXT's resident best bud to just about every babyface on the roster. But who knows, perhaps this could be her way of secretly pulling the strings behind the scenes before eventually making her own dastardly plans known later down the line. For now though, Shirai and Stark Vs LeRae and Hartwell for the gold? What's not to like?