It appears as if Io Shirai is not headed to the WWE... at least not yet.
The Wrestling Observer is reporting that Io Shirai, currently the top wrestler for the all-female Japanese promotion STARDOM, has not signed with WWE. Shirai came to Orlando in late March to visit the WWE Performance Center and try out. According to The Observer, that trip "didn’t go swimmingly from her standpoint."
Shirai's tryout came just a few weeks after the WWE signed another of STARDOM's top competitors, Kairi Hojo. Another STARDOM alum, Asuka, is the current NXT Women's Champion.
Shirai would seem to be an excellent fit for the WWE's upcoming women's tournament. That tourney will be taped July 13 and 14 from Full Sail University, the usual site of NXT tapings. Matches will air on the WWE Network in a similar format to last year's Cruiserweight Classic. She also appeared on the third season of Lucha Underground as a member of the Black Lotus Triad, taking on Pentagon Dark. Hojo also was part of the Triad for that series of matches.
Shirai has held six different championships in STARDOM for 11 total title reigns, including her current run as World of Stardom Champion.
