Io Shirai may become a free agent soon.
It is being reported by the Wrestling Observer that Shirai’s contract will be expiring next month and at the time of this writing she has not signed a new offer. Dave Meltzer further notes that Shirai “had told people in Japan that when her contract was up she wanted to return to Japan and be closer with her family.”
Meltzer’s full note states –
Io Shirai has not signed her newest contract offer. She will be a free agent next month if she doesn’t sign her new deal. She had told people in Japan that when her contract was up she wanted to return to Japan and be closer with her family. Unlike with Kairi Sane, who had to wait until the end of her contract because she left mid-contract and agreed to work as a WWE rep in Japan so she could move back home, Shirai would be free and clear. There is no expectation in Stardom that she will definitely return at that point, but legally she could.
The last update that was provided for Shirai also came from the Wrestling Observer stating that she and her former tag team partner Zoey Stark would be returning “relatively soon.”
Shirai has been out of action since Stand & Deliver which took place in April over WrestleMania weekend. She was unable to recapture NXT gold as she was in a Fatal 4-way with Kay Lee Ray, Cora Jade, and NXT Women’s Champion Mandy Rose. It has been reported that she had been injured but the nature of the injury was never disclosed.
Diva Dirt will provide any further updates for Shirai’s WWE status as they are known.
