Making her debut in March 2007, she spent several years working as atag team wrestler, teaming with her older sisterMio, with whom she wrestled for variouspromotions across Japan and Mexico. In June 2010, she and her sister came together withKana to form the Triple Tailsstable, which lasted for 15 months, before Io broke out of the group and embarked on her singles career in Stardom. In April 2013, she won the promotion's top title, the World of Stardom Championship, later holding it twice, with each reign lasting for over a year. She worked for Stardom from 2011 until 2018, when she signed with WWE.
Shirai made her WWE debut at the2018 Mae Young Classic tournament, where she lost in the finals to Toni Storm. She was later assigned to the NXT brand, where she officially turned heel in 2019, and won her first championship in WWE, the NXT Women's Championship, in June the following year. She made her debut on the main roster atSummerSlam in July 2022 under the new name Iyo Sky and subsequently became a member ofBayley's stable,Damage CTRL. Afterwinning theMoney in the Bank contract, she won the WWE Women's Championship atSummerSlam in August 2023, before losing it to Bayley atWrestleMania XL in April 2024. In March 2025, Sky won theWomen's World Championship, making her the tenthWWE Women's Triple Crown Champion and the seventhWWE Women's Grand Slam Champion. She also became the first Japanese wrestler, male or female, to ever become Grand Slam Champion in both Japan and the United States.
Odate made herprofessional wrestling debut on March 4, 2007, alongside her older sister, with the two adopting thering names Io andMio Shirai, respectively ("Shirai" being Japanese for "Purple Thunder"). In their debut match, the Io sisters teamed withToshie Uematsu to face the trio of Erika Ura, Nozomi Takesako and Yuri Urai.[3] At the time of her debut, Io was only 16 years old, working part-time while attending high school. After graduating, she started working full-time as a professional wrestler.[22] Starting their careers asfreelancers, the Shirai sisters represented Team Makehen, astable made up of wrestlers trained byTomohiko Hashimoto, in severalindependent promotions during their first year in the business, including Ibuki,[23]Pro Wrestling Wave,[24]JWP Joshi Puroresu,[25] andSendai Girls' Pro Wrestling.[26]
On October 19, 2008, Shirai and Mio debuted for one of Japan's largest professional wrestling promotions,All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), defeating the team ofKyoko Kimura and Mikado.[27] From January to March 2009, the Shirais made several appearances for another large promotion not usually known for female wrestling,Pro Wrestling Zero1.[28][29][30][31] On April 29, the Shirai sisters won their first championship by defeatingMoeka Haruhi andTomoka Nakagawa in a tournament final to become the first TLW (Totally Lethal Wrestling) World Young Women's Tag Team Champions.[32] Despite its name, the championship was owned and promoted by Pro Wrestling Wave.[32] On July 12, Io received her first singles title opportunity, when she unsuccessfully challengedMisaki Ohata for theJWP Junior andPrincess of Pro-Wrestling Championships atIbuki #30.[33] From July to November, the Shirais spent four months working for theIce Ribbon promotion.[34][35][36]
On November 12, 2009, the Shirais entered Pro Wrestling Wave's Captain's Fall Six Person Tag Team Tournament, teaming with Gami, but the trio was defeated in their first round match byRan Yu-Yu, Ryo Mizunami and Toshie Uematsu.[37] However, the trio earned their way back into the tournament by defeating Misaki Ohata, Moeka Haruhi andYumi Ohka in a consolation match later that same day.[37] On November 25, the Shirais and Gami first defeated Bullfight Sora, Cherry andKaoru in the semi-finals and thenAyumi Kurihara,Kana andShu Shibutani in the finals to win the tournament, with Io, as the captain, scoring the deciding pinfall over Shibutani.[38] On December 23, the Shirais lost the TLW World Young Women's Tag Team Championship to Misaki Ohata and Moeka Haruhi.[39] On May 30, 2010, Io entered the2010 Catch the Wave tournament.[40] After three wins and one loss, Shirai finished tied at the top of her block, but was eliminated from the tournament on August 10, after being defeated in a tiebreaker match by Ryo Mizunami.[41]
On June 19, 2010, the Shirai sisters formed the Triple Tails stable with fellow freelancerKana, defeating Ayumi Kurihara,Hikaru Shida andYoshiko Tamura in their first match together at a NEO Japan Ladies Pro Wrestling event.[42][43] As a result, the Shirais received a shot Kurihara's and Tamura's NEO Tag Team Championship on July 4, but failed to win the titles.[44] On August 1, Io again failed to win the titles, this time with Kana as her partner.[45] Triple Tails returned to its winning ways on August 29, defeatingAsami Kawasaki, Shida andNagisa Nozaki in a six-woman tag team match.[46] On December 19, Triple Tails made its debut as a unit for Pro Wrestling Wave, defeating Cherry, Gami and Tomoka Nakagawa in a six-woman tag team main event.[47]
On January 29, 2011, the Shirais made their debuts forSmash, when the Triple Tails stable attackedYusuke Kodama andMakoto after their matches, with the trio being both times chased out of the ring byTajiri.[48][49] On February 13, Triple Tails produced its first own event, where the Shirai sisters wrestled male tag team Momo no Seishun Tag (Atsushi Kotoge andDaisuke Harada) in a losing effort.[50] On February 25, the Shirais made their Smash in-ring debuts atSmash.14, where they teamed with Kana to defeat Ken Ohka, Tajiri and Yoshiaki Yago in an intergender six person tag team match.[51] In March, Triple Tails took part inOsaka Pro Wrestling's Spring Samba Series, going undefeated in six person tag team matches for the duration of the tour.[52][53][54] On April 30 atSmash.16, Triple Tails was defeated by Makoto,Serena andSyuri.[55] On May 3 atSmash.17, the Shirai sisters were defeated by Hikaru Shida and Syuri.[56] Triple Tails' second event took place on May 8 and saw Io, Mio and Kana defeat Akino, Kagetsu and Syuri.[50]
On July 23, Triple Tails held a press conference to announce that, following the group's third self-produced event on September 18, Io was leaving the stable in order to pursue a singles career.[57] On August 21, Triple Tails made its debut forOz Academy, defeating the trio of Ayumi Kurihara, Hiren and Yumi Ohka.[58] On September 14, Triple Tails defeated Cherry, Moeka Haruhi and Shuu Shibutani in the group's final Pro Wrestling Wave appearance.[59] Four days later, Triple Tails defeatedDash Chisako, Ryo Mizunami andSendai Sachiko at their third self-produced event in the group's final appearance together.[60]
In 2010, Shirai traveled to Mexico, where she entered a local wrestling school to undergo further training.[13] On October 14, 2010, Shirai, working under the ring name Viva Kasai, made her debut forInternational Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) at an event inNaucalpan, Mexico, where she teamed withMini Abismo Negro,Monster Clown and Yuriko to defeatEl Hijo de Cien Caras,Mari Apache,Mascarita Divina and Pasión Cristal via disqualification in an eight-person tag team match.[1] In Mexico, both Shirais worked under cat-likemasks they would only wear for their entrances in Japan.[61] On October 31, both of the Shirai sisters were brought over toAAA, which had a working relationship with IWRG, and repackaged, with Io adopting the ring name Oyuki and Mio becoming Kaguya. In their first AAA match, Oyuki, Kaguya and Yuriko lost toCynthia Moreno,Gato Eveready and Mari Apache in a six-person tag team match.[62] During their stay in AAA, Oyuki and Kaguya became associates of theLa Legión Extranjera (Foreign Legion) stable.[63][64] On November 7, Oyuki and Kaguya defeatedFaby and Mari Apache and afterwards stole Faby'sAAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship and Mari'sAAA Reina de Reinas Championship belts.[65][66] On November 15, the Apaches and Cynthia Moreno defeated Oyuki, Kaguya andSexy Star.[63] A week later, Oyuki, Kaguya andJennifer Blake defeated Moreno and the Apaches.[64] This marked Oyuki's and Kaguya's final AAA appearance, which resulted in the storyline with the Apaches being dropped without a conclusion.
Shirai, now working without her mask and under the ring name Io Shirai, returned to Mexico on May 15, 2011, atLucha Fan Fest 4, where she teamed withNosawa to defeat Chica Tormenta andMike Segura for thevacant Americas World Mixed Tag Team Championship.[67][68] In November 2011, Shirai returned to Mexico with Wrestling All-Star Pros (WASP) for another two-week tour.[69] On November 1, Shirai put her hair on the line in her firstLucha de Apuestas Hair vs. Mask match, a four-wayintergender elimination match, where she faced Ángel o Demonio, La Maléfica and Shitara. Eventually, the match came down to Shirai and La Maléfica, ending with Shirai submitting her opponent for the win, forcing her to unmask herself.[70][71] Shirai and Nosawa defended the Americas World Mixed Tag Team Championship back in Japan on January 3, 2012, defeating Ken Ohka and Mio Shirai at aUnion Pro Wrestling event.[72] Shirai returned to Mexico on May 19 to take part in Lucha Expo inMexico City, where she teamed with Keira to defeat Chica Tormenta andLa Vaquerita.[73]
Upon Shirai's return to Japan, she was arrested under suspicion of marijuana smuggling.[14] This resulted in a two-year break from her regular trips to Mexico before Shirai returned to the country on January 27, 2014.[74][75] Shirai returned to Mexico on May 11 to take part inToryumon Mexico'sDragonMania 9 event, where she,Dark Angel,Kairi Hojo andMayu Iwatani defeated Ahy Lyyn, Baby Star, Diosa Atenea and Mystique.[76][77] On May 23, 2015, Shirai returned to Mexico, first taking part in Toryumon Mexico'sDragonMania 10 event inArena México, where she, Diosa Atenea, Mayu Iwatani andMima Shimoda defeated India Mazahua, India Sioux, Maligna and Xena.[78][79] Later that same day, Shirai also took part inLucha Fan Fest 8, where she,Dos Caras and Vanely defeated Atenea, Iwatani andBrazo de Plata.[80]
After leaving Triple Tails, Shirai, though still billed as a freelancer, effectively madeWorld Wonder Ring Stardom her new home promotion, making her debut on August 14, 2011, when she teamed withNanae Takahashi to defeatYoko Bito andYuzuki Aikawa, pinning Aikawa and afterwards challenging her to a match for theWonder of Stardom Championship.[81] Shirai continued to team with Takahashi the following month, before unsuccessfully challenging Aikawa for the championship on September 25.[81] On October 10, Shirai and Takahashi entered the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League.[82] When the tournament concluded two weeks later, Shirai and Takahashi finished with a record of one win and two losses and did not advance in the tournament.[82] In January 2012, Shirai formed the Planet stable with Arisa Hoshiki, Mayu Iwatani and Natsumi Showzuki.[83][84] On March 4, Shirai produced her own independent event namedCarino!, which celebrated her fifth anniversary in professional wrestling and during which she officially aligned herself with Stardom. In the main event, Shirai teamed with Dark Angel, whom she had befriended during her time in Mexico, to defeat Miho Wakizawa and Nanae Takahashi.[4] On March 25, Shirai unsuccessfully challengedNatsuki☆Taiyo for theHigh Speed Championship.[84] On April 22, Shirai, Arisa Hoshiki and Natsumi Showzuki of the Planet stable made it to the finals of a six-woman tag team tournament, set to determine the number one stable in Stardom, however, they lost to Nanae Gundan (Miho Wakizawa, Nanae Takahashi and Yuuri Haruka).[85]
Following her May 2012 drug arrest and eventual acquittal, Shirai made her in-ring return on July 22, taking part in aStardom Rumble to determine the final four participants in the2012 5Star Grand Prix. Shirai scored the last elimination of the match, pinning Planet stablemate Mayu Iwatani to qualify for the tournament.[86] Shirai finished the tournament, held from August 19 to September 30, with two wins, one draw and one loss, failing to advance to the finals.[87] On October 27, Shirai and Mayu Iwatani entered the 2012 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League under the team name "Thunder Rock", defeating previous year's finalists, Kawasaki Katsushika Saikyou Densetsu (Natsuki☆Taiyo andYoshiko) in their openinground-robin match.[88][89] However, after losing their two remaining round-robin matches, Shirai and Iwatani failed to qualify for the finals of the tournament.[88][90][91] On January 14, 2013, Shirai, along with Planet stablemates Iwatani and Natsumi Showzuki, entered a tournament to determine the inauguralArtist of Stardom Champions. They were, however, eliminated in their first round match by TeamShimmer (Kellie Skater,Portia Perez and Tomoka Nakagawa).[92][93] Six days later, Shirai and Iwatani unsuccessfully challenged Kawasaki Katsushika Saikyou Densetsu (Natsuki☆Taiyo and Yoshiko) for theGoddesses of Stardom Championship.[92]
On March 24, Shirai first defeatedKaori Yoneyama in the semi-finals and then Dark Angel in the finals to become the number one contender to theWorld of Stardom Championship at the biggest event in Stardom's history on April 29 atRyōgoku Kokugikan.[94][95] Shirai faced off with the reigning World of Stardom Champion,Alpha Female, for the first time on March 31, when she and Dark Angel were defeated in a tag team match by Kyoko Kimura and the champion, who pinned Shirai for a decisive win.[94][96] On April 29, atRyōgoku Cinderella, Shirai defeated Alpha Female to become the third World of Stardom Champion.[97][98][99] Shirai made her first successful title defense on June 2 against Yoshiko.[100][101][102] On August 17, Shirai defeated Kyoko Kimura for her second successful title defense.[100][103][104] From August 25 to September 23, Shirai took part in 5★Star GP2013, where she finished with a record of three wins, one draw and one loss, with a draw on the final day against rookie Takumi Iroha costing her a spot in the finals.[105][106][107] Shirai and Iroha then teamed up for the 2013 Goddesses of Stardom Tag Tournament, but were eliminated in their first round match on October 20 by Kairi Hojo and Nanae Takahashi, the winner of the 5★Star GP2013 who was now eyeing a shot at Shirai's World of Stardom Championship.[108][109][110] The title match between Shirai and Takahashi took place on November 4 at Stardom's 100th event, where Shirai was victorious with only one second remaining in the thirty-minute time limit, making her third successful title defense.[108][111] Post-match, Shirai offered the next shot at her title to JWP Joshi Puroresu wrestlerArisa Nakajima. Nakajima accepted the match on the condition that she could first regain theJWP Openweight Championship.[108][111][112] On December 16, the day after Nakajima had regained the title, a title match between Shirai and Nakajima for both the World of Stardom and JWP Openweight Championships was made official for December 29.[113][114][115] The match ended in a thirty-minute time limit draw, meaning that both champions retained their titles.[108][116][117] Post-match, Shirai was challenged to another double title match by new High Speed Champion Natsuki☆Taiyo.[108] At Stardom's annual awards ceremony later that same day, Shirai was named the promotion's MVP of 2013.[118]
On January 26, 2014, at Stardom's third anniversary event, Shirai defeated High Speed Champion Natsuki☆Taiyo in a match, where only the World of Stardom Championship was on the line, to make her fifth successful title defense.[119][120][121] Nearing the one-year anniversary of her title victory, Shirai vowed to break Nanae Takahashi's records for both the longest reign (602 days) and most successful title defenses (seven),[122] while also announcing she was accepting challengers from all over the world.[123] Shirai made her sixth successful title defense against American wrestlerMelissa on March 16,[124][125] and the record-tying seventh successful defense against previous champion Alpha Female on April 29.[124][126][127] On May 6, Shirai became a double champion in Stardom, when she defeated the soon-to-retire Natsuki☆Taiyo for the High Speed Championship.[124][127] On May 17, Shirai made her record-setting eighth successful defense of the World of Stardom Championship by defeating Star Fire at Lucha Fan Fest 7 in Mexico City.[124][128] Upon her return to Stardom, Shirai made her ninth successful title defense against Takumi Iroha on June 1. Afterwards, she offered the next title shot toMeiko Satomura,[129][130][131] who had defeated her in a non-title match at a Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling event on April 26.[132] On July 10, Shirai defeated Satomura for her tenth successful defense of the World of Stardom Championship.[133][134] On July 20, Shirai got an opportunity to become Stardom's firstTriple Crown Champion, but she and Takumi Iroha, billed collectively as "Heisei Star", failed in their attempt to capture the Goddesses of Stardom Championship from Kimura Monster-gun (Alpha Female and Kyoko Kimura).[135] On August 10, Shirai lost the World of Stardom Championship to Yoshiko, ending her reign at 468 days.[136][137]
After their World of Stardom Championship match against each other, Shirai and Yoshiko agreed to form a new partnership, which was also joined by Mayu Iwatani, Reo Hazuki and Takumi Iroha. The five, all born during theHeisei period, started a new rivalry with Stardom's olderShōwa period-born wrestlers, led by Nanae Takahashi.[136][137] From August 24 to September 23, Shirai took part in the 2014 5★Star GP. After three wins and two losses, Shirai advanced to the finals, where she defeated Yoshiko to win the tournament.[138][139][140] On November 3, Shirai and Yoshiko, whose partnership was now officially known as "Heisei-gun" ("Heisei Army"), unsuccessfully challenged Shōwa-gun's Kairi Hojo and Nanae Takahashi for the Goddesses of Stardom Championship.[141] Later that month, Shirai and Iwatani made it to the finals of the2014 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, but were defeated by Hojo and Takahashi.[142] On November 24, Shirai made her first successful defense of the High Speed Championship against Shōwa-gun's Koguma.[143] On December 7, Shirai once again became a double champion, when she and Heisei-gun stablemates Mayu Iwatani and Takumi Iroha defeated Tomodachi Mania (Hatsuhinode Kamen, Kaori Yoneyama andTsubasa Kuragaki) to win the Artist of Stardom Championship.[144] On February 14, Shirai took part in her sister Mio's independent M.I.O event, defeating Mio in a main event singles match, which marked their first match together in three years.[145][146][147] On February 22, Shirai lost the High Speed Championship to Koguma in her third defense.[148][149] On March 29, following Yoshiko's suspension from Stardom, Shirai was entered into a four-woman tournament to determine the new World of Stardom Champion. After defeating Takumi Iroha, she advanced to the finals of the tournament, where she was defeated by Hojo.[150][151] On April 14, Heisei-gun was stripped of the Artist of Stardom Championship due to Iroha being sidelined with a knee injury.[152] On May 6, Shirai and Iwatani first defeated Oedo Tai (Kris Wolf and Star Fire) and then Candy Crush (Chelsea and Hojo) to win a tournament for the vacant Goddesses of Stardom Championship.[153] On May 17, Shirai defeatedNikki Storm in a decision match to win the vacant Wonder of Stardom Championship, becoming the first wrestler to have held all five of Stardom's championships.[154][155][156]
Ahead of Mio Shirai's impending retirement from professional wrestling, she made her Stardom debut on July 26, 2015, to wrestle what was billed as the Shirai sisters' final match together, where Io and Mio defeatedHiroyo Matsumoto and Iwatani.[157][158][159] On September 23, Shirai and Iwatani broke the record for most successful defenses of the Goddesses of Stardom Championship by defeating Dash Chisako and Sendai Sachiko for their fourth defense.[160] On October 17, Shirai defeatedMia Yim inCovina, California, during Stardom's first American tour, to make her sixth successful defense of the Wonder of Stardom Championship.[161][162] During the second event inBaldwin Park, California two days later, Shirai and Iwatani made their fifth successful defense of the Goddesses of Stardom Championship against Hiroyo Matsumoto and Kellie Skater.[163][164] On November 8, Shirai and Iwatani won the2015 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, defeating Alex Lee and Kaori Yoneyama in the first round and Hiroyo Matsumoto andSantana Garrett in the final match, which also marked their sixth successful defense of the Goddesses of Stardom Championship.[165] After seven successful title defenses, Shirai lost the Wonder of Stardom Championship to Garrett on November 23 in a match also contested for Garrett'sNWA World Women's Championship.[166] On December 7,Tokyo Sports voted Shirai thejoshi wrestler of the year over Kairi Hojo, Meiko Satomura and Saki Akai.[167][168]
On December 23, 2015, Shirai defeated Satomura to become the first two-time World of Stardom Champion.[169][170] Meanwhile, Thunder Rock also continued their reign as the Goddesses of Stardom Champions, defeating the rookie team of Jungle Kyona and Momo Watanabe on January 10, 2016, for their seventh successful title defense.[171] On January 17, Shirai made her first successful defense of the World of Stardom Championship against Hojo.[172][173] On February 28, Shirai became a triple champion, when she, Iwatani and Hojo, billed collectively as "Threedom" (a combination of the words "Three" and "Stardom"), defeatedEvie, Hiroyo Matsumoto and Kellie Skater to win the Artist of Stardom Championship.[174] In April, Shirai, along with Iwatani and Hojo, traveled to the United States to take part in events held byLucha Underground and Vendetta Pro Wrestling.[175] On May 15, Thunder Rock faced off in a match, where Shirai made her fourth successful defense of the World of Stardom Championship against Iwatani.[176][177] Later that month, Stardom wrestlers took part in a European tour, during which the promotion debuted the newStardom World Association (SWA) World Championship.[178] On May 21, Shirai first defeatedKay Lee Ray in the first round, then Dragonita in the semi-finals andToni Storm in the finals to win the tournament and become the inaugural champion.[179] After setting records for both the longest reign and most successful title defenses, Shirai and Iwatani lost the Goddesses of Stardom Championship to Kagetsu and Kyoko Kimura in their 11th title defense on June 16.[180][181] On July 24, Shirai lost the SWA World Championship to Storm in her third defense.[182][183] Subsequently, Shirai underwent a tailbone surgery, but was only expected to miss one month of in-ring action.[184][185] On October 2, Threedom lost the Artist of Stardom Championship to Oedo Tai (Hana Kimura, Kagetsu andKyoko Kimura) in their third defense.[186][187] On November 11, Thunder Rock made it to the finals of the2016 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League. After losing to Kairi Hojo and Yoko Bito, Shirai turned on Iwatani, declared that Thunder Rock and Threedom were history and formed a new partnership with an unidentified masked woman.[188][189]
On November 20, Shirai and her new partner, now revealed as the former Reo Hazuki and renamed "HZK", were joined by Momo Watanabe, who turned on Mayu Iwatani during a tag team match.[190] The Shirai led new stable was later dubbed "Queen's Quest".[191] On December 14, Shirai was awarded her second consecutivejoshi wrestler of the year award byTokyo Sports.[192] Shirai made her ninth successful defense of the World of Stardom Championship against Iwatani on December 22.[193][194] On January 7, 2017, Queen's Quest became the new Artist of Stardom Champions by defeating Oedo Tai (Kagetsu, Kyoko Kimura andViper) for the vacant title.[195] On February 11, after Watanabe had been sidelined with an injury, Azumi became the newest member of Queen's Quest, adopting the ring name "AZM".[196] On February 23, Shirai made her eleventh successful defense of the World of Stardom Championship againstShayna Baszler, breaking her own record for most defenses of the title.[197][198] On March 9, Shirai celebrated her tenth anniversary in professional wrestling with a special event, which saw her team with Meiko Satomura to defeatChihiro Hashimoto and Iwatani.[199][200] On April 9, Queen's Quest was stripped of the Artist of Stardom Championship due to Watanabe's injury.[201] Queen's Quest, now represented by Shirai, AZM and HZK, regained the title six days later by defeating Oedo Tai (Kimura, Kagetsu andRosa Negra) in the finals of a four-team tournament.[202] They lost the title to Hiromi Mimura, Kairi Hojo and Konami in their first defense on May 6,[203] only to regain it on June 4.[204][205] They lost the title to Team Jungle (Hiroyo Matsumoto, Jungle Kyona and Kaori Yoneyama) in their first defense on June 17.[206][207] After a reign of 18 months with a record 14 successful title defenses, Shirai lost the World of Stardom Championship to Wonder of Stardom Champion Mayu Iwatani on June 21.[208][209] The following day, Shirai went on an indefinite hiatus to undergo treatment for a neck injury. She had suffered the injury taking apiledriver from Toni Storm during their World of Stardom Championship match on May 14.[210]
Shirai returned from injury on July 30, 2017, offering Oedo Tai member Viper a membership in Queen's Quest. After Viper accepted the offer, Shirai vowed to regain the Artist of Stardom Championship and win the 2017 5★Star GP.[211] Shirai's return match took place on August 13, when she, HZK and Viper regained the Artist of Stardom Championship from Matsumoto, Kyona and Yoneyama.[212][213][214] On November 19, Shirai defeated Yoko Bito to win the Wonder of Stardom Championship for the second time.[215] On December 14, Shirai became the first wrestler in history to win three consecutive female wrestler of the year awards fromTokyo Sports.[216] On April 21, 2018, Shirai made her tenth successful defense of the Wonder of Stardom Championship against Martina, breaking Santana Garrett's record for most defenses of the title.[217] On May 23, Shirai lost the Wonder of Stardom Championship to Momo Watanabe in her twelfth title defense.[217]
On May 29, Shirai announced her departure from Stardom.[218] She wrestled her last match on June 10, taking part in a ten-match one-minute time limit series against members of the Stardom roster that ended in one win and one loss.[217]
In October 2016, theWrestling Observer Newsletter reported that both Shirai and Kairi Hojo had been contacted and offeredWWE contracts, starting in 2017. Reportedly, Shirai had informed Stardom's management that she was taking the offer.[219] In March 2017, Shirai took part in a WWE tryout at theWWE Performance Center inOrlando, Florida. Her tryout was not supposed to go public, but due to a communications issue, she was featured on WWE's official website in an article that was taken down shortly afterwards.[220][221] After the tryout, Shirai confirmed that she had been offered a contract.[222]
On May 15, 2017,Dave Meltzer of theWrestling Observer Newsletter reported that Shirai had accepted the contract offer from WWE.[223] The following month, it was reported that a WWE medical examination had discovered a neck injury that would delay Shirai's WWE debut.[224] In August, Meltzer reported that just as doctors had cleared Shirai to return to the ring, WWE had rescinded their contract offer, noting the company had a "general rule of not wanting to bring in new talent that either has concussion issues or neck issues".[225] It was later reported that the medical examination had also found an issue with Shirai's heart. Japanese doctors had cleared Shirai for both her heart and neck, but WWE doctors suggested passing on signing her.[226] Six months later on May 28, 2018,Tokyo Sports reported that Shirai was in discussions with WWE.[227] On May 29, Shirai announced she would be leaving Stardom.[218]
Shirai made her first official appearance for the promotion on June 30, 2018, at the WWEhouse show in Ryōgoku Kokugikan, where it was announced she had signed with the promotion and would be competing in theirdevelopmental brand,NXT.[228] She participated in the2018 Mae Young Classic tournament.[229] On August 8, Shirai defeatedXia Brookside in the tournament's first round in her WWE debut match.[230] The following day, on August 9, Shirai defeatedZeuxis in the second round,Deonna Purrazzo in the quarterfinals andRhea Ripley in the semi–finals. In the finals, held atWWE Evolution on October 28, Shirai was defeated by Toni Storm.[231]
In her first appearance forNXT, Shirai debuted on November 17, 2018, atTakeOver: WarGames where she andDakota Kai saved her best friendKairi Sane during her match with Shayna Baszler from an assault by her alliesJessamyn Duke andMarina Shafir.[232][233][234][235] She wrestled her debut match on the December 19 episode ofNXT, where she and Kai defeated Duke and Shafir.[236] The following week, Shirai competed in afatal four-way match to determine the number one contender for theNXT Women's Championship, however, the match was won byBianca Belair.[237] Shortly after, with Kai sidelined with an injury, Shirai continued to team with Sane, forming a tag team known as "The Sky Pirates" while continuing to defeat various teams.[238][239][240][241]
Shirai in April 2019
On April 5, 2019, atTakeOver: New York, Shirai took part in a fatal four-way match for the NXT Women's Championship, however, Baszler submitted Belair to retain the title.[242] On April 11 (episode aired ontape delay on April 17), Shirai interfered in Sane's rematch with Baszler and attacked her as she was looking to injure Sane, resulting in a disqualification loss for Sane. As a result, Sane was not allowed to challenge for the NXT Women's Championship anymore, writing her off the brand.[243][244] The Sky Pirates disbanded following Sane'smove to the main roster, after which Shirai continued her feud with Baszler, Duke and Shafir as the three continuously attacked her.[245][246][247] This ultimately led to a match between Shirai and Baszler for the NXT Women's Championship atTakeOver: XXV on June 1, 2019,[248][249] where Shirai failed to win the title despiteCandice LeRae's interference and attack on Duke and Shafir.[250][251]
After failing to win the title from Baszler in asteel cage match on the June 26 episode ofNXT, Shirai attacked LeRae (who once again took out Duke and Shafir), turningheel.[252] Shirai developed a new image, adopting a newentrance theme and wearingblack leather.[253][254] AtTakeOver: Toronto on August 10, Shirai defeated LeRae via submission.[255] Three months later, Shirai joined Baszler's team for the inaugural women'sWarGames match atTakeOver: WarGames on November 23,[256][257][258] where Baszler's team lost to Rhea Ripley and LeRae, despite having a2-on-4 advantage.[259] The next night atSurvivor Series, Shirai competed as part of Team NXT, in the first-ever 5-on-5-on-5 women'sSurvivor Series match, which Team NXT won with Shirai as one of the survivors.[260] During a match against Toni Storm on the January 22, 2020 episode ofNXT, Shirai suffered a minor injury that kept her out of action for two months.[261][262]
Shirai returned on the March 25 episode ofNXT and qualified for a number one contender'sladder match on April 8, which she won for an opportunity against new NXT Women's ChampionCharlotte Flair.[263][264] She received her title match on the May 6 episode ofNXT, winning via disqualification when Flair attacked her with a kendo stick.[265] AtTakeOver: In Your House on June 7, Shirai defeated Flair and Ripley in atriple threat match to win the NXT Women's Championship, marking her first title win in WWE.[266][267][268] On July 2, Shirai defeatedSasha Banks in a non-title match atThe Great American Bash special episode ofNXT.[269] Shirai slowly transitioned into atweener and successfully defended her title againstTegan Nox[270] and Dakota Kai on August 22 atTakeOver XXX.[271] In September, Shirai renewed her rivalry with Candice LeRae,[272][273] whom she defeated to retain the title atTakeOver 31 on October 4[274] and in the inauguraltables, ladders and scares match atHalloween Havoc on October 28.[275][276] On the November 18 episode ofNXT, Shirai successfully defended her title against Ripley.[277] AtTakeOver: WarGames on December 6, Shirai was a part of Team Blackheart (herself,Shotzi Blackheart, Ripley andEmber Moon), losing to Team LeRae (LeRae, Storm, Kai andRaquel González) after González pinned Shirai.[278] She successfully defended the title againstMercedes Martinez and Storm in a triple threat match on February 14, 2021 atTakeOver: Vengeance Day[279] and Storm on the March 10 episode ofNXT.[280] On April 7, in the main event of Night 1 ofTakeOver: Stand & Deliver, Shirai lost the title to González, ending her reign at 304 days.[281]
On July 30, 2022, Shirai, under the new ring nameIYO SKY, made her return from injury atSummerSlam alongsideBayley and Kai, with the three being allies and confrontingRaw Women's ChampionBianca Belair; she subsequently joined theRawbrand as a heel.[296] On the following episode ofRaw, the trio targeted and attackedBecky Lynch,Alexa Bliss, andAsuka (formerly Kana). In her debut match, Sky faced Belair in a non-title match, which ended in ano-contest due to interference from Asuka, Bliss, Kai and Bayley.[297] The following week, the trio challenged Asuka, Belair and Bliss to a six-woman tag team match atClash at the Castle. Sky and Kai then participated in atournament for the vacantWWE Women's Tag Team Championship and made it to the finals,[298][299] where they lost toAliyah and Raquel Rodriguez.[300] At Clash at the Castle on September 3, the stable of Sky, Bayley and Kai was named asDamage CTRL, defeating Belair's team.[301] On the September 12 episode ofRaw, Sky and Kai defeated Aliyah and Rodriguez in a rematch to win the championship.[302] They lost the titles to Asuka and Bliss on the October 31 episode ofRaw, ending their reign at 48 days,[303] but reclaimed them in a rematch on November 5 atCrown Jewel, marking the first time a women's championship changed hands in theMiddle East.[304] AtSurvivor Series WarGames on November 26, Damage CTRL, Rhea Ripley, andNikki Cross lost to Belair, Asuka, Bliss,Mia Yim andBecky Lynch in aWarGames match.[305] On the December 16 episode ofSmackDown, Sky and Kai retained their titles againstLiv Morgan andTegan Nox.[306]
On January 28, 2023, Sky participated in the women'sRoyal Rumble match at thetitular event, eliminating five wrestlers, four of which were done by her, Bayley, and Kai, before being eliminated by Lynch.[307] On the February 27 episode ofRaw, Sky and Kai lost the Women's Tag Team Championship to Lynch andLita, ending their second reign at 114 days.[308] The feud resulted in a six-woman tag team match atWrestleMania 39 on April 1, where Lynch, Lita, andTrish Stratus defeated Damage CTRL.[309]
On the April 10 episode ofRaw, Sky defeated Yim andPiper Niven in a triple threat match to become the number one contender for theRaw Women's Championship against Belair atBacklash on May 6,[310][311] where she failed to win the title.[312]
As part of the2023 WWE Draft, Damage CTRL were drafted to theSmackDown brand.[313] AtMoney in the Bank on July 1, Sky competed in the women'sMoney in the Bank ladder match. During the match, Bayley interrupted Sky in retrieving the Money in the Bank briefcase, and in retaliation, Sky handcuffed Bayley to Lynch before grabbing the briefcase.[314] On August 5, atSummerSlam, Sky cashed in her Money in the Bank contract on Belair following a triple threat match involving Asuka andCharlotte Flair to win theWWE Women's Championship.[315] She successfully defended the title againstZelina Vega in her first defense on the August 25 episode ofSmackDown.[316] Sky retained the title against Asuka on the September 22 episode ofSmackDown[317] and in a triple threat match also involving Flair atFastlane on October 7.[318] On the October 20 episode ofSmackDown, after retaining the title against Flair, she was attacked by the returning Belair,[319] whom Sky defeated to retain the title on November 4 atCrown Jewel with the help of a returningKairi Sane.[320][321] AtSurvivor Series WarGames on November 25, Damage CTRL (which now included Asuka) lost to Belair, Flair, Lynch andShotzi in a WarGames match.[322] AtSmackDown: New Year's Revolution on January 5, 2024, Sky defeatedMia Yim to retain the title.[323] After stablemate Bayley won the2024 Women’s Royal Rumble, Sky and the rest of Damage CTRL turned on Bayley after she confronted them for talking about her behind her back, kicking her out of the group. Bayley then announced she would challenge Sky for the WWE Women’s Championship atWrestleMania XL.[324] On Night 2 of WrestleMania XL on April 7, Sky lost the title to Bayley, ending her reign at 246 days.[325]
Sky making her entrance at theRoyal Rumble in February 2025
On the March 3, 2025 episode ofRaw, Sky defeated Ripley to win the Women's World Championship. This win made Sky the seventh women’sGrand Slam champion, the tenth women’sTriple Crown champion in WWE, and the first wrestler to become a Grand Slam champion in Japan and America.[340] On the March 31 episode ofRaw, Sky defended the title against Ripley with Belair as thespecial guest referee, but the match ended in a double disqualification. This led to a triple threat match on Night 2 ofWrestleMania 41 on April 20,[341][342] where Sky retained the title.[343]Dave Meltzer of theWrestling Observer Newsletter rated the matchfive stars, making it the first women’s match in WWE history to receive such a rating.[344] In May 2025, Damage CTRL quietly disbanded after the release of Dakota Kai. AtEvolution on July 13, Sky lost the title to Naomi, as she successfully cashed in her Money in the Bank briefcase during Sky's title defense against Ripley, ending her reign at 132 days.[345] On Night 2 ofSummerSlam on August 3, Sky failed to regain the title from Naomi in a triple threat match also involving Ripley, whom Naomi pinned.[346] After Naomi relinquished the championship due to pregnancy, she once again failed to win the vacant Women's World Championship atWrestlepalooza on September 20, losing toStephanie Vaquer.[347] AtCrown Jewel on October 11, she teamed with Ripley to face and defeat The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane).[348]
As both Io Shirai and Iyo Sky, Odate performs a mixture of technical andhigh-flying styles, with her knowledge of the latter style earning her the moniker "The Genius of the Sky".[352] She noted that her professional wrestling persona is inspired byRey Mysterio.[353]
In 2016, Dave Meltzer of theWrestling Observer Newsletter referred to Odate and her fellow compatriotsKairi Sane andMayu Iwatani as "three of the best wrestlers in the world".[354]
Odate and her older sister, fellow professional wrestlerMio Shirai, initially kept much of their private lives, including their real names, a secret, until the former's real name was revealed by Japanese authorities in May 2012, whereas her older sister has managed to keep her real name a secret.[361]
On May 23, 2012, Odate and Nosawa were arrested at theNarita International Airport inNarita, Chiba upon their return from Mexico under suspicion of trying to smuggle 75 grams ofmarijuana, hidden inside paintings of the two, into the country.[14][15][362][363][364] Both Odate and Nosawa denied the charges, claiming that the paintings were gifts from fans.[14] Odate was released from a detention center on June 12.[365][366] On June 21, Odate held a press conference, publicly apologizing to her fans, employers and co-workers, while again denying the charges. Odate also revealed that she had not considered retirement, but wanted to work again and regain the trust of her peers and fans, while also revealing that she and Nosawa had ended their relationship.[367][368] On June 28, Japan's public prosecutor's office decided not to prosecute Odate over the incident.[369] On July 9, Mexico-based Japanese wrestlerTakuya Sugi held a press conference and confessed to planting the drugs on Nosawa and Shirai.[370][371][372][373][374]
^abVelázquez, Alejandro (November 2, 2011)."Io Shirai desenmascaró a la Maléfica" [Io Shirai unmasked Maleficent].MedioTiempo (in Spanish).Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. RetrievedJune 9, 2012.
^Valdés, Apolo (May 12, 2014)."Último Guerrero es de 'Nivel Mundial'" [Last Warrior is 'World Class'].MedioTiempo (in Spanish).Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. RetrievedMay 13, 2014.
^禁断の姉妹対決は妹イオが完勝.Daily Sports Online (in Japanese).Kobe Shimbun. February 15, 2015.Archived from the original on February 17, 2015. RetrievedFebruary 15, 2015.
^スターダム コグマがイオから王座奪取.Daily Sports Online (in Japanese).Kobe Shimbun. February 22, 2015.Archived from the original on February 24, 2015. RetrievedFebruary 22, 2015.
^abShirai, Io (May 29, 2018)."退団のご報告" [Report of resignation].LINE Blog (in Japanese). Archived fromthe original on January 4, 2020. RetrievedMay 8, 2025.
^"紫雷イオ 世界最大のプロレス団体「ＷＷＥ」移籍へ！スターダム電撃退団" [Io Shirai Transferred to the world's largest professional wrestling organization "WWE"! Stardom electric shock withdrawal].Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). May 28, 2018.Archived from the original on May 27, 2021. RetrievedMarch 27, 2021.
^Bristout, Ralph (November 17, 2018)."NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler def. Kairi Sane (2-out-of-3 Falls Match)".WWE.Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. RetrievedNovember 18, 2018.Sane received some outside assistance from Dakota Kai and Mae Young Classic finalist lo Shirai, and Shirai floored Shafir and Duke with a breathtaking moonsault to the floor.
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