Io Shirai

Masami Odate (May 8, 1990) is a female Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on the SmackDown brand under the ring name IYO SKY.
Making her debut in March 2007, Shirai spent several years working as a tag team wrestler, teaming with her older sister Mio, with whom she would wrestle for various promotions across Japan and Mexico, winning the TLW World Young Women's Tag Team Championship in the process. In June 2010, the Shirai sisters came together with fellow freelance wrestler, Kana to form the Triple Tails stable. The group lasted for fifteen months, before Io left an embarked on a singles career with the World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion. In April 2013, she won the promotion's top title, the World Of Stardom Championship.
==Professional wrestling career==
===Team Makehen (2007–2010)===
Odate made her professional wrestling debut on March 4, 2007, alongside her older sister, with the two adopting the ring names Io and Mio Shirai, respectively ("Shirai" being Japanese for "Purple Thunder"). In their debut match, the Shirai sisters teamed with Toshie Uematsu to face the trio of Erika Ura, Nozomi Takesako and Yuri Urai. Starting their careers as freelancers, the Shirai sisters represented Team Makehen, a stable made up of wrestlers trained by Tomohiko Hashimoto, in several independent promotions during their first year in the business, including Ibuki, Pro Wrestling Wave, JWP Joshi Puroresu, and Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling.
On October 19, 2008, Io and Mio made their debuts for one of Japan's largest professional wrestling promotions, All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), wrestling in a match, where they defeated the team of Kyoko Kimura and Mikado. From January to March 2009, the Shirai sisters also made several appearances for another large promotion not usually known for female wrestling, Pro Wrestling Zero1.
On April 29, the Shirai sisters won their first championship by defeating Moeka Haruhi and Tomoka Nakagawa in a tournament final to become the first Totally Lethal Wrestling TLW World Young Women's Tag Team Champions, a championship that, despite its name, was owned and promoted by Pro Wrestling Wave. On July 12, Io received her first singles title opportunity, when she unsuccessfully challenged Misaki Ohata for the JWP Junior Championship and Princess of Pro-Wrestling Championship at Ibuki 30. From July to November of that year, Io spent time working for the Ice Ribbon promotion along with her sister.
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 by the team of Ran Yu-Yu, Ryo Mizunami and Toshie Uematsu. Later that same day Shirai's team was able to earn their way back into the tournament by defeating Misaki Ohata, Moeka Haruhi and Yumi Ohka in a consolation match. On November 25, the Shirai sisters and Gami first defeated Bullfight Sora, Cherry and Kaoru in the semifinals and then Ayumi Kurihara, Kana and Shuu Shibutani in the finals to win the tournament, with Io, as the captain, scoring the deciding pinfall over Shibutani.
On December 23, the Io and Mio lost the TLW World Young Women's Tag Team Championship to Misaki Ohata and Moeka Haruhi. On May 30, 2010, Io entered the 2010 Catch the Wave tournament. After three wins and one loss, Shirai finished tied at the top of her block, but was eliminated from the tournament, after being defeated in a tiebreaker match by Ryo Mizunami on August 10.
===Triple Tails (2010–2011)===
On June 19, 2010, the Shirai sisters formed the Triple Tails stable with fellow freelancer wrestler, Kana. The trio defeated Ayumi Kurihara, Hikaru Shida and Yoshiko Tamura in their first match together at a NEO Japan Ladies Pro Wrestling event. As a result of this victory, the Shirai sisters received a shot at Kurihara's and Tamura's NEO Tag Team Championship on July 4, but were defeated by the defending champions. On August 1, Io teamed with Kana for another shot at title, but they were once again defeated by Kurihara and Tamura.
Triple Tails returned to its winning ways on August 29, by defeating Asami Kawasaki, Hikaru Shida and Nagisa Nozaki in a six-woman tag team match. 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.
On January 29, 2011, the Shirai sisters made their debut in SMASH, when the Triple Tails stable attacked Yusuke Kodama and Makoto after their matches, with the trio being chased out of the ring by Tajiri after both incidents. On February 13, Triple Tails held its first self-produced event, during which the Shirai sisters wrestled the male tag team Momo no Seishun Tag (Atsushi Kotoge and Daisuke Harada) in a losing effort. On February 25, the Shirais made their in-ring debuts at SMASH 14, where they teamed with Kana to defeat Ken Ohka, Tajiri and Yoshiaki Yago in an intergender six person tag team match. In March, Triple Tails took part in Osaka Pro Wrestling's Spring Samba Series, going undefeated in six person tag team matches for the duration of the tour.
On April 30 at SMASH 16, Triple Tails was defeated in a six-woman tag team match by Makoto, Serena and Syuri. At SMASH 17, the Shirai sisters were defeated in a tag team match by Hikaru Shida and Syuri. Triple Tails' second event took place on May 8 and saw Io, Mio and Kana defeat Akino, Kagetsu and Syuri in a main event six woman tag team match.
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. On August 21, Triple Tails made its debut for Oz Academy, defeating the trio of Ayumi Kurihara, Hiren and Yumi Ohka. On September 14, Triple Tails defeated Cherry, Moeka Haruhi and Shuu Shibutani in the group's final Pro Wrestling Wave appearance. Four days later, Triple Tails defeated Dash Chisako, Ryo Mizunami and Sendai Sachiko at their third self-produced event in the group's final appearance together.
===Mexico (2010–2012, 2014)===
On October 14, 2010, Shirai, working under the ring name Biba Kasai, made her debut for International Wrestling Revolution Group (IWRG) at an event in Naucalpan, Mexico, where she teamed with Mini Abismo Negro, Monster Clown and Yuriko to defeat El Hijo de Cien Caras, Mari Apache, Mascarita Divina and Pasión Cristal via disqualification in an eight-person tag team match.
In Mexico, both Shirais worked under cat-like masks they would only wear for their entrances in Japan. On October 31, both of the Shirai sisters were brought over to Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA), 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 and Kaguya teamed with Yuriko in a six-person tag team match, where they were defeated by Cynthia Moreno, Gato Eveready and Mari Apache. During their stay in AAA, Oyuki and Kaguya became associates of the La Legión Extranjera (Foreign Legion) stable. On November 7, Oyuki and Kaguya defeated Fabi Apache and Mari Apache in a tag team match and afterwards stole Faby's AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship and Mari's AAA Reina de Reinas Championship belts. On November 15, the Apaches and Cynthia Moreno defeated Oyuki, Kaguya and Sexy Star in a six-woman tag team match. A week later, Oyuki, Kaguya and Jennifer Blake defeated Moreno and the Apaches in another six woman tag team match. This would turn out to be 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, at Lucha Fan Fest 4, where she teamed with Nosawa to defeat Chica Tormenta and Mike Segura for the vacant Americas World Mixed Tag Team Championship. In November 2011, Shirai returned to Mexico with Wrestling All-Star Pros (WASP) for another two-week tour. On November 1, Shirai put her hair on the line in her first Lucha de Apuestas Hair vs. Mask match, a four-way 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. 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 an Union Pro event.
Shirai returned to Mexico on May 16, 2012, to take part in Lucha Expo in Mexico City, where she teamed with Keira to defeat Chica Tormenta and La Vaquerita in a tag team match. Upon Shirai's return to Japan, she was arrested under suspicion of marijuana smuggling. This resulted in a two-year break from her regular trips to Mexico, before, on January 27, 2014, Shirai announced that she would return to wrestle in the country the following May.
===World Wrestling Entertainment ===
====Second Annual Mae Young Classic====
Shirai debuted on August 8, 2018, competing in the second annual Mae Young Classic, advancing in the first rounds after eliminating Xia Brookside. The following night on August 9, Shirai advanced in the second rounds after eliminating Zeuxis. Later that night, Shirai advanced in the quarter finals after eliminating Deonna Purrazzo. Afterwards, Shirai successfully prevailed through the semi finals after eliminating Rhea Ripley. The tournament final was held at the first annual all-women pay-per-view Evolution, during which Shirai was defeated by Toni Storm.
====NXT (2018-2022)====
Shirai debuted at the August 25th house show, teaming with Deonna Purrazzo & Kairi Sane in a tag match lost to Shayna Baszler and newcomers Jessamyn Duke & Marina Shafir. She won her first singles match during the August 31st house show, defeating Aliyah. Returning the following month during the September 7th house show, Shirai won her second singles match defeating Bianca Belair.
The following year in 2019, Shirai made her televised return on the January 23rd episode of NXT, teaming with Kairi Sane in defeating Amber Nova & Tanea Brooks in a tag match. Two months later, Shirai returned to television on the March 13th episode of NXT, during which she competed in a Women's title No. 1 Contendership match against Bianca Belair, ending in no-contest. The following month at NXT TakeOver: New York, Shirai competed in a Fatal Four-Way match for the NXT Women's Championship against Bianca Belair, Kairi Sane and the reigning champion Shayna Baszler. Two months later at NXT TakeOver: XXV, Shirai competed in a singles match challenging the Women's Champion Shayna Baszler but did not succeed in winning the title. Later that month, during the June 26th episode of NXT, Shirai competed in a rematch against Baszler in a steel cage match, but again lost. After the match, she attacked Candice LeRae, turning heel in the process. The following month, she debuted new entrance music to cement her heel turn. A match between LeRae and Shirai was scheduled for NXT TakeOver: Toronto II, where Shirai won. On the September 18 episode of NXT, Shirai failed to win a fatal four-way match to determine the number one contender for the NXT Women's Championship. At NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2019, Shirai teamed with Team Baszler (Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, & Kay Lee Ray) to take on Team Ripley (Rhea Ripley, Tegan Nox, Dakota Kai, & Candice LeRae) in a WarGames match in which Team Baszler lost. At Survivor Series 2019 the next day, she was part of Team NXT, where her team won a Five on Five on Five Women's Survivor Series Triple Threat elimination match and Shirai was one of the survivors. On the January 15, 2020 episode of NXT, Shirai took part in a battle royal to determine the number one contender for the NXT Women's Championship, but was the last one eliminated by eventual winner Bianca Belair. 
On the March 25 episode of NXT, Shirai defeated Aliyah to qualify for the ladder match on the April 8 episode of NXT, where Shirai was victorious. She faced Charlotte Flair for the NXT Women's Championship on the May 6 episode of NXT, where she won via disqualification but not the title. A triple threat match between Flair, Shirai, and Rhea Ripley for the title was later scheduled for NXT TakeOver: In Your House, where Shirai defeated Flair and Ripley to win the title. On the July 1 episode of NXT, Shirai defeated Sasha Banks in a non-title match after interference from Asuka. Shirai would go on to retain the NXT Women's Championship against Tegan Nox, Dakota Kai, Candice LeRae, and Rhea Ripley in 2020. At NXT TakeOver: WarGames 2020, Shirai teamed with Shotzi Blackheart, Rhea Ripley, & Ember Moon to take on Team LeRae (Candice LeRae, Toni Storm, Dakota Kai, & Raquel González) in a WarGames match in a losing effort when Shirai was pinned by González. At NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day 2021, Shirai retained the NXT Women's Championship against Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez in a triple threat match. On the March 10 episode of NXT, Shirai retained the title against Storm. At NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, Shirai lost the championship to Raquel González, ending her reign at 304 days.
On the June 8 episode of NXT, Shirai made her return. She later teamed with Zoey Stark. On the June 29 episode of NXT, they won a triple threat match to become the number one contenders for Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell's NXT Women's Tag Team Championship. On the July 6 episode of NXT, they defeated LeRae & Hartwell to win the titles. On the September 7 episode of NXT, Shirai and Stark retained the titles against Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter. They had another successful title defense on the September 28 episode of NXT, but lost the titles to Toxic Attraction (Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne) in a triple threat tag team ladder match also involving Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta, ending their reign at 111 days. At NXT WarGames 2021, Shirai teamed with Cora Jade, Kay Lee Ray, & Raquel González to defeat Dakota Kai & Toxic Attraction (Mandy Rose, Gigi Dolin, & Jacy Jayne) in a WarGames match. In 2022, Shirai teamed with Ray to participate in the 2022 Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. They defeated Amari Miller & Lash Legend in the first round on the February 22 episode of NXT, Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter in the semifinals on the March 8 episode of NXT, and Dakota Kai & Wendy Choo in the finals on the March 22 episode of NXT. They instead challenged Mandy Rose for the NXT Women's Championship, and the match was scheduled for NXT Stand & Deliver 2022 as a fatal four-way match also involving Cora Jade, but Shirai failed to win the title. This was Shirai's final match in NXT, as she was out of action with an injury.
====Raw (2022-2023)====
At SummerSlam 2022, Shirai returned from injury alongside Dakota Kai and Bayley, where they confronted Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair. At that time, Shirai's ring name was changed to IYO SKY. SKY wrestled her first match on Raw on the August 1 episode, where her match against Belair ended in a no-contest after interference from Asuka, Alexa Bliss, Kai, and Bayley. A six-woman tag team match took place at Clash at the Castle 2022 where SKY, Bayley, & Kai, now known as Damage CTRL, defeated Asuka, Bliss, & Belair. Also around that time, SKY teamed with Kai to participate in the 2022 WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Tournament. They defeated Tamina & Dana Brooke in the first round on the August 8 episode of Raw, Alexa Bliss & Asuka in the semifinals on the August 22 episode of Raw, but lost to Aliyah & Raquel Rodriguez on the August 29 episode of Raw. Two weeks later, SKY & Kai defeated Aliyah & Rodriguez to win the titles. They lost the titles to Asuka & Alexa Bliss on the October 31 episode of Raw, but defeated them in a rematch at Crown Jewel 2022 after interference from Nikki Cross to reclaim the titles for a second time. At Survivor Series 2022, Damage CTRL teamed with Cross & Rhea Ripley to take on Team Belair (Bianca Belair, Mia Yim, Asuka, Alexa Bliss, & Becky Lynch) in a WarGames match in a losing effort.
==Wrestling facts==
*Finishing moves
**Over the Moonsault
*Signature moves
**Asai Moonsault
**Springboard front dropkick
**Meteora to an opponent seated in the corner
**Tiger feint kick
**Arm trap crossface
**Double underhook backbreaker
**Flapjack
**Victory roll into a Double foot stomp
**German suplex
**Suicide dive
**Spanish fly
*Nicknames
**"The Genius of the Sky"
*Tag Teams and stables
:*Team Makehen
:*Triple Tails
:*Queen's Quest
:*Sexy Purple Thunder Sisters
:*Damage CTRL
*Entrance music
**"Queen's Quest" (Stardom)
**"Drama Over the Limit" (Stardom)
**"Club Anthem" by APM Music (2018 MYC)
**"Genius of the Sky" by CFO$ (NXT 2018-2019)
**"Scary Mask" by Poppy featuring Fever 333 (NXT Takeover 10/30/19)
**"Tokyo Shock" by Def Rebel (NXT 2019-present)
==Championships and accomplishments==
*JWP Joshi Puroresu
**5th Junior All Star Photogenic Award (2007) – with Mio Shirai
*NXT
**NXT Women's Championship (1 time)
**NXT Women's Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Zoey Stark
* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI ranked her #6 in the 2017 PWI Top 50 Females
**PWI ranked her #4 in the 2018 PWI Top 100 Females
**PWI ranked her #8 in the 2019 PWI Top 100 Females
**PWI ranked her #8 in the 2021 PWI Top 150 Females
**PWI ranked her #126 in the 2022 PWI Top 150 Females
**PWI ranked her #24 in the 2023 PWI Top 250 Females
*Pro Wrestling WAVE
**TLW World Young Women's Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mio Shirai
**Captain's Fall Six Person Tag Team Tournament (2009) – with Gami and Mio Shirai
**TLW World Young Women's Tag Team Tournament (2009) – with Mio Shirai
*Tokyo Sports
**Joshi Puroresu Grand Prize (2015, 2016, 2017)
*World Wonder Ring Stardom
**Artist Of Stardom Championship (6 times) – with Mayu Iwatani and Takumi Iroha (1), Kairi Hojo and Mayu Iwatani (1), HZK and Momo Watanabe (1), AZM and HZK (2), and HZK and Viper (1)
**Goddesses Of Stardom Championship (1 time) – with Mayu Iwatani
**NEO High Speed Championship (1 time)
**SWA Undisputed World Women's Championship (1 time)
**Wonder Of Stardom Championship (2 times)
**World Of Stardom Championship (2 times)
* World Wrestling Entertainment
**WWE Women's Championship (1 time, Current)
**WWE Women's Tag Team Championship (2 times) with Dakota Kai
*Other titles
**Americas World Mixed Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Nosawa
==External links==
* Profile
* Profile
* Profile
* Twitter page
Category:Japanese wrestlers
Category:Female wrestlers
Category:SMASH alumni
Category:Pro Wrestling WAVE alumni
Category:Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:Toryumon Mexico alumni
Category:LEGEND Promociones alumni
Category:Women Wrestling Stars alumni
Category:Dramatic Dream Team alumni
Category:OZ Academy alumni
Category:Osaka Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:Pro Wrestling ZERO1 alumni
Category:Ice Ribbon alumni
Category:Kaientai Dojo alumni
Category:Federacion Universal De Lucha Libre alumni
Category:NEO Ladies alumni
Category:Asistencia Asesoría y Administración alumni
Category:International Wrestling Revolution Group alumni
Category:Fukumen MANIA alumni
Category:IBUKI alumni
Category:Japanese Women Pro-Wrestling Project alumni
Category:All Japan Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:1990 births
Category:2007 debuts
Category:World Wonder Ring Stardom alumni
Category:Living people
Category:Lucha Underground alumni
Category:World Wrestling Entertainment current roster
Category:WWE NXT alumni
Category:NXT Women's Champions
Category:NXT Women's Tag Team Champions
Category:WWE Women's Tag Team Champions
Category:Money in the Bank winners
Category:WWE Women's Champions