Predicting the next 5 NXT Women's Champions

#2 Io Shirai

Another title soon to come?

To quote a certain famous advocate, this one's not a prediction. It's a spoiler.

It's a spoiler because Kairi Sane's victory in Brooklyn, dramatic though it will be, will nonetheless be somewhat based on a lie. Last year's Mae Young Classic wasn't actually hers to win. Her frenemy Io Shirai was also on her way into the company, but an injury caused her contract offer to be rescinded at the last minute. Devastated, Io Shirai sat on the sidelines as she watched her longtime rival and uneasy friend take the world by storm.

Now Io Shirai is here, and she's determined to prove that last year should have been her spotlight. She'll be one of the two overwhelming favorites in this year's Mae Young Classic. At the very least, she'll get to the finals at Evolution.

Win or lose, however - especially if she loses - only one thing will be on her mind - Kairi Sane, the NXT Women's Champion. Kairi Sane's success will sear into her memory as a burning insult. It's Io, not Kairi, who is the best! It should be her spotlight, her championship. Kairi's reign was only possible because misfortune robber her of her rightful place in 2017.

Io Shirai will do anything to prove this. She'll wage a brutal guerrilla war against the champion until, finally, the night before WrestleMania 35, the two will meet in direct combat. There, in the same building as her rival's greatest triumph, Io Shirai will prove that she is indeed the best in the world and walk out as the 9th NXT Women's Champion.