Thumbs up or Thumbs down: Recent heel/face turns in WWE

#5 Io Shirai - Thumbs Up

Don't cross 'The Genius of the Sky!'

Instead of waiting until the main roster for a big heel turn, Io Shirai accomplished the act over the summer. Unable to cope with failing to defeat Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women's Championship, Shirai simply snapped and went to the dark side by attacking former friend Candice LeRae.

Gone was the happy-go-lucky, smiling woman known for carrying a mask to the ring. Shirai became an unhinged banshee with screams and manic movements when coming to the ring. Her entrance to the song "Scary Mask" on a recent episode of NXT suited her new persona as a relentless woman who doesn't care about anyone or anything.

Many of the current women in NXT have already unsuccessfully challenged Shayna Baszler for the title, but using that loss as an impetus for a heel turn did wonders for Shirai. She was already one of the best female wrestlers in the world, but as a heel, she's even scarier. If Baszler wasn't the top heel for the NXT women, then Shirai would be.

NXT is currently loaded with talented women, but it would be a shame for 'The Genius of the Sky' to join the main roster without winning the title at some point. The heel turn might be the reason why she could win the title if/when 'The Queen of Spades' finally moves up to either RAW or SmackDown.