Asuka and Io Shirai, who are considered to be two of the most distinguished and entertaining superstars in the women’s division of WWE, are originally from Japan. Both of these wrestlers are currently reigning champions and are enormously popular among fans. Thus, Is Io Shirai Related To Asuka? has become a popular question among fans who have seen that the two appear to be quite familiar with one another during meet & greets and in their interactions on WWE television. Therefore, all there is to know about the relationship between Io Shirai and Asuke will be covered in this essay. So, to learn everything there is to know about “Is Io Shirai Related To Asuka?” read this article through to the end.
Io Shirai is the ring name used by Japanese professional wrestler Masami Odate. She currently works for WWE and competes on the NXT roster. She previously held the titles of NXT Women’s Champion and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion. Io Shirai was honoured with the Tokyo Sports Joshi Puroresu Grand Prizes in 2015, 2016, and 2017 and was known as the “ace” of Stardom. After making her professional wrestling debut in March 2007, she spent several years competing in a tag team with her older sister Mio, with whom she competed for numerous promotions in Mexico and Japan.
On the other hand, Kanako Urai, a Japanese professional wrestler now under contract with WWE, competes under the ring name Asuka on the Raw brand. She began her professional wrestling career in 2004 with the AtoZ organization under the name Kana and remained there until her retirement in 2006. In 2007, she entered the ring once more and began working as a freelancer. Urai became the first Japanese wrestler signed by WWE in more than 20 years when she signed a developmental contract with the promotion in 2015. She got promoted to the WWE main roster in 2017 after winning the NXT Women’s Championship in 2016. To learn more about Io Shirai and Asuke’s relationship, continue reading.
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Is Io Shirai Related To Asuka?
No, Io Shirai and Asuke are not related. They are not sisters or relatives and do not have any other form of the familial lineage that would link them together. However, the only connection between the two is their participation in the WWE or the independent pro-wrestling industry in Japan. Asuka and Io Shirai, along with Mio Shirai, were a female wrestling trio in Japan.
Asuka then went by the name Kana and formed the Triple Tails on the independent circuit with the Shirai sisters. Fans of professional wrestling have been eagerly expecting Io’s entry into Vince McMahon’s business for her famous, high-flying style of pro-wrestling, even though Asuka was able to make her transition to the WWE before Io. Her gravity-defying moves helped her win the NXT belt, and some people even claim she is the most gifted female wrestler in the entire world.
Who Is The Best Woman Wrestler In NXT History? Io Shirai Or Asuka
Both wrestlers, Io Shirai and Asuka, are current champions and hugely popular. But it’s nearly impossible to say which of them is the best female Japanese wrestler in NXT and WWE. However, we will discuss several things in greater depth here in order to reach a conclusion.
1. ASUKA: Getting Back To Her Mystique
WWE’s booking was extremely lacking after the company’s loss to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34. She was successful in capturing the SmackDown Women’s Championship, but her reign did not last long because Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair were involved in the reign at the time. Asuka’s mystique, which she had earned in NXT, has now been reestablished, and it all started with the successful tag team run she had with Kairi Sane. She is presently competing in her second stint as both the Raw Women’s and Women’s Tag Team Champions. Even though she does not have a significant presence on television, she is nonetheless a dangerous opponent for any female opponent that dares to walk into the ring with her.
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2. ASUKA: The Streak
Asuka was maintaining one of the most impressive winning streaks in the history of professional wrestling when she was working both in NXT and on the main roster of WWE. She went 914 days without being pinned or submitted in a match during that time, which is an incredible feat. When Charlotte defeated her at WrestleMania 34, that came to an end, but she still has a strong streak that defines who she is. It is impossible for a wrestler to go that long without suffering a defeat and then avoid bringing it up whenever the opportunity arises.
3. ASUKA: Multi-Time Champion
Asuka has won numerous championships throughout her illustrious career in the WWE. She belongs to an exclusive group of female wrestlers that have held the Women’s Tag Team Championships, NXT, Raw, and SmackDown crowns. It is safe to assume that she qualifies for the WWE Hall of Fame, given this along with all of her other distinctions and achievements. However, everything began with the NXT Women’s Championship, and it grew from there.
4. IO SHIRAI: Great NXT Women’s Champion
Io Shirai defeated both Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley in a Triple Threat match that took place at NXT TakeOver: In Your House. Because of her victory, she was able to claim the NXT Women’s Championship, which she has been able to keep till June of 2020. She has established herself as one of NXT’s greatest Women’s Champions. During that time, Shirai has competed in a number of amazing matches, facing off against people like Dakota Kai, Tegan Nox, and Candice LeRae.
5. IO SHIRAI: A Great Gimmick Change
When Shirai first arrived in NXT, she was a babyface at the time and a babyface who was incredibly well-liked. Even though the run was successful in garnering her the support of the audience, it did not truly earn her any gold. As a result, a heel turn opportunity presented itself to her, and it was successful. Her followers stuck with her even when she started using the new gimmick.
It helped her become the NXT Women’s Champion by making her more popular than she had ever been before. Thus, the appearance that Shirai currently maintains is one that complements her in every way and will undoubtedly play a significant role in her ability to maintain her position at the top of the division.
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6. IO SHIRAI: WarGames
A few years ago, NXT put the old WarGames match back into action. They’ve actually benefited from it, as there have been so many memorable instances. A few of them also belong to Io Shirai. She jumped off the top of the cage during one battle while holding a garbage can above her head.
7. ASUKA: History With Charlotte Flair
Each and every great performer requires a partner who can complete them in the ring. In Asuka’s case, that wrestler is Charlotte Flair. Even though she competed against some formidable opponents in NXT, Charlotte Flair is the only person who can truly bring out the best in her, and the same can be said for Flair. Asuka and Charlotte’s performance as a tag team demonstrates that they are equally effective as partners and opponents. Io Shirai does not have a single wrestler in NXT that is her ideal partner in the ring, no matter what the circumstances may be. This is despite the fact that the competition in NXT is extremely high-calibre.
8. IO SHIRAI: Dominant NXT Performer
Io Shirai has established herself as a key performer in NXT, much like Asuka before her. Io’s career may keep her in NXT for a longer period of time compared to Asuka, who was always going to transfer to the main roster. Thankfully, the time when talents were immediately added to the main roster appears to be coming to an end. Shirai, who is also a skilled in-ring performer, has the potential to take charge as the NXT Women’s Division’s permanent leader.
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9. ASUKA: A Prominent Wrestler
Asuka has developed into one of the most prestigious performers the WWE has in any category over the past few years. And it goes far beyond the several titles she has held in NXT and WWE throughout the years. Asuka is the only female wrestler in the WWE to have done so to this point. She also holds the distinction of having won the Mixed Match Challenge and the Royal Rumble. It’s an impressive resume.
10. IO SHIRAI: Huge Star
It’s possible that some fans aren’t aware of Shirai’s lengthy career. Since making her wrestling debut in 2007, she has been competing. She has established a successful career throughout that period and earned a renowned name for her in-ring performances. Although she has a sizable NXT fanbase, she is still unknown to viewers who primarily watch Raw or SmackDown. She could grow even more popular for WWE if they want to promote her to the main roster.
Therefore, taking into account all of these points, we have arrived at the conclusion that Io Shirai is one of the most talented wrestlers now working in the industry; nonetheless, it is difficult to deny the elegance of Asuka. Shirai’s WWE career hasn’t progressed as far as hers has, and she has undoubtedly won more championships. Thus it Having said that, Io is also developing a fantastic NXT career at the same time. Despite being a few years older than Asuka overall in the WWE, she will undoubtedly take home many of the same titles. Asuka is currently the biggest Japanese talent to emerge from NXT.
Io Shirai WWE Career
Shirai made her WWE debut on August 8, 2018, participating in the second annual Mae Young Classic and moving on after defeating Xia Brookside. After defeating Zeuxis the night before, on August 8, Shirai made it through to the second round of competition and advanced. In the later part of the day, Shirai was successful in eliminating Deonna Purrazzo, which allowed her to proceed to the quarter-finals. After that, Shirai was able to successfully progress through the semi-finals by eliminating Rhea Ripley from the competition. Shirai lost against Toni Storm in the tournament final, which took place at the first-ever all-women pay-per-view Evolution.
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Io Shirai NXT Career
Io Shirai’s NXT career began at the August 25 house event when she competed in a tag match against Shayna Baszler and the brand-newcomers Jessamyn Duke & Marina Shafir. She defeated Aliyah in her maiden singles match at the house show on August 31. Shirai won her second singles battle against Bianca Belair the following month on the September 7 house show. The next year, in 2019, Shirai made her broadcast return on the January 23rd episode of NXT.
She teamed up with Kairi Sane to defeat Amber Nova and Tanea Brooks in a tag match. Amber Nova and Tanea Brooks were defeated by Shirai and Sane. Two months later, at NXT TakeOver: XXV, Shirai challenged Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler to a singles match; however, she was ultimately unsuccessful in her attempt to win the title. Later that month, on NXT’s June 26th edition, Shirai faced Baszler again in a match but was unsuccessful in retaining the championship.
Asuka WWE Career
Urai went to the WWE event known as NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, which took place on August 22, 2015, in Brooklyn, New York. While there, she was spotted on camera and given the ring name “Kanna.” Following her performance, there were reports that she had joined WWE. It was confirmed on August 27 that Urai had joined WWE a few weeks earlier. Before signing her deal with WWE, Urai made an appearance on the September 23 NXT program and unveiled her new ring name, Asuka.
Kurt Angle, general manager of the Raw brand, made the announcement that Asuka had been signed to the company on the episode that aired on September 11th. As part of the 2018 WWE Superstar Shake-up, which took place on April 17, 2018, Asuka was moved to the SmackDown brand. In a Triple Threat Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match against Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair on December 16 at TLC: Tables, Ladders, & Chairs 2018, Asuka triumphed and won the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship. She held the championship for a total of one hundred days before Charlotte Flair was able to take it away from her.
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Asuke Personal Life
Urai received her education at the Osaka University of Arts Junior College and graduated with a degree in Fine Arts. In addition to running her own hair salon in Yokohama, which she calls Another Heaven, she also contributes articles to Xbox Magazine, produces graphics for Nintendo DS, and works on a variety of mobile applications. Urai enjoys American pop culture and its various forms of entertainment, such as the music of Guns N’ Roses, Aerosmith, and Bon Jovi; films such as The Godfather, Gran Torino, Platoon, and Dances with Wolves; and video games such as the Call of Duty series and those developed by Rockstar Games. Urai’s athletic background included badminton and figure skating before she embarked on a career in the professional wrestling industry.
Io Shirai Personal Life
Io Shirai was born in 1990 and is from the suburbs of Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan. Every year on May 8th, Io Shirai celebrates her birthday. And Masami Odate is her real name. Due to the fact that the WWE wrestler has not provided a lot of information about her personal life, very little is known about either of her parents. She does, however, have an older sister by the name of Mio Shirai. Mio is a professional wrestler, just like her sister, although she ended her career on September 20, 2015.
As of now, she is employed in the wrestling industry as a referee for professional matches. Odate used to be in a relationship with another professional wrestler named Kazushige Nosawa; at one point, the two of them even shared a home in the Koto neighbourhood of Tokyo. However, their romance fizzled out, and they split up. She admires Momoiro Clover Z and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Odate was featured in a gravure piece that was published in the Weekly Playboy magazine in March of 2017. Odate first appeared in video games as a playable character in the WWE 2K20 video game and then again in the WWE 2K22 video game.
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