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Post by Final Countdown Jones on Jul 4, 2022 0:03:58 GMT -5
Even if NXT wasn't wrestleschool for the years they booked Io, it was still WWE's smallest crowds and its least watched show. It was at best the C show, and keeping someone that talented in her prime years uplifting your C show is still not great use of her talents. She was TV ready and she was objectively more TV ready than so many of the people they called up ahead of her, all while she openly said she wanted to not be on the C show anymore because of course she didn't, she left a prominent spot in her home country to come to WWE thinking she'd be given better than Queen of the C Show. It's just very clear that Triple H thought she was an obvious megastar who could do amazing stuff and Vince didn't get a half-chub looking at her and they already have two Asian women on the main roster so he just didn't have any interest in calling her up.
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Post by The Trashman on Jul 4, 2022 2:47:28 GMT -5
It took AEW months before they were on TV in an official capacity and that was after officially getting on a Network. You don't just GET on TV automatically like that, not everyone is owned by AXIS like Impact is. You need to go through a ton of business stuff, development, the right network and time of the week, arena for tapings I'd assume. Khan said at the last scrum that there's an aggressive push to get ROH on TV by the end of this year... but acting like some people's contracts have expired is some indication that ROH isn't going to happen is just a tad of a reach. They can also always re-sign people for ROH if they really wanted to when they get the TV deal as well, I don't know why you're acting like the people who leave can simply never ever return. Tony Khan has mentioned several times that he's negotiating with Discovery for ROH TV right now and I imagine if the ROH deal does happen, it's included in their next AEW deal (along with streaming rights) as one giant package deal. ROH couldn't draw when it wasn't a zombie promotion and there is zero indication that they will ever be on tv again. Khan just wanted the belts,logo and library but no one wants to put AEW much less ROH on a streaming service. If they did it would have already happened.
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mistery
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Post by mistery on Jul 4, 2022 7:50:07 GMT -5
Even if NXT wasn't wrestleschool for the years they booked Io, it was still WWE's smallest crowds and its least watched show. It was at best the C show, and keeping someone that talented in her prime years uplifting your C show is still not great use of her talents. She was TV ready and she was objectively more TV ready than so many of the people they called up ahead of her, all while she openly said she wanted to not be on the C show anymore because of course she didn't, she left a prominent spot in her home country to come to WWE thinking she'd be given better than Queen of the C Show. It's just very clear that Triple H thought she was an obvious megastar who could do amazing stuff and Vince didn't get a half-chub looking at her and they already have two Asian women on the main roster so he just didn't have any interest in calling her up. Yup. It doesn't help that Xia Li has bombed on the main roster due to a lack of interest from both fans and creative and also because Vince has this stupid idea that WWE can become a huge market force in China when that couldn't be further from the truth. And to the point about women getting called up before her, MITB showed that it was way too early to call up women like Shotzi and Raquel. And even then, they called up women like Aliyah as well before Io. It's very difficult to imagine Io being thrilled about them being called up before her, especially since all of the women I mentioned are way worse than her. And in the case of Aliyah, it's a miracle she hasn't actually been cut yet because she's just as bad as the day she joined almost 8 years ago. This is why I think Io has no real desire or is hesitant to sign a new deal. She's not guaranteed to get called up, as long as Vince remains in charge of creative. And by time he kicks the bucket or steps down (or is forced out), she'll be long gone back in Japan, and I doubt Triple H will be able to get her back, because she'll likely be making more money in Japan on top of probably working some dates for AEW. On top of the trust between her and WWE likely being completely shattered. This new contract offer from WWE is likely just them being desperate to keep her with them and nothing more, because it's really clear they KNOW she'll be a huge draw elsewhere, and don't want that to happen. The worst part is that she is desperately needed on RAW or Smackdown right now, because both women's divisions are completely stale and lacking more than one strong credible heel (or face on SD). I was thinking about this entire situation over the entire weekend, and I came to the conclusion that them mishandling Io Shirai like this is easily the biggest misuse of a talent in all of WWE history, which says a lot. She's very popular with young adults, attractive, charismatic, and can actually wrestle a decent match. But all Vince cares about now is what gets him horny.
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mistery
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Post by mistery on Jul 4, 2022 22:57:18 GMT -5
Small update that adds fuel to the fire that she's on her way out apparently:
WWE Shop has her merchandise on clearance, which is only done for older merch or for stars either already gone from the company or leaving. And no, Io hasn't had new merch in awhile. It's been at least a year I think.
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mistery
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Post by mistery on Jul 8, 2022 7:24:35 GMT -5
Latest Observer had a small update, where Meltzer basically all but doubled down in that she's already gone from the company.
Keep in mind that while I think the odds are good that she is leaving, I don't think she's left the company yet. And Dave's reporting on Io in general is by far one of his biggest flaws, especially since she openly dislikes him. And SRS and PWInsider both haven't even heard of her leaving at the end of the month from the people they've talked to. SRS reiterated his report on Fightful Select that she's been sidelined with an injury, and both the locker room and management really want her to stick around.
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Totorob101
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Post by Totorob101 on Jul 8, 2022 8:39:45 GMT -5
i wouldn't be surprised if shes been quietly released so I think he's telling a bit of truth,the simple fact is she doesn't fit with the main roster and she's done with NXT so there's no reason for her to stay now.It's exciting to think of what Io will do next as there's so many great women's wrestlers for her to work with without WWEs nonsense holding her back.
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mistery
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Post by mistery on Jul 8, 2022 8:47:12 GMT -5
i wouldn't be surprised if shes been quietly released so I think he's telling a bit of truth,the simple fact is she doesn't fit with the main roster and she's done with NXT so there's no reason for her to stay now.It's exciting to think of what Io will do next as there's so many great women's wrestlers for her to work with without WWEs nonsense holding her back. I don't think the release would be quiet, and she likely would have updated her social media stuff by now if she was. The problem with Dave's reporting on Io is that he gets a LOT of stuff regarding her personal and professional life wrong. To the point of where she ignores a lot of his questions (I know right before Stand and Deliver last year when she was part of a press conference, Dave tried asking her a question and she completely ignored it) and during one meet and greet at a STARDOM show, outright said he lies a lot about her personal and professional life. That's not saying she isn't gone, or won't be soon in WWE, but Dave isn't exactly the most reliable dude when it comes to the joshi scene in general. The thing that makes me raise my eyebrow is that just before Stand and Deliver this year, Io outright mentioned in several Japanese interviews that she was still looking to go to the main roster, and was used to living in America now. And she even made a post on Instagram back in June talking about how she enjoys living here.
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salz4life
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Post by salz4life on Jul 8, 2022 9:42:26 GMT -5
I really enjoy(ed) Io's work so this is disappointing.
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Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]
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Post by Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] on Jul 8, 2022 16:58:36 GMT -5
This happening at the same time there are reports that AEW and Stardom want to work out a working agreement doesn't seem like a coincidence...
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markymark
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Post by markymark on Jul 10, 2022 12:00:16 GMT -5
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mistery
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Post by mistery on Jul 10, 2022 12:31:00 GMT -5
That isn't appearing on the Patreon page unless its in his Q&A section.
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markymark
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Post by markymark on Jul 10, 2022 12:31:28 GMT -5
That isn't appearing on the Patreon page unless its with his Q&A section.
Yes, its from the Q&A pod patreon.
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Totorob101
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Post by Totorob101 on Jul 10, 2022 12:39:50 GMT -5
Excellent news! And if AEW can work together with Stardom then its a no brainer to have her work AEW shows when possible!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2022 13:17:51 GMT -5
LETS f***IN GO! THE ACE IS COMING BACK HOME!
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Post by AwamoriRock on Jul 10, 2022 18:52:11 GMT -5
Io is the current Stardom landscape is a bit interesting. Assuming she is full time you have the tension of her being in Queen’s Quest while not being the leader, or just flat out aligning elsewhere.
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Post by The Rick Jericho on Jul 10, 2022 18:55:23 GMT -5
And thus ending the second biggest waste to never make the main roster with Adam Cole.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2022 18:56:53 GMT -5
Io is the current Stardom landscape is a bit interesting. Assuming she is full time you have the tension of her being in Queen’s Quest while not being the leader, or just flat out aligning elsewhere. I have not thought it all the way through BUT my thinking here. Have Io celebrated big up her come back like she is coming back as the grand babyface Ace or even coming back to take back her faction but instead she returns as a mega heel and takes over...Oedo Tai....it would be like Tanahashi joining bullet club no would ever think it was possible. And then you have Mayu leading STARS...have Kairi while not aligned to a full blown faction but sides with Tam and Cosmic Angels because of the White Knights thing with Tam. IMO it would create an insane shake up and then build eventually to THREEDOM coming together again down the line.
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mistery
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Post by mistery on Jul 10, 2022 19:03:30 GMT -5
And thus ending the second biggest waste to never make the main roster with Adam Cole. I would argue it was a bigger waste than Adam Cole. There were quite a few men who could get as over as Cole could, and were also skilled in the ring. Where with Io, there are pretty much no women on her level except for a select few in the entire world.
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Post by darbus alan on Jul 10, 2022 19:06:08 GMT -5
If this comes to fruition, I'd love to see Io work one of the joint NJPW-Stardom shows later this year. Her in one of the mixed tag matches could be a lot of fun.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2022 21:19:18 GMT -5
Oh my god give me Io vs Starlight Kid and Io vs Giulia right now. Into my veeeeeins.
IO VS TAM!
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