2017-03-09

<-- Hojo <-- Shirai

The swirling pro wrestling rumor mill, first credited to everyone's favorite Mr. Meltzer, has dropped the scoop that one of Japan's premier Joshi's, top Stardom attraction Kairi Hojo, has informed her current promotion that she will be wrapping up Japanese dates in April and has signed a three year contract to compete under the WWE banner.

The report also notes that Stardom ace Io Shirai, widely considered the best female wrestler on earth, will also be in Orlando for Wrestlemania weekend and may negotiate a contract with WWE at that time, and make the jump as well.

The rumors of these two leaving Stardom, for a chance at the WWE and international superstardom, began in the fall of 2016, but the rumors cooled when the two women were said to have gotten cold feet about the move and were considering remaining with their home promotion.

The move is huge as Shirai would be the best female talent the company has ever brought in, and Hojo isn't far behind. Their presence would allow the WWE to either move Asuka to the main roster or to give her the type of competition that they aren't currently equipped to provide at NXT.

Both women would be ideal fits, and odds-on favorites, for the rumored CWC style women's tournament expected to air on the network in 2017.

For those unfamiliar with Joshi, yet follow Lucha Underground, Hojo and Shirai made up two-thirds of the Black Lotus Triad which competed in the Gauntlet match against Pentagon late last year. Wrestling as Doku and Hitokiri respectively, Hojo and Shirai would bookend the action against Pentagon with Hojo opening the contest, and Shirai getting the third crack and defeating Pentagon in arguably LU's best intergender contest to date.

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