FUNAKI: <”- and that’s where things stand for the future of WWE. Do you have any questions, Sky-san?”>
"Iyo Sky" has become incredibly restless by everything that she’s being told about the roster she’s spent the last few years on. Given the situation it’s not surprising, what with the recent merger. Business is business; she gets that, and honestly the big picture doesn’t upset her. This, all of this, is a matter of the parent company being interested in going one direction and her wishing for something else. No one’s at fault, it’s just two different ideas of what the future should hold. Okay, so maybe it does upset her just a bit at its core. Five years of work, gold around her waist and now this. Her feelings on the matter come to light as she responds to WWE’s Japanese liaison.
IO SHIRAI: <”Let’s make sure that I understand things. After all the hoops I’ve flown through and carrying the WWE banner since 2018, they’re asking me to reduce my salary significantly.>
Funaki nods.
IO SHIRAI: <And even though things have been good lately, it's only a matter of time before they toss me out for the next 20 something name to come their way.”>
Again Funaki nods, this time a bit more hesitantly. With the expansion of the roster it's only a matter of time before someone else will get the sports entertainment spotlight and corporate backing. Io nods as well as her observations are confirmed.
IO SHIRAI: <To that end they feel like.. influencer girls, that snotty MMA bitch who they'll probably insist on bringing back and ‘marketable’ talent they snagged from other companies are front and center for the future. Not to mention NXT becoming a place for kids with no in ring experience instead of the best and brightest as they adjust to this style of ‘entertainment’. So if they want younger wrestlers here and have that kind of vision, that makes little space for someone like me. 16 years in the ring and just over 30. Maybe they think I can babysit or teach the kids some things.>
Now her frustrations are really starting to become more vocal. Before Funaki can say anything, she rolls her eyes and continues with her analysis.
Iyo Sky: <You know, I’m also getting more than a little uncomfortable being a ‘superstar’ in ‘sports entertainment’.>
Io makes heavy use of air quotes as she uses the buzzwords. The disgust on her face is palpable.
IO SHIRAI: <Is that what we are? Entertainers? Like idols or actresses? I’m sure given the situation they’d love to get this belt off of me. So what I’m looking at is being stuck in a company with terrible taste where I’m the best wrestler but have to constantly watch my back because I’m ‘too old’ or ‘not what they’re looking for in a top name’. Add on top of that the terrible things that happened under previous ownership that everyone seems to have just ignored - are we really safe here? And all the while the entire building is entirely behind me! Not a butt in a seat. Everyone up on their feet cheering for me!”>
FUNAKI: <”I.. Suppose you could look at it that way.”>
Io sighs and stares down at the title resting on the table before her. She already knew what the outcome of this meeting would be, and she came prepared. While she had hoped something would surprise her, it seems to have all fallen into place as she expected. Very disappointing, but she can only move forward with her career in one way now; Iyo stands up, takes the gleaming title in her hands and gazes down at it with conflicted eyes. Both a symbol of her evolution as well as the very loud symbol of a company that convinces people wrestling doesn’t exist outside of their ring. With a firm nod she tosses the belt down right in front of Funaki. As Funaki looks down at the belt Iyo gives him a sad smile before providing an explanation.
IO SHIRAI: <Consider that my resignation. They can crown their preferred ‘sports entertainer’ champion, I’m out the door. I’ve worked too damn hard for too damn long, and I’m not an entertainer. I am a professional wrestler. If they’ve got no use for a wrestler, then this wrestler’s going to go elsewhere.. >
FUNAKI: <But where will you go, Sky-san?>
Io smiles cunningly.
IO SHIRAI: <I’m going back where I belong. And one more thing, Funaki-san?>
FUNAKI: <What?>
She motions to the door with a gesture she hasn’t used in five years.
IO SHIRAI: My name is Io fucking Shirai.
—----
A darkened city skyline welcomes us, dozens of high rises and skyscrapers reflecting a rainbow of pulsating lights. They strobe in time to a low EDM beat that's just audible enough to tease an undisclosed excitement. Abruptly the view zooms in on one building in particular - we see a tyrannosaurus skull mounted on the wall. There's a strobe of green light and the skull is spray painted with the words ‘LOOK TO THE SKY’.
The throbbing beat grows louder, shaking the window until it shatters. Our view plummets with the glass, all the way down to the ground where it shatters into hundreds of tiny shards. Green and purple lights strobe alternatingly, twinkling playfully in the wreckage. Soon the low hum of the music fades, and we notice a playing card lying face up amidst the wreckage: the ace of spades.
Suddenly a sneaker steps into the broken glass and the lights freeze. It's here that we finally hear a voice speaking in Japanese as subtitles appear at the bottom of the screen.
IO SHIRAI: <I've been around for a while, and I've been called a lot of things. Genius of the Sky. Joshi Judas. Ace.>
The shot zooms out to show a woman wearing a loose jacket with fur trim along the hood. She looks down at the card, smiles, and picks it up slowly.
IO SHIRAI: <Success comes to those who have the confidence, determination and skill to seize it. No matter what stands in their way, women like that shatter the glass ceiling and fly to the top. From my very first match I've been one of those women. Always looking for another opportunity to soar.>
Io turns away from the camera and begins walking down an alleyway lit by red and yellow neon lights. Among the signs jabbing out into the night are ‘Sports Entertainment Here’, ‘Titans Only’ and ‘CTRL’.
IO SHIRAI: <The problem with flying free is sometimes you get lost in the sky. You think that you've gotten to the main event of your sport. You have all the eyes in the world on you. You can even have your best friends with you. But in the end you just get lost, complacent and eventually lose any sense of who you are. Or who you can be.>
As Io passes the signs, each sparks and shorts out. Just after the final sign she arrives at the end of the alley; the world opens up to a busy city street crowded with people.
IO SHIRAI: <For six long years I told myself that I made it to the big time. I was a star so bright nobody could deny me. Maybe I was for a while. No one could take their eyes off of me. But even as I did things no one could have ever expected, it was never quite right. I flew to the top of Sports Entertainment but in the end I just felt->
The street’s suddenly devoid of people, leaving Io standing there alone with the ace in her hand.
IO SHIRAI: <Empty.>
She looks down at the playing card again, a longing clear in her eyes.
IO SHIRAI: <At the top of their world, I got complacent. Even when I wore their gold around my waist I could feel my competitive fire dying down. But the whispers of a place where ‘sports entertainment’ didn’t rule the world stoked it again. As their world changed more and more from what I wanted, I knew what I had to do. This Genius had to fly again.>
Suddenly the scene shifts to a rooftop somewhere in the city, a red light blinking on and off in the distance. Io stands there, staring across the street at a billboard advertising EBWF Last Survivor 2023 in Philadelphia. A smirk tugs at her the corner of her lips.
IO SHIRAI: <It’s like this, then. On June 10, 2018 I left professional wrestling. January 28, 2023 I’m coming home. There’s a whole world of insanely talented wrestlers in EWBF and it’s about time that the Genius of the Sky matched wits against them.>
She shrugs off the jacket which has been her trademark for the past half decade. Her ring gear sparkles in the red light of the city’s nightlife.
IO SHIRAI: <This is the place where some of the greatest names in the history of professional wrestling have made their names. There are the indomitable innovators of womens’ wrestling in the west like Trish Stratus and Natalya, who are both still here and going strong. There are the legends of the newest generation like Alexa Bliss, Dr. Britt Baker, and Becky Lynch. All of them have made history here, pushed the boundaries of what professional wrestling can be. There’s no doubt that EBWF is the premiere place for women’s wrestling - there’s no better place for me to return to doing what I love.>
She smirks a little more as she stares down at the street below.
IO SHIRAI: <As much as these ladies have accomplished, they’ve never faced anyone like me. They can all work hard at or brag about how good they are, but I know in my heart that Io Shirai is the best professional wrestler in the world. My time away from the sport’s made people forget that. I’m sure some of the women here have written me off. But now they’re going to find out that when Io Shirai is in a ring, it’s a whole different equation. None of the skills they’ve developed here will be enough to keep up with the creative chaos I create whenever I throw down. And in case anyone’s forgotten, let me remind you of something else.>
The view shifts to a banner hanging from another nearby building. On it are pictures of Io holding several belts at once in Stardom as well as titles in WWE.
IO SHIRAI: <Wherever I go, I push myself to the limit to excel. That’s what the best in the world does. Everywhere I’ve been I’ve risen to the top and claimed all the gold there is to claim. Every obstacle I’ve faced has just made me tougher, more capable and more determined to succeed. No matter where I go I’m the ace who finds a way to beat the odds and keep fighting when anyone else would’ve given up. And now that I’m back in professional wrestling, I’m more determined than ever to soar to the top no matter who I have to face. Even with all the titles I’ve held, the one that means more than anything is the one I haven’t gotten yet.>
The EBWF Women’s Championship appears on the banner, taunting her.
IO SHIRAI: <It’s the greatest prize in all of professional wrestling, and every last woman in this locker room desperately wants it. You’d be an idiot not to. Sunday’s a golden opportunity, an open door for a woman with the right determination and skill to seize destiny and claim her shot at it. So that’s where I’m going to be. I’m going to walk through that curtain to the shock of the entire world, and when I hit the ring the drama will be over the limit. Io Shirai against 19 other women who are all hungry for that same opportunity at the championship. I’ve fought against the world all at once and I know exactly how hard it is to break through when everyone else stands in my way. This is going to be hell, and I welcome the challenge of every woman in EBWF. Ladies, you’re all talented. Bring. It. On.>
Io’s smile grows fierce and wide as she looks back up to the Last Survivor billboard.
IO SHIRAI: <Because as much as I’m fighting the whole roster, you’re all trapped in a ring with pound for pound the best wrestler in the world. I respect the hell out of all of you. And because of that I’m giving you the very best that the Genius of the Sky has to dish out. I will not rest, I will not relent. I will throw every last woman who steps through the ropes over the top if that’s what it takes. Nothing’s going to stop me from proving I’m still the ace of women’s wrestling. Not the women who built this place. Not the doctor who’s been on a roll lately and looks ready to go for the belt she never got a rematch for. Not even my old enemies, Oedo Tai.>
She shakes her head and turns away from the billboard, expression effortlessly confident.
IO SHIRAI: <The younger daughters of Stardom have made a mess of EBWF. They’ve forgotten their pride as wrestlers and make a mockery of professional wrestling to get ahead. Two of the last three champions have brought shame to that belt. Especially the one from TJPW. They carry it without class, honor or pride, and that just pisses me off. Starting Sunday, all of that changes. I’m going through everyone in the locker room, becoming Last Survivor, and then taking that belt away from the primadonna who’s wearing it. Doesn’t matter what dirty tricks they use, this queen’s on a quest to restore prestige and class to that title for the first time in a year and a half. They all know what happens when Io Shirai has her eyes on the gold, they’ll all unite to try and stop me, and they’ll all fall short because they just aren’t at my level.>
Io picks something else up off the ground, holding it up like a proud mother - a luchador style mask like she once wore before the Tokyo Shock set in.
IO SHIRAI: <Everyone else? Do your best, and I’ll do mine. But I’m not letting anyone stop me from getting to the top. You’re all going over the top on Sunday.>
She pulls the mask on for the first time in five years.
IO SHIRAI: <Don’t you dare take your eyes off of me.>