Io Shirai joins Team Shotzi for NXT TakeOver: WarGames

Team Shotzi is set for WarGames.

Tonight’s go-home episode of NXT ended with NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai being confirmed as the final member of Team Shotzi for NXT TakeOver: WarGames. It will be Team Shotzi (Shotzi Blackheart, Ember Moon, Rhea Ripley & Shirai) vs. Team Candice (Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez & Toni Storm) at NXT TakeOver: WarGames this Sunday.

Blackheart defeated Gonzalez in a ladder match in tonight’s main event, earning Team Shotzi the entrance order advantage in WarGames. Gonzalez appeared to have the match won after both WarGames teams and Indi Hartwell got involved, but Shirai appeared and jumped on Gonzalez’s back as she was climbing the ladder. Shirai sent Gonzalez outside and then hit a moonsault from the top rope onto a pile outside of the ring. Blackheart was the last person left standing. She climbed the ladder and retrieved the briefcase to win the WarGames advantage for her team.

Team Shotzi posed together to close tonight’s show.

Shirai had been laid out by Team Candice on NXT last week.

Here’s the updated card for TakeOver: WarGames:

  • WarGames match: Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong & Bobby Fish) vs. Team McAfee (Pat McAfee, Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch)
  • WarGames match: Team Shotzi (Shotzi Blackheart, Ember Moon, Rhea Ripley & NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai) vs. Team Candice (Candice LeRae, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez & Toni Storm)
  • NXT North American Champion Leon Ruff defends his title against Johnny Gargano and Damian Priest in a triple threat match
  • Strap match: Dexter Lumis vs. Cameron Grimes
  • Tommaso Ciampa vs. Timothy Thatcher
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Joseph Currier
Joseph Currier

Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.

In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.