WWE’s decision to change the name of Io Shirai to IYO SKY was to maintain ownership of her WWE name, it has been claimed.
Shirai signed with WWE in 2018 and is a former NXT Women’s and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion.
After being called up to the main roster in 2022, Shirai became IYO SKY, the name she uses to this day.
When asked on Twitter, Dave Meltzer explained that WWE wanted a name that was solely theirs, and SKY had used Io Shirai outside the promotion.
They wanted to own her WWE name and she had used the name Io Shirai her entire career so they couldn't own it. https://t.co/tY9ongLQn9
— Dave Meltzer (@davemeltzerWON) February 6, 2023
Since the name change, SKY has been associated with Damage CTRL and is in her second reign as a WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion.
WWE’s desire to have exclusive names led to several changes last year, with Walter becoming Gunther and Pete Dunne becoming Butch.
