Fans who follow WWE Raw, SmackDown, and NXT alike were caught off guard when the athlete they had known as Io Shirai not only debuted on the main roster at SummerSlam, but did so under the new name of IYO SKY. The transition was particularly surprising given Triple H’s recent ascent to power. Whereas Vince McMahon was notorious for changing wrestlers’ names according to his whims, the general perception was that Helmsley would honor his own creative from NXT, if not names stars had established on the indies or abroad. In a recent interview with Tokyo Sports (h/t Wrestling INC) SKY discussed the transition.

There Were Practical Reasons To Drop The Io Shirai Name

IYO SKY NXT Women's Champion

IYO SKY explained that her previous ring name, Io, could be confusing for fans. She explained fans could mistake the capital “I” for a lowercase “L”, or else read “Io” as the number “10,” in either case placing a degree of separation between her and fans who weren’t already familiar with her work.

Related: Iyo Sky's Career Told In Photos, Through The YearsAdditionally, she cited that “Shirai,” which means “while well” in Japanese “is conveyed in kanji to Japanese people, but that’s not the case in the United States … the image is conveyed by adding ‘Sky’ there.” She went on to note that her name is articulated in all capital letters now to make it easier for fans to understand.

IYO SKY Looks Like A Favorite To Win Tag Team Gold

IYO SKY Bayley Dakota Kai

IYO SKY made an immediate impact when she debuted alongside Bayley, returning from injury, and Dakota Kai, returning at the last minute after she’d previous been released by WWE. SKY and Kai are on a collision course with Raquel Rodriguez and Aaliyah in the finals of a tournament to crown new Women’s Tag Team Champions. While it’s certainly possible the match could go either way, the heel faction with Bayley has momentum, and feel like more natural rivals for a returning Sasha Banks and Naomi if the rumors are true that they’ll come back to confront whoever wins the titles they vacated.

The IYO SKY name is still taking some time to get used to for fans who followed her in NXT or even earlier in her career. Just the same, it’s similar enough to her previous name not to feel completely random, and does have its pragmatic considerations to justify it. Given the performer herself seems happy with it, it’s probably just as well fans embrace the change as well.

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