 Shirai akaita chitarisiko chake chekutanga chepamutemo chekusimudzira musi waChikumi 30, 2018, paWWE imba inoratidza muRyōgoku Kokugikan, uko kwakaziviswa kuti akasaina nekusimudzira uye achakwikwidza munharaunda yavo yekusimudzira, NXT. Muna July, zvakaziviswa kuti Shirai achatora chikamu muchikamu chechipiri cheMae Young Classicmutambo. Musi waAugust 8, Shirai akakunda Xia Brookside mumutambo wekutanga wemutambo mumutambo wake wekutanga weWWE. Zuva rakatevera racho, musi waAugust 9, Shirai akakunda Zeuxis mumutambo wechipiri, Deonna Purrazzo mumakwikwi ekupedzisira uye Rhea Ripley mumakwikwi ekupedzisira kuti aende kumagumo emutambo, wakaitika paWWE Evolution, musi waOctober 28, apo Shirai akakundwa naToni Storm. 