Update On Riho's AEW Future

Is AEW's first Women's World Champion still with the company?

Riho Women's Champion
AEW/FITE

The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer has hit Twitter with an update on Riho’s AEW status, clearing up speculation on the Japanese star after speculation she had signed with Stardom over the weekend.

Meltzer tweeted the following:-

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Riho had tweeted a picture of her clad in a Stardom jacket earlier on Sunday, leading to the aforementioned guesswork.

Riho has not wrestled for AEW since the promotion’s first empty arena episode of Dynamite (18 March). She was part of a four-way with Hikaru Shida (the winner), Kris Statlander, and Penelope Ford, but returned to her native Japan shortly after, with travelling restrictions preventing her from making further All Elite appearances. That she is still under contracted means she’ll likely return once the world begins opening up more.

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AEW’s inability to use Bea Priestley and Sadie Gibbs for similar reasons led to the promotion letting the duo go in August. PAC and Riho, however, remained under contract, with the former returning to TV last week.

Riho was the first AEW Women’s World Champion, defeating Nyla Rose to take the belt on Dynamite’s inaugural episode (2 October), holding it for 133 days until ‘The Native Beast’ felled her in February 2020.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.