Backstage Update On AEW Booking The NWA's Thunder Rosa
The NWA Women's Champion made a surprise appearance on Dynamite last week.
NWA Women's Champion Thunder Rosa will face her AEW counterpart Hikaru Shida at the upcoming ALL OUT pay-per-view on 5 September, with Shida's slab of gold on the line.
This was confirmed on last week's special Saturday Night Dynamite. Rosa cut a promo late in the show, saying she heard Shida loud and clear when the AEW Women's World Champion threw down the gauntlet last week, adding she wanted the belt and that her very presence would help elevate the division. Particular focus was given to the NWA strap, which was in the shot for the bulk of the brief segment.
The Wrestling Observer has reported that Thunder Rosa's appearance came through a deal between AEW President Tony Khan and NWA head honcho Billy Corgan. Khan and Corgan reached some kind of agreement that allows Rosa to wrestle at ALL OUT (and presumably feature in the build), with the 34-year-old still contracted to the NWA.
Shida had previously opened the door for a challenger to come forward and stake their claim for ALL OUT. Having already defeated most of the in-house contenders, her facing an outsider like Thunder Rosa makes sense.