AEW Women's Division: 5 Reasons To Be Cheerful
2. Hikaru Shida's Character Evolution
Hikaru Shida may have given AEW's Women's Division the jolt it needed by creating and co-producing the Eliminator Tournament, but that's not to say she's been neglecting her own character in the process.
Shida has always been popular with the fans - it's not for nothing that "Holy Shida!" became one of the AEW audience's favourite chants - but if she has a weakness it's her character work. Shida is a joy to watch in the ring, but outside the squared circle Shida's personality feels muted. Like the fire she shows in her matches is extinguished the second she walks back up the entrance ramp.
Or at least, that's how it felt until the beginning of this year.
Shida's metamorphosis into a suit-wearing Alpha female has been one of the highlights of the year so far. Shida's brought a brand new attitude to go with her new threads, and both fit her well. Shida has been the Final Boss of the Women's Division for close to a year, and she's revelling in that fact.
The AEW Women's Championship was crying out for a strong title-holder after the relative failures of the first two champions, and when Hikaru Shida's time with the belt ends she can let go knowing she did justice to the belt and to herself.