Former AEW Champion Back In Training Ahead Of Return

Welcome news for the AEW women's division.

by Michael Sidgwick
Thunder Rosa AEW Women's Title
AEW

In a brief update in this week's issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported the following:

"Thunder Rosa has been back in the ring regularly training with Shoichi Funaki in San Antonio for her return."

This is welcome news for those who engaged in the fiery debate over the AEW women's division overnight. Thunder Rosa was one half of the best-received match in its history (the 'Lights Out' war against Dr. Britt Baker at AEW Dynamite: St. Patrick's Day Slam 2021). While a debilitating back injury plagued her run as Women's champion and put an end to it last August, her match against Serena Deeb at Double Or Nothing 2022 was very well-received critically. Per the promotional materials issued ahead of the show's launch, one would expect Rosa to feature heavily or primarily on Collision.

Of course, Rosa was at the epicentre of much controversy about her interpersonal relationships within the locker room and the extent of her back injury (which a near year-long absence from in-ring competition should have clarified by this point).

Advertisement

In an incidental and not uninteresting trivia note, Funaki performs Japanese commentary duties on WWE broadcasts.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!