Long-Absent AEW Star Set For Return To TV?
Could this multiple-time champion be on the verge of a return to AEW programming?
Having not competed for AEW since January, could Hikaru Shida be set for a return to AEW programming? Possibly.
As per Fightful Select, creative discussions have taken place for Shida's AEW return. There's no further details at this time on what's been pitched for the three-time AEW Women's Champion, but it's at least good to hear that the 35-year-old could be on the cusp of a return to the AEW fold.
Shida has only wrestled twice for AEW in 2024 so far - both on Rampage - with the most recent of these contests being a 10 January win over Queen Aminata. In the time since then, the hugely talented Japanese star has wrestled twice for Ring of Honor, picking up a win over Rachael Ellering before suffering a loss to ROH Women's Champion Athena.
It's worth noting, there's been no reports of any sort of injury issues keeping Hikaru Shida on the AEW sidelines, and it seems merely a case of the company keeping her benched due to zero creative plans for Hikaru over the past nearly five months.