Hikaru Shida returned to AEW on Collision, advancing within the Owen Hart Cup Event.

For the primary time in six months, a fan-favorite AEW character has made her return to tv. Hikaru Shida has been a mainstay of AEW since her signing in 2019 however over the past 12 months she hasn’t been featured as a lot as she as soon as was. That every one modified on tonight’s episode of AEW Collision when she returned for the primary time since January to go up in opposition to Deonna Purrazzo within the Owen Hart Cup Event. She appeared to make a press release upon her return because the winner of each the boys’s and the ladies’s tournaments will get a title shot at AEW All In. 

Though she hasn’t wrestled in AEW for fairly just a few months, she hasn’t missed a beat. Shida got here out swinging however she was finally caught by Purrazzo who put her into an armbar. Shida was capable of wiggle to the ropes and break the maintain, then climbing the ropes for a Falcon Arrow. Purrazzo countered the pin with a cradle however Shida stopped her useless in her tracks, advancing after a Katana Kick to Purrazzo. This wiped her out and despatched her straight to the mat. After the match, The Virtuosa continued her assault on Shida, aiming to take her out of the event with a kendo stick however Shida was saved by Purrazzo’s arch nemesis in Thunder Rosa.

Hikaru Shida is BACK and appears to advance to the following spherical within the Owen Hart Basis Ladies’s Event!

Watch #AEWCollision on TNT!@shidahikaru pic.twitter.com/C9O2Hsz3JD

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 30, 2024

Shdia was a part of AEW’s very first branded occasion in 2019, Double or Nothing. She teamed with Riho and Ryo Mizunami in opposition to Aja Kong, Emi Sakura and Yuka Sakazaki. From that second on she gained immense reputation within the firm, even cementing her title within the historical past books as an AEW Ladies’s World Champion and in her first reign she held it over a 12 months. She has change into a three-time AEW Ladies’s Champion since then, with the latest going down final October when she defeated Saraya. Only a month later, Toni Storm defeated her at Full Gear to change into a three-time champion of her personal.

Shida will subsequent face the winner of Saraya and Mariah Might which is about to happen at AEW Forbidden Door this weekend. Naturally, she has a adorned historical past with Saraya that may make sense for them to revisit within the event however Mariah Might has proven quite a lot of promise since her debut in AEW earlier this 12 months. Her report is simple, and a finals between herself and Toni Storm makes all of the sense on the planet to carry their storyline again full circle.

Keep tuned to Comicbook for updates on AEW.