Hikaru Shida Returns Backstage to AEW After Absence

Hikaru Shida, the former three-time AEW Women's World Champion, made a low-key return to the All Elite Wrestling scene this week, appearing backstage at the company's Dynamite event in Orlando, Florida, after an extended absence from television.

Shida has not competed on AEW programming since November 2024, when she suffered a singles defeat to Kris Statlander on an episode of Dynamite. Her time away stemmed primarily from ongoing visa renewal challenges that kept her in Japan for much of 2025, according to reports from those familiar with the situation. She resolved those issues late in the year and returned to the United States, where she resides in the Orlando area. Compounding her absence were shoulder problems that limited her activity.

The backstage visit occurred during Dynamite tapings on Wednesday, the same week AEW held its Worlds End pay-per-view event in December 2024 at the same location. Shida's non-appearance at that show had drawn attention from observers, given her local ties, but sources indicated her recent presence was simply a casual stop to connect with colleagues while the promotion was in town. She did not make any on-screen appearance or participate in...