As previously reported, AEW star Hikaru Shida has faced challenges in renewing her visa, which has prevented her from returning to the company or the U.S. Consequently, she has not appeared on television since November 2024. Recently, Shida posted a photo from an airport on her Twitter (X) account, hinting at her return to the company with a message indicating that she is ready to go back to the U.S.
The former AEW Women’s World Champion also shared a new vlog in which she discussed her work on a stage play in Japan and provided an update on her in-ring status.
This is what Hikaru Shida said, “Actually, after the show, many fans asked me, like, are you retiring or it’s just play? Of course it’s just play. I’m not retiring. I just renewed my visa and contract, so I’m not retiring. But fans asked me, so that means my acting was too good.”
Shida last competed in AEW in November of last year, losing to Kris Statlander, who currently holds the AEW Women’s World Title. Throughout this year, she has wrestled sporadically in Japan.
You can check out Hikaru Shida’s comments in the video below.
(H/T to Fightful for transcribing the above quotes)
