Tag: AEW

Hikaru Shida Returns to AEW, Falls Short in TBS Title Clash on Collision

Hikaru Shida is officially back in All Elite Wrestling—and she didn’t waste any time stepping into a high-stakes situation.

On the special Thursday edition of AEW Collision, the former three-time AEW Women’s Champion made her long-awaited return by answering an open challenge issued by reigning TBS Champion Willow Nightingale. With Nightingale calling out the best competition AEW has to offer, Shida emerged as a fitting—and surprising—response after more than a year away from AEW action.

The match itself delivered down the stretch, with Shida nearly reclaiming championship gold in dramatic fashion. After avoiding Nightingale’s top-rope moonsault, Shida connected with a running knee that almost sealed the deal. She followed up with a second knee strike moments later, but Nightingale showed resilience by kicking out again. In a sudden twist, the champion caught Shida off guard with a backslide pin to retain her title.

Tensions teased boiling over after the match. Shida grabbed her signature kendo stick and appeared ready to attack Nightingale from behind, but ultimately thought better of it and dropped the weapon. Nightingale responded with a respectful thumbs-up, signaling mutual respect despite the heated battle.

This marked Shida’s first AEW match since November 2024, when she faced Kris Statlander on Dynamite. Her absence was largely due to visa complications, which were resolved in October 2025. Around that same time, Shida reportedly secured a new contract with AEW, setting the stage for her eventual return.

While away from AEW programming, Shida remained active in Japan, competing for several promotions including WAVE, ZERO1, and OZ Academy. One of her most recent appearances came in November 2025 at OZ Academy’s Sonoko Kato retirement event, where she competed in an eight-woman tag match.

With her return now in the books, the big question is what comes next. Whether this was a one-off appearance or the beginning of a more consistent run remains unclear—but if this performance was any indication, Shida is ready to make an impact once again.

Dave Meltzer On Chris Jericho’s AEW Return, WWE Negotiations

After months of speculation linking Chris Jericho to a potential WWE comeback, Jericho has instead resurfaced in familiar territory—making his return on AEW Dynamite and putting an end, at least for now, to the ongoing rumors.

Leading up to this week, there had been growing belief within WWE circles that Jericho was on track to rejoin the company where he built much of his legendary career. That chatter only intensified as WrestleMania season approached, with fans and insiders alike expecting some kind of major development.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the situation took a turn very recently. Meltzer noted that he began hearing conflicting updates within a short window—initially getting wind of Jericho being tied to WrestleMania plans, only to then learn almost immediately that Jericho was headed to Winnipeg for AEW instead.

After checking in with WWE sources, Meltzer was told that Jericho is no longer expected to return to the company anytime soon—if at all. That response seemingly confirmed that Jericho had made his decision, paving the way for his AEW comeback.

While the exact reasoning behind Jericho’s choice remains unclear, Meltzer did shed some light on what WWE may have had in mind. The reported idea was to bring Jericho back for a retirement run, positioning his return as a farewell tour rather than a long-term program.

If that was indeed the pitch, it’s possible it didn’t align with Jericho’s vision for this stage of his career. Instead, he’s back in AEW, where he continues to be a central figure and has more creative flexibility moving forward.

For now, Jericho’s return to Dynamite puts an end to one of wrestling’s more intriguing “what if” scenarios—at least temporarily. As always in pro wrestling, though, never say never.

AEW Collision Preview 4/2/2026

AEW Collision tonight with a special Thursday edition on TNT and HBO Max taped from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

  • AEW Continental Championship Eliminator Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Anthony Bowens
  • Willow Nightingale TBS Championship Open Challenge
  • Tornado Tag Team Match: Orange Cassidy, Kevin Knight, Roderick Strong, & Mistico vs. Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Clark Connors, & David Finlay
  • Juice Robinson vs. “Psycho Killer” Tommaso Ciampa
  • Andrade El Idolo & Mark Davis vs. The Rascalz
  • AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions Divine Dominion in action
  • AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR in action
  • Adam Copeland and Christian Cage to appear

Chris Jericho Returns To AEW On Dynamite

Chris Jericho is back in AEW—and he didn’t waste any time reminding everyone exactly who he is.

The former world champion made a surprise return during the opening moments of AEW Dynamite, which just so happened to take place in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. While fans had been buzzing earlier in the day about a possible comeback, few expected Jericho to show up so quickly—or in such dramatic fashion.

Tony Schiavone was in the ring preparing to oversee a contract signing between AEW World Champion MJF and top contender Kenny Omega when things started to go sideways. Pyro began firing off unexpectedly, cutting into the segment and confusing everyone in the arena. After a couple of false starts, the camera turned toward the stage—and that’s when the familiar opening notes of “Judas” hit.

The Winnipeg crowd erupted.

Jericho walked out soaking in the moment, clearly enjoying the reaction as fans loudly sang along to his entrance theme. Taking his time, he eventually entered the ring and let the energy build before finally grabbing a microphone. His message was short and to the point: “Winnipeg! AEW! I’m home.”

That was all he needed to say.

After another brief celebration with the crowd, Jericho exited the ring, greeting fans at ringside before heading backstage. Interestingly, he didn’t stick around to get involved in the advertised contract signing, which proceeded without him following a chaotic backstage brawl between Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay.

Jericho’s return marks his first appearance on AEW television in nearly a year. He had been absent since dropping the ROH World Championship to Bandido at last year’s Dynasty pay-per-view. In the aftermath, Jericho told members of The Learning Tree faction that he needed time away, effectively writing himself off TV.

In recent weeks, speculation about his future picked up again—especially after Jericho filed a trademark for “The Cornerstone,” a move that had fans wondering whether a new character or direction was on the horizon.

For now, Jericho’s intentions remain unclear. But one thing is certain: with Jericho back in the mix, AEW just got a major shake-up—and it feels like this is only the beginning.

AEW Dynamite Preview 4/1/2026

AEW Dynamite live tonight at 8/7c on TBS and HBO Max from the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

  • Mina Shirakawa & The Brawling Birds vs. Triangle of Madness
  • Will Ospreay vs. PAC
  • Kenny Omega, Brody King & Jack Perry vs. The Demand
  • Kenny Omega and MJF sign contract for their match at AEW Dynasty

Lady Frost Departs AEW, Quickly Lands New Deal with MLW

Lady Frost’s time with AEW/ROH has officially wrapped up—but her next chapter is already underway.

After reports surfaced that her AEW contract had expired, Frost took to social media to confirm the news herself. In a message posted on Twitter, she expressed gratitude for her time in the company and its leadership, specifically thanking Tony Khan for the opportunity.

“As of today, I am a free agent,” Frost wrote. “I want to thank @TonyKhan for being an incredibly kind and passionate boss. I had some of the most incredible moments with @AEW, and I am so grateful for the years that I spent there. For now, I’m on the hunt. Onto the next…”

That “hunt” didn’t last long.

Shortly after her announcement, Fightful Select reported that Frost had already signed with Major League Wrestling. According to the report, MLW had strong interest in bringing her in and acted quickly to secure her signature once she became available.

Frost even followed up on her original post with a quick update, confirming the speedy turnaround: “Not a free agent anymore. That didn’t take long.”

Frost first appeared in AEW back in 2020 on Dark, gradually building her presence before making her Dynamite debut in 2023. While she never became a central figure in the women’s division, she remained a consistent and reliable performer across AEW programming.

Now heading to MLW, Frost gets a fresh opportunity to showcase her unique style in a new environment—and if the quick signing is any indication, she may have a prominent role waiting for her.

AEW Collision Preview 3/28/2026

AEW Collision live tonight at 8/7c on TNT and HBO Max from the Alliant Energy Power House in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

  • AEW International Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Kevin Knight
  • AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championsh: Divine Dominion (c) vs. Babes of Wrath
  • Ace Austin vs. Tommaso Ciampa

AEW Dynamite Preview 3/25/2026

AEW Dynamite live tonight at 8/7c on TBS and HBO Max from the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in St. Paul, Minnesota.

  • AEW Women’s World Championship: Thekla (c) vs. Mina Shirakawa
  • The Dogs (David Finlay & Clark Connors) vs. The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy & Roderick Strong)
  • No. 1 Contender vs. EVP: Swerve Strickland vs. Kenny Omega
  • AEW World Heavyweight Champion MJF to appear
  • Darby Allin vs. RUSH

Backstage Update on Toni Storm’s AEW Absence: Not Injury-Related

AEW fans were left stunned last week on Dynamite when “Timeless” Toni Storm was written off television in a dramatic backstage segment that quickly sparked speculation. The former champion was discovered laid out and bloodied in her dressing room, surrounded by cryptic clues pointing toward multiple potential suspects on the roster—clearly setting the stage for a mystery-driven storyline.

Given the timing, many initially assumed the angle may have been covering for an injury, especially following Storm’s recent match against Marina Shafir at Revolution, where she also had a notable interaction with Ronda Rousey. However, according to Dave Meltzer, that’s not the case.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer indicated that Storm’s absence is not tied to any physical issue. Instead, he noted that the situation developed suddenly behind the scenes.

According to Meltzer, Storm was originally scheduled to compete on last week’s Dynamite, but plans changed the day of the show. AEW reportedly had to pivot quickly, creating the backstage attack angle to explain her sudden removal from television. Mina Shirakawa ultimately stepped in as her replacement and picked up a win over Shafir.

While the storyline explanation is already unfolding on-screen, the real-life timeline may be even more significant. A report from Fightful Select suggests that Storm could be out of action for an extended period, potentially missing all of 2026.

That leaves AEW in an interesting position creatively. The “whodunnit” angle offers a built-in way to keep Storm relevant during her absence, while also elevating other names in the women’s division as suspects or key players in the unfolding story.

For now, fans can expect the mystery surrounding Toni Storm’s “attack” to continue developing on television—even if the real reason behind her hiatus remains outside the ring.

Ronda Rousey’s AEW Status Remains Unclear Following Surprise Revolution Appearance

Ronda Rousey made headlines at AEW Revolution 2026 with a shocking appearance that instantly got fans talking—but as it turns out, her long-term future with the company is anything but certain.

The former WWE and UFC star emerged during Toni Storm’s segment at the pay-per-view, teasing a potential confrontation with the “Timeless” champion. Before the situation could escalate, officials rushed in to break things up. That distraction opened the door for Marina Shafir—Rousey’s longtime ally—to ambush Storm from behind, adding another layer to the ongoing tension.

Despite the buzz generated by the cameo, a new report from Fightful Select suggests that Rousey has not officially signed with AEW. Sources within the company reportedly believe that, at least for now, her appearance was more of a one-off than the start of a full-time run. There’s also no clear indication yet whether AEW has concrete plans to bring her back in the near future.

The fallout from Revolution carried over to “AEW Dynamite,” where Storm was scheduled to face Shafir in a No Holds Barred match. However, things took a chaotic turn before the bout could even begin. Storm was found backstage, bloodied after an apparent attack that left her unable to compete. Mina Shirakawa stepped in as a replacement and picked up the win over Shafir, finishing things off with a spinning back fist followed by Storm Zero. Notably, Rousey was absent from the entire situation, adding more mystery to her involvement.

As for how the Revolution appearance came together, it appears to have been a mix of convenience and strong relationships. Rousey reportedly lives near Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, where the event was held, and she maintains a positive rapport with AEW CEO Tony Khan—something Khan himself confirmed during the post-show media scrum.

Rousey is no stranger to the AEW/ROH orbit, having previously teamed with Shafir in Ring of Honor competition. Still, whether this latest appearance leads to something more substantial in AEW remains to be seen.

For now, fans are left with more questions than answers—and plenty of intrigue surrounding what Rousey might do next.