AEW's Hikaru Shida To Wrestle On Tokyo Joshi Pro Show

The former AEW Women's World Champion debuts for Tokyo Joshi Pro next month.

by Andy H Murray
Hikaru Shida Hikari Noa
TJPW

Hikaru Shida's All Elite Wrestling sabbatical could be set to extend into at least March, as the former Women's World Champion has just been confirmed for a Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling event.

As announced earlier today, Shida will wrestle TJPW regular Hikari Noa at Grand Princess '22 on 19 March. This is a big, important event for TJPW, as it will be the first time the group has ever run the historic Ryōgoku Sumo Hall.

It's also Shida's first ever match for the CyberFight-helmed promotion - and represents the latest crossover between TJPW and AEW. Tokyo Joshi Pro regulars Maki Itoh and Yuka Sakazaki have both appeared for Tony Khan's company in the past, though the COVID-19 pandemic's myriad travel restrictions have complicated potential collaborations.

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Shida's opponent, Noa, is a TJPW mainstay. 4 January saw the 23-year-old drop the company's secondary belt, the International Princess Title, to Maki Itoh in an acclaimed match.

AEW's 12 January episode of Dynamite featured Shida getting temporarily written off ahead of a planned return to Japan, with rival Serena Deeb destroying her knee. There is currently no word on when she will be back in the United States.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.