AEW delivered a major surprise following the April 1 episode of AEW Dynamite, as an absent star made a shocking return during the taping of this week’s Collision.
The company remained at the Canada Life Centre in Winnipeg to record the upcoming episode of AEW Collision. During the taping, Willow Nightingale issued an open challenge for the TBS Championship. That challenge was answered by Hikaru Shida, who made her long-awaited return to AEW programming.
This appearance marks Shida’s first time back in AEW in a significant period, immediately placing her into a title situation. Her absence had led to ongoing questions about her status, especially after earlier reports indicated that her visa issues had been resolved but that there were no confirmed creative plans for her return.
Before this moment, Shida had not appeared on AEW television since the November 20, 2024 episode of Dynamite, where she was defeated by Kris Statlander. Throughout 2025, she remained active competing in Japan, but she had not wrestled a match at all in 2026 prior to answering Nightingale’s challenge.
Shida’s return carries significant weight given her accomplishments. She is a three-time AEW Women’s World Champion and held the title for 372 days during her most notable reign, establishing herself as one of the most dominant figures in the division’s history.
Her sudden reappearance adds immediate depth to the AEW women’s roster and places her back into a prominent role. With her stepping directly into a championship opportunity, attention now turns to how AEW will position her moving forward following this unexpected return.
Absent AEW Star Returns to Answer TBS Title Open Challenge at Collision Taping
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