Hikaru Shida, over two years since being defeated by Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D at DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2021, still stands as the most dominant AEW Women’s World Champion to date. Not only did she successfully defend the championship more than any woman before or since, but she also stands as the longest reigning champion to date. That being said, since losing the championship, in the few opportunities she has had to become a 2-Time Champion, Shida has been unable to reclaim that glory. Toni Storm, on the other hand, was able to accomplish what no other champion before her was able to accomplish, and that was becoming a 2-Time Champion after defeating Jamie Hayter at DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2023 back in May. Not Riho, nor Nyla Rose, nor Baker, nor Shida were able to achieve that feat, while Thunder Rosa hasn’t had the opportunity, leaving Toni Storm the sole champion to make hit particular historical feat.
This Wednesday night on DYNAMITE 200, Shida aims to become the second woman to achieve 2-Time status by ending the run of this particular Outcast. Shida enters the fight having defeated “The Native Beast” Nyla Rose last week, making it her fifth victory in a row, and setting Hikaru up for this championship challenge!
This is a fight that is about a bit more than just the title though, as Shida is one of the women who’ve stepped up to face The Outcasts attack on those competitors who’ve helped establish AEW as the home for Women’s Wrestling. The fight against Ruby, Saraya, and the AEW Women’s World Champion even united Shida with Dr. Britt Baker, one of her oldest AEW foes, as regardless of their history, the two women at least have common ground in their defense of All Elite Wrestling.
So as much as this is about becoming a 2-Time Women’s World Champion, it’s also about reclaiming the Women’s Division from The Outcasts, and bringing the title back to a woman who actually appreciates where it came from, and looks at it with respect and pride, rather than disdain and disgust, only giving it value because it’s an Outcast who holds it rather than because of the work put in by those who came before, and those whose goal is to hoist it overhead themselves.