Last week Hikaru Shida was finally able to reclaim the prize she first lost to Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D at DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2020, and become a 2-Time AEW Women’s World Champion at Toni Storm’s expense. It proved quite a shock to Toni, as evidenced by this moment on COLLISION:
But Toni’s response to being dethroned cannot be Hikaru Shida’s concern because this Wednesday night she’s got to contend with her first challenger of this new reign, a familiar foe known as Anna Jay! See back during the dark days where fans were not part of the equation, Anna Jay made her AEW debut against Shida in Georgia at the Nightmare Factory. Seven months later, Anna would get the biggest opportunity of her AEW career to that point when she challenged Shida for AEW Women’s World Champion in Jacksonville at Daily’s Place. To date, that championship bout is the only televised Women’s World Title fight that Anna Jay has received, and the only one-on-one bout for that title during her AEW career. Her only other championship opportunity came in a Four Way during the HOUSE RULES: HUNTSVILLE event in June, and Anna Jay aims to make the most of finally getting this chance.
To be frank, this night will be an extremely stressful one for Anna Jay given the championship match is taking place on the same night that the future of The Jericho Appreciation Society may very well be determined, but if she wants to be a champion, the ability to focus in on the task at hand will be essential. Can Anna Jay dash Shida’s hopes and desires about being more than “the pandemic champion” ? Or will the 2-Time Champ make Anna an example to the rest of the division about how this title reign will look moving forward?