Former AEW titleholder returns at Collision taping (SPOILER)

Chris Jericho made his return to the company after nearly a year away to start AEW’s night in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on Wednesday night (April 1). The television portion anyway, as Jericho opened Dynamite without saying a whole lot about where he’s been, what happened to the return he was rumored to be making, and how long this return will last.

There’d been speculation about another former AEW and Ring of Honor titleholder coming back in Winnipeg. Logistically it made sense, as she just dropped her next-to-last independent championship in town on Tuesday night.

But it wasn’t Mercedes Moné who answered Willow Nightingale’s open challenge for the TBS title, a belt Nightingale took from Moné before The CEO left AEW after New Year’s, closer to the start of her Ultimo Downfall. It was Hikaru Shida, back after more than a year away!

While she’s remained active in Japan, the three-time AEW Women’s World champion’s last match for Tony Khan’s company was in November of 2024. Word recently hit that Shida had resolved whatever immigration issues were keeping her from working in the United States, but the same report hadn’t heard of creative plans for her.

Perhaps they were a closely held secret? Maybe Toni Storm’s absence caused Khan to come up with some creative for the 37-year-old martial artist, actor, and pro wrestler?

We’ll wait for further reports, and bring you full Collision spoilers for the show before its special Thursday night premiere.