Former AEW Women’s World Champion Expected To Return Soon

Riho, who was the first-ever AEW Women’s World Champion and who was on the shelf for quite some time, is reportedly expected to return to in-ring action soon. Dave Meltzer noted on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Riho could be back as early as this week or soon thereafter and she could be the next challenger for ROH Women’s World Champion Athena or perhaps even for AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill.

During the premiere episode of AEW Dynamite in October of 2019, Riho became the inaugural AEW Women’s World Champion when she defeated Nyla Rose. Riho held the AEW Women’s World Title for 133 days before losing it to Nyla Rose in February of 2020.

Riho last competed for AEW during a Dark: Elevation television taping in November, where she worked a Women’s Division Tag Team Match teaming with Willow Nightingale to face Emi Sakura and Mei Suruga. It aired on November 14th, 2022 and Riho would then competed on an SPW Show a few days later and has not be in in-ring action since.