For the first time in 16 months, All Elite Wrestling fans saw Hikaru Shida in action.

The Japanese star returned on the special Thursday edition of “AEW Collision” to answer an open challenge laid out by TBS Champion Willow Nightingale. According to Nightingale, she wanted to face the very best amongst the roster, which opened the door for Shida, a former three-time AEW Women’s Champion, to resurface.

In the closing moments of their TBS Championship match, Shida dodged Nightingale’s top rope moonsault, then blasted her with a running knee for a near fall. Eager to finish Nightingale off, Shida followed with another running knee. Again, though, Nightingale kicked out, and ultimately, surprised Shida with a backslide pin for the win.

Evidently frustrated by the result, Shida raised her cane as if she were about to strike Nightingale with it from behind afterward. Instead, she dropped it, with Nightingale then offering a thumbs up for Shida’s efforts.

Prior to the April 2 edition of “Collision,” Shida’s last in-ring appearance for AEW came in late November 2024, when she took on Kris Statlander in a singles match on “AEW Dynamite.” Following that, Shida experienced visa issues that were eventually resolved by October 2025. The same month, she also reportedly sign a contract extension with AEW.

In between her AEW outings, Shida continued to compete in Japan for promotions such as WAVE, ZERO1, and OZ Academy. Most recently, she took part in OZ Academy’s Sonoko Kato Retirement show in November 2025 through an eight-woman tag bout. Whether she will serve as a regular fixture for AEW now has yet to be seen.