Hikaru Shida Still Has No AEW Plans Despite Visa Issues Being Cleared

Hikaru Shida still isn’t back on AEW television, and the latest update suggests there’s no return in sight even though the issue that kept her away has already been fixed.

According to Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp, Shida’s visa problems — which were believed to be the biggest reason for her absence — have already been resolved. Despite that, AEW currently has no creative plans in place for the three-time former AEW Women’s World Champion. Her status hasn’t changed, and she is currently living at her home in Orlando, Florida without any scheduled return to AEW programming.

That situation is raising eyebrows because many expected Shida to be brought back into storylines once her visa situation was handled. The assumption had been that once she was able to attend AEW tapings again — especially with shows regularly running in Orlando — she would be worked back into television. That still hasn’t happened.

Shida has not appeared on AEW television since the November 20, 2024 episode of Dynamite, where she lost to Kris Statlander. Although she remained active in Japan during 2025, she has not wrestled a single match so far in 2026, making her absence even more noticeable as AEW continues to cycle new talent through the women’s division.

Her continued absence is surprising given her legacy in the company. Shida is one of the most accomplished names in AEW women’s division history, holding the AEW Women’s World Championship three times. Her first title reign lasted 372 days, making it one of the longest runs the division has seen.

For now, Shida remains off television despite being cleared to return, and with no creative direction currently in place, her future role in AEW remains uncertain.

Do you think AEW should bring Hikaru Shida back to television soon, or has the division already moved in a different direction? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.