Felix Upton on February 21, 2026
Thunder Rosa is officially back in AEW — and she’s not pretending the road here was easy.
After making her long-awaited return on AEW Dynamite this past Wednesday, Rosa is now set to step back into the ring against Julia Hart on AEW Collision. But before the match, the former AEW Women’s Champion opened up about the nerves, fear, and personal pressure she’s carrying into her comeback.
Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Rosa admitted that the emotions are overwhelming as she prepares for her first match back after eight months away.
“I’m excited. There’s like five different feelings I’m feeling right now. I feel a knot in my stomach. I’m just nervous, it’s always good to have nerves right before a big return.”
June 12, 2025 marked the last time Rosa competed inside an AEW ring. One night after unsuccessfully challenging Athena for the ROH Women’s Championship at Supercard of Honor, she appeared in the Casino Gauntlet match at AEW: All In. Shortly after, she stepped away — and the recovery process began. According to Rosa, physical therapy was not optional. It was survival.
“This would be the second time that I’ve been gone for a long period of time. I’ve been out for eight months. I can tell you therapy, physical therapy was key for me to come back the way I came back. It was rough and just the fact that I had to take smaller steps to even do like simple things. It took me a while and it was very scary…”
The time away didn’t just test her body — it tested her mindset. Rosa made it clear that the pressure she feels now isn’t about critics or doubters. It’s internal.
“…so now the pressure is on even more for myself, because I have nothing to prove to anyone. I want to make this very clear, everything that I’m doing I’m doing to prove to myself that I still got it, that I deserve this spot.”
That statement says everything. This isn’t about proving the locker room wrong. It’s about proving herself right.
Rosa has been through extended absences before, but this comeback feels different. Eight months of rehab, fear, and incremental progress have led to this moment — a Collision showdown with Julia Hart that could set the tone for her next AEW chapter. If her words are any indication, this isn’t just another return. It’s a reset.
What do you think about Thunder Rosa’s mindset heading into AEW Collision? Do you believe she can reclaim her spot at the top of the women’s division? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know.
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