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“I am struggling to survive in the current AEW” – Former Champion

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• “I am struggling to survive in the current AEW” – Former Champion

During her new column in the Japanese publication Weekly Pro Wrestling, former AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida discussed female Japanese pro-wrestlers facing issues in All Elite Wrestling.

Below is what she wrote (translated to English):

“My feeling is that the hurdle for Japanese women’s pro wrestlers to come to AEW has become much higher. The major cause is the Corona disaster which is not easy to finish. And it’s because the AEW Women’s Division has grown so much in the past year.

AEW is an organization that is constantly changing, and the players come and go very rapidly. TV and YouTube. If you’ve been following AEW on FITE TV or YouTube, you’ll know that the women’s division in particular has seen an increase in the number of young, cute, and dynamic players over the past year.

At the time of the launch, the women’s division of AEW relied heavily on Japanese female pro wrestlers, and that was one of the selling points of the division. But that was only for a while after the launch. Nowadays, being a Japanese female pro wrestler is not as much of an advantage as it used to be.

On the contrary, it has become more of a handicap in terms of language barrier, obtaining a work visa, and the Corona disaster. I myself am no exception to this, and even as a member of the AEW since its inception and a former Women’s Champion, I am struggling to survive in the current AEW.

In AEW, there is a high degree of freedom for the players, but because of that, everything is their responsibility. For example, there is basically no assistance from the organization in finding a place to live, even if you are Japanese. That’s how it was for me.

So when I heard that Sakura-san was moving to the U.S., I was worried. I was worried. I’ve been studying English since I was a child, and I speak English better than most people think, but I still had a lot of trouble. Sakura-san, on the other hand, was at a level where even daily conversation was questionable.

Even so, she found a room on her own and is desperately trying to seize the opportunity at AEW. But even though she came to America with such determination, she was not given a chance to participate in the TV matches. There is a fierce battle to get a chance to compete before you can show off your skills in a match. That is what AEW is today.

AEW is an organization that is always pursuing new possibilities, and I don’t think that Japanese women’s wrestling has disappeared from that list of options.

Once Corona settles down, there will be a day when AEW and Japanese women’s wrestling can interact in a new way. That being said, I would like to take this opportunity to say that even if we are able to sign a contract, it’s just the start.”

Also Read: Tony Khan On Why He’s Going To Let Some Wrestlers Leave AEW Now

WATCH: Tay Conti Has The Best Tushy In AEW:

• ON THIS DAY IN WCW HISTORY (February 12, 1994) – WCW Saturday Night

On this day in 1994, Ted Turner’s World Championship Wrestling aired an episode of their weekly TV show ‘WCW Saturday Night’.

It was broadcasted from the Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia and featured pre-taped matches, interviews & storyline segments on the road to the ‘WCW SuperBrawl IV’ PPV.

The card of the show can be found here:

– The Nasty Boys vs. Matt Sheppard & Scott D’Amore

– Jungle Jim Steel vs. Fred Avery

– Superbrawl IV Control Center

– WCW Television Title Match: Lord Steven Regal vs. The Patriot

– Terror Ryzing vs. Keith Cole

– Arn Anderson & Erik Watts vs. Pretty Wonderful

– Big Van Vader vs. Sonny Rogers

– Ricky Steamboat vs. Fidel Sierra

– The Boss vs. Rip Rogers

– WCW International Heavyweight Title Match: Rick Rude vs. Johnny B. Badd


        
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