Hikaru Shida

Hikaru Shida is a Japanese professional wrestler, actress, and martial artist currently signed to AEW. She is the current AEW Women’s Champion in her third reign, the most by any superstar. When in Japan, she also wrestles for Oz Academy and Pro Wrestling Wave. Besides holding the AEW Women’s title for the most time, she held it for 372 days in her first reign, which is still the longest in the title’s history.

Hikaru Shida Early Life

Hikaru Shida is the real name of the AEW Superstar and she was born on June 11, 1988, in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Shida was involved in combat sports from a very young age and practiced both Judo and Kendo in childhood. At the same time, she was also interested in pursuing an acting career and had her pursuits in the latter. She began her acting career with the Muscle Venus television series and then worked as the main lead in Three Count (2009), which was set in the world of professional wrestling, combining the two dreams she had as a child. She trained as a professional wrestler for her role in the movie, which helped her make big in wrestling later. Veteran Emi Sakura was also a part of the movie and trained Shida at her Ice Ribbon dojo.

Hikaru Shida Wrestling Career

Career in Japan and beginning in America (2008-2019)

Hikaru Shida made her professional wrestling debut for Ice Ribbon on July 20, 2008, where she lost to Kazumi Shimouma. Shida’s starting months were full of losses with only occasional victories. She started picking up a few wins beginning in March of the next year, and by September, ventured into the world of martial arts. However, she tapped out to Ayaka Hamasaki’s armlock in just 38 seconds. She made several appearances in the NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling promotion in 2010 and started being recognized for her work.

Her career in Ice Ribbon was full of challenges and hurdles, as she was then just breaking out on the scene. During the six years she spent there, Shida won the ICE x60 Championship and won the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship five times with three different wrestlers. Upon leaving Ice Ribbon, Shida started working on a freelancing basis. Her first event as a freelancer was on April 1, 2014, for Miyako Matsumoto's Gake no Fuchi Puroresu.

During the next few years, Shida wrestled in Japan, and America and traveled through Europe to work for promotions such as Oz Academy, Pro Wrestling Wave, Reina Joshi Puroresu, Revolution Championship Wrestling, and Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling. She won a number of titles while roaming the world, most prominently being the RCW Women’s Championship, Wave Single Championship, Oz Academy Openweight Championship and more.

AEW (2019-Present)

All Elite Wrestling came into the scenes in early 2019, and in April, it was announced that Hikaru Shida had signed a contract with the then-upcoming promotion. She competed in AEW Double or Nothing on May 25, which was the first-ever event by All Elite Wrestling. She competed in a Six-Woman Tag team match alongside Riho and Ryo Mizunami defeating the team of Aja Kong, Emi Sakura, and Yuka Sakazaki.

She faced Riho at All Out, where the winner of the two would go on to challenge for the inaugural AEW Women’s Championship. However, she failed to get the better of Riho at the event. Upon this failure, she faced Riho on the January 1, 2020, episode of Dynamite for the latter’s AEW Women’s Championship, which she failed to win. Nonetheless, she would get another rematch at Double or Nothing 2020, and would not fail this time. Shida defeated Riho at the event to win the AEW Women’s Championship for the first time.

Over the next months, Shida defended her gold against the likes of Penelope Ford, Kip Sabian, Thunder Rosa, Abadon, Ryo Mizunami, and Tay Conti. Hikaru Shida held the gold for 372 days, which became the longest reign in the title’s history. Having won the gold at Double or Nothing 2020, she lost it at the 2021 edition of the event on May 30, to Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D.

Her next pursuit was to challenge for the AEW TBS Championship, which she failed to do after losing to Nyla Rose in the tournament for the title. In April 2022, she partook in the Owen Hart Foundation Cup and defeated Julia Hart in the first round. However, she was taken out of the tournament due to an injury and was replaced by Kris Statlander. It turned out that she was not actually injured and had to wrestle in Japan at the time. She lost to Toni Storm for the AEW Interim Women’s Championship upon returning.

On the July 29, 2023, episode of Rampage, Shida defeated Nyla Rose to become the number one contender of the AEW Women’s Championship on the August 2 episode of Dynamite. In the match, she defeated Toni Storm to become a two-time AEW Women’s Champion. Her reign with the title did not last long as she lost it to Saraya just 25 days later at All Out. She challenged Paige to a rematch on October 10 episode of Dynamite, where she won the record three times AEW Women’s Champion.

She is currently booked to defend her title against “Timeless” Toni Storm at AEW Full Gear.

Hikaru Shida Awards and Achievements

Hikaru Shida Husband

Hikaru Shida has kept her personal life private and nothing is known of her marital status.

Hikaru Shida Net Worth

As per various sources, Hikaru Shida's net worth is estimated to be around $3 Million in 2023.