Statlander vs. Red Velvet Owen Hart Cup match set for next week’s AEW Rampage
Kris Statlander will face Red Velvet in an Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament quarterfinal match on next week’s AEW Rampage.
Statlander was announced as an injury replacement for Hikaru Shida on this week’s Rampage episode during an in-ring interview segment with Velvet, Jade Cargill, and Kiera Hogan.
For her part, Shida does not actually appear to be injured. She wrestled in Japan three times last week, plus once this past Sunday. In a social media post, Shida said “Japanese wrestling is nothing for them,” seemingly voicing frustration with AEW.
Shida tweeted on Friday:
Well…. I already had 4 matches after the street fight and just finished the greatest fighting musical show.
But I seem to have been injured…
Japanese wrestling is nothing for them. I’m so sorry.
And sorry couldn’t be in the tournament too.— HIKARU SHIDA 志田 光 (@shidahikaru) May 13, 2022
Shida also tweeted a clip of her performance in the MAKAI fighting musical on Friday.
A short video for tonight’s MAKAI show for fans around the world😉#魔界 pic.twitter.com/iiFN30p9Yx
— HIKARU SHIDA 志田 光 (@shidahikaru) May 13, 2022
Shida last wrestled for AEW in Philadelphia on the April 27 Dynamite, losing a street fight to Serena Deeb.
The Statlander vs. Velvet match is the only match announced for next week’s Rampage to this point. Next week’s episode will again air at an earlier start time, currently scheduled for 7 p.m. Eastern time.
AEW Rampage, Friday, May 20, 7 p.m. Eastern time —
- Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament quarterfinal: Kris Statlander vs. Red Velvet
An F4WOnline Editor since 2019, Ethan has been covering wrestling and MMA since 2011. He has hosted The Wrestling Life Podcast since 2014, and is a former Baltimore Sun TV/Tribune Media contributor. He is also a Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles fan.