Former AEW Women’s World Champion back on Dynamite after lengthy absence
Former AEW Women’s World Champion Riho made her surprise return on Wednesday’s Dynamite with a new championship in her sights.
TBS Champion Mercedes Mone and Alex Windsor continued to fight after the bell in the show opener. Mone had Windsor in the Mone Maker when Riho’s music hit and she hit a stomp off the top to Mone. She then hit a dropkick to a seated Mone to send her out of the ring and then focused her attention on Mone’s title.
It was later announced she will challenge Mone for the title at this month’s All Out pay-per-view from Toronto. It will be their first ever match against each other.
It was Riho’s first appearance on AEW TV since a July 2024 match against Lady Frost on Collision. It was in that match where she fractured her arm, putting her out of action. She hasn’t wrestled anywhere since then.
It’s not the first time Riho has missed time due to injury as she suffered a broken collarbone in 2022. She also missed several months in 2024 due to visa issues.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.