The Big Picture

Yesterday on Dynamite, Hikaru Shida made history by winning the vacant TBS Championship, as reported by Wrestling Inc. The victory solidified her status as the ultimate anchor of the AEW women's division. This list ranks her top ten career-defining moments based on work rate, historical significance, and crowd impact.

Top Ten Moments

10. The Joshi Showcase (Double or Nothing 2019)

Hikaru Shida debuted in a six-woman tag match, teaming with Riho and Ryo Mizunami to defeat Aja Kong, Emi Sakura, and Yuka Sakazaki. The match introduced North American fans to the fast-paced, stiff joshi style. Shida pinned her future trainer Sakura at the 12-minute mark. This debut sits at number ten because it validated Tony Khan's vision, proving Shida's raw physical presence and clean execution made her the obvious long-term star of the division.

9. Producing the Japanese Bracket (AEW Women's Title Eliminator, 2021)

During pandemic travel restrictions, Shida took on the responsibility of producing the Japanese side of the title eliminator tournament. Operating out of the small Ice Ribbon Dojo, she coordinated matches and managed talent under difficult circumstances. However, the project suffered from poor production values, with bad lighting and single-camera setups that drew heavy criticism online. Despite the visual flaws, Shida's leadership kept the division afloat when international travel was completely shut down.

8. The Philly Street Fight (Dynamite, April 27, 2022)

The culmination of a bitter rivalry saw Shida face Serena Deeb in a brutal street fight in Philadelphia. Shida spent months selling a knee injury inflicted by Deeb, building intense fan sympathy before this final clash. She secured the victory in under twelve minutes by choking Deeb out with a kendo stick. This match ranks eighth because it shattered the perception that Shida was purely a clean babyface, proving she could match Deeb's cruelty strike-for-strike.

7. Cross-Promotional Clash (All Out, September 5, 2020)

Shida defended her AEW Women's World Championship against then-NWA Women's Champion Thunder Rosa in a highly anticipated match. The bout went 17 minutes of stiff, physical back-and-forth action that outshined most of the male card. Shida ultimately retained after hitting a Falcon Arrow followed by her signature Tamashii running knee. This defense belongs at number seven because it proved Shida could carry the division against top-tier external talent when AEW's own roster lacked depth.

6. Passing the Torch (Double or Nothing, May 30, 2021)

Shida defended her title against Britt Baker, ending her record-setting championship reign after Baker forced her to submit to the Lockjaw. The match ended Shida's run at 372 days, the longest singles reign in company history at that point. The live crowd in Jacksonville was electric, firmly behind the rising heel Baker rather than the defending champion. While a loss, this moment ranks sixth because it was the essential passing of the torch that defined the division's next era.

5. The Jamie Hayter War (Dynamite Holiday Bash, December 21, 2022)

Shida challenged Jamie Hayter for the AEW Women's World Championship in a main-event match that many fans considered a match of the year candidate. Both competitors traded brutal forearms, German suplexes, and stiff strikes before Hayter ultimately retained after hitting the Hayterade lariat. This match earns the fifth spot because it demonstrated Shida's enduring relevance even when she was not the focal point of the division. She pushed the newly crowned champion to her absolute limit, elevating Hayter's reign instantly.

4. The Tuesday Night Milestone (Title Tuesday, October 10, 2023)

In a special Tuesday night episode of Dynamite that went head-to-head with WWE NXT, Shida defeated Saraya to win her third AEW Women's World Championship. Shida countered Saraya's offense and secured the pinfall with a sudden roll-up in under ten minutes. This win ranks fourth because of the immense trust Tony Khan placed in Shida during a high-stakes ratings battle. The match itself was brief and suffered from some clunky exchanges, but the historical achievement of becoming the first three-time champion was undeniable.

3. Main Event Vindication (Dynamite 200, August 2, 2023)

On the milestone 200th episode of Dynamite, Shida challenged Toni Storm for the AEW Women's World Championship in the main event. Shida overcame interference from the Outcasts, hitting Storm with an avalanche Falcon Arrow before pinning her to win the belt. The raucous Tampa crowd erupted, celebrating Shida's return to the top of the mountain. This ranks third because it was a vindication of Shida's connection with the fans, proving she remained a permanent drawing card.

2. The Pandemic Foundation (Double or Nothing, May 23, 2020)

Shida defeated Nyla Rose in a brutal No Disqualification, No Countout match to capture her first AEW Women's World Championship. The match was a physical war, featuring kendo sticks, tables, and a relentless pace in an empty Daily's Place arena. Shida won after a running knee strike to Rose's head, beginning a legendary title run. This moment takes the second spot because it established the baseline of excellence for AEW's women's division during a global crisis.

1. Survival of the Fittest Triumph (Dynamite, July 1, 2026)

Yesterday on Dynamite, Hikaru Shida made history by winning the grueling Survival of the Fittest match to capture the vacant TBS Championship. The triumph, covered by Wrestling Inc's detailed recap, saw Shida outlast the field to claim the vacant belt. She finished the match in a spectacular sequence, hitting a Falcon Arrow off the top rope before pinning her final opponent to seal the victory. This victory claims the top spot because it marks Shida's transition into a new championship division, making her the most decorated woman in AEW history.

Honorable Mentions

Several other moments narrowly missed the cut. Her hard-hitting battle with Riho at All Out 2019 showed the potential of the division but ranks lower due to the lack of build. Her defense against Tay Conti on Dynamite in April 2021 featured excellent athletic spots but lacked the emotional stakes of her matches with Baker or Rose.

Finally, her brief tenure with the Regina Di WAVE Championship showed her international appeal. However, it had little impact on her main AEW storylines, keeping it out of the top ten.