Hikaru Shida reclaims the AEW Women’s Championship. WWE NXT hosts The Great American Bash. Deonna Purrazzo calls out STARDOM and NJPW. Sadie Gibbs chats with WrestleZone, and more. Let’s break it all down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!
Shida Reclaims AEW Women’s Title
Hikaru Shida is now a two-time AEW Women’s Champion.
During Wednesday’s milestone 200th episode of AEW Dynamite, AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm defended her title against Hikaru Shida in the main event. Prior to Wednesday, Storm and Shida’s last singles match occurred in the midst of Storm’s first title reign in October 2022. While Storm emerged victorious in their first encounter, Shida evened up the score last night.
Despite some interference from Saraya and Ruby Soho, Hikaru Shida held strong. Shortly after kicking out of Storm Zero, Shida reversed her momentum to pull Toni Storm into a pinning position. It was here that Shida scored the three count to become the new AEW Women’s Champion.
With this victory, Shida now officially begins her second reign with the AEW Women’s Championship. Meanwhile, Toni Storm’s second reign officially ends at 67 days.
Check out a full recap of the title match, courtesy of our live AEW Dynamite coverage page.
AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm (c) (with Saraya & Ruby Soho) vs. Hikaru Shida
Shida sends Storm to the outside with a series of strikes. The challenger continues to control the action. Storm sends Shida to the outside with a hip attack. The champion gains the upper hand and grounds Shida. Storm tosses Shida across the ring. Shida fires up with a German suplex and a kick. The challenger hits Storm with a knee strike. A missile dropkick earns Shida a two-count. Shida gets a two-count with a Meteora. Soho interferes, and Storm hits a tornado DDT. Storm hits a hip attack and drops Shida with a DDT for a two-count.
Storm and Shida trade blows. Shida hits a knee stike and a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Saraya slides a kendo stick into the ring. Storm and Shida battle over it. Shida gets it and hits Soho. Storm spray-paints Shida while the referee is distracted, and she gets a near fall with the Storm Zero. Shida reverses a pin attempt and pins Storm to win the match and the title.
RELATED: Toni Storm’s Recent AEW In-Ring Absence Seemingly Explained
WWE NXT Great American Bash
Before WWE’s main roster makes their way to Detroit for SummerSlam this weekend, the company’s developmental brand put on a showcase in Texas last weekend. On Sunday, July 30, WWE NXT presented The Great American Bash from Cedar Park, Texas.
In the semi-main event of the evening, Tiffany Stratton and Thea Hail produced quite a back-and-forth fight. Toward the end of the match, Hail locked Stratton in the Kimura Lock. Upon realizing there were no rope breaks, Stratton pulled herself to the outside of the ring before launching Hail into the steel steps at ringside. As Stratton regained her momentum, she then nailed Hail with the Prettiest Moonsault Ever. After that, Stratton placed Hail into a single-leg crab submission.
Despite Hail’s efforts to power through the pain, Andre Chase, the leader of Chase U, threw in the towel, forcing the referee to end the match. As a result, Tiffany Stratton was ruled as the winner of the contest, subsequently retaining her NXT Women’s Championship.
Elsewhere on the card, Roxanne Perez battled Blair Davenport in a Weapons Wild match. Perez previously defeated Cora Jade in the same match stipulation at NXT Halloween Havoc last October.
After a months-long bitter rivalry, Perez and Davenport brought out all the stops, and weapons, in this match, including a bull rope, a belt, a trash cans, and a pile of chairs. In the end, though, it was Perez who emerged victorious, nailing Davenports with a Pop Rox onto the stacks of chairs for the win.
READ MORE: WWE NXT Great American Bash Results (7/30/23)
Purrazzo Calls Out STARDOM & NJPW
Later this month, IMPACT Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling will join forces once again to host the second iteration of Multiverse United. This event, entitled Multiverse United 2: For Whom the Bell Tolls, will take place on Sunday, August 20 from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
As of this writing, no women’s matches have been announced. However, Deonna Purrazzo has begun to lay the groundwork for one. Earlier this week, Purrazzo send out a challenge to NJPW and their sister company, STARDOM, urging them to send their best talent to Multiverse United 2.
Last month, Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported that current NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion Giulia was slated be in Philadelphia the weekend of August 19 and August 20. Furthermore, Meltzer noted that Guilia would defend her title that weekend at either Multiverse United or NJPW’s All-Star Junior Festival, which takes place on the 19th.
Right now, it’s unclear which event Giulia will appear at or who her challenger will be. With Deonna Purrazzo’s challenge now in play, though, perhaps NJPW may be inclined to set up “The Virtuosa” vs. the “Dangerous Queen.”
Interviews
“Undefineable” Sadie Gibbs spoke with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay about her in-ring return, why it was the right time, long-term goals for this run, why she didn’t feel ready for an AEW contract and much more.
Former WWE Women’s Champion Melina appeared on Muscle Memory to explains the issue with Trish Stratus current WWE run, her time in WWE, addressing Batista scandal, & if she’s coming out of retirement
Former WWE RAW Women’s Champion Bianca Belair chatted with Denise Salcedo about being part of the promotional campaign between C4 and WWE, her match history with the company, how she has helped raise the bar for the women’s division, which match is her favorite at this moment, and more.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Chelsea Green joined Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful to discuss winning the WWE Women’s Tag Titles, pitching an idea to be a follower of Seth Rollins, fans loving her current on-screen character, and more.
Upcoming Events
Capital Championship Wrestling: Blood in the Sand – August 5
Venom Championship Wrestling: Cross The Line – August 5
Maryland Championship Wrestling: Ladies Night 3 – September 22
NOVA Women’s Pro-Wrestling: Hollywood Hills x Suburban Thrills – October 15
