AEW Revolution: Hikaru Shida vs Ryo Mizunami can steal the show

AEW Revolution is set for Sunday with several big matches to look forward to seeing. One of the dockets is the women’s title match as Hikaru Shida defends her belt against Ryo Mizunami. This is an intriguing match between two women that know each other well and can showcase what makes Joshi wrestling such an entertaining aspect of the industry.

This match features two competitors who have surprisingly never faced each other in singles competition. However, their familiarity and bond with each other are strong. This sets the stage for what should be a captivating and emotional story to tell in the ring.

On one hand, there’s Shida looking to defend her belt. She is the longest-reigning champion in the AEW, and she has given fans some great matches against the likes of Nyla Rose and Thunder Rosa. Even though AEW still struggles to find a way to properly highlight their women’s division, Shida is one of many shining points in the division.

Then there’s Mizunami. When the AEW World Women’s Title Eliminator was announced, the predictions came in quickly. It seemed like everyone was picking Yuka Sakazaki to come out of the Japan bracket, with either Britt Baker or Thunder Rosa going over in the finals. Yet, AEW went with an entirely different finish. Mizunami stormed through the brackets and put on an exception match against Rose to close things out in the finals. The moments that she shared with Shida in the ring after that victory was telling what this match would mean to both women on Sunday’s big showcase.

When looking at the entire card, no one should be surprised if Mizunami versus Shida steals the show. Yes, there is an exploding barbed wire deathmatch on the card. Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley are going to do things that make people cringe and cheer all at once. But that is expected. Shida and Mizunami have not only a story to tell about two performers carrying the banner of Joshi wrestling, but they are battling for the most important prize in AEW women’s wrestling. Back at All Out in 2020, Shida versus Rosa was the sleeper match of that card and they over-delivered on what was not the best show. At AEW Revolution, Mizunami and Shida can do the same.

Storytelling is a big part of what makes All Elite Wrestling so enjoyable. All the major angles have a strong mix of wrestling action and storytelling to get people invested in what is going on. For Joshi wrestling fans, the investment in Hikaru Shida versus Ryo Mizunami is there and these two women are going to tear the house down when they step into the ring.