August 26th 2023.
AEW star Hikari Shida is set to defend her Women's Championship title at Wembley Stadium this Sunday. It's a special occasion for the 35-year-old Japanese star, as the United Kingdom has played an integral part in her life.
"The UK is my first foreign country I wrestled in," Shida said, adding that it was "12 years ago." She went on to say that "the UK is a special country" for her.
So why did Shida first come to the UK? It turns out it was all for the love of Harry Potter. "I started learning English because I wanted to come to the UK," Shida said, noting that she was the same age as Harry Potter when she started reading the books and watching the films.
But it's not just Harry Potter that's helped her in her life. Shida is also a huge fan of the BBC's Sherlock adaptation, and has taken influence from Benedict Cumberbatch in her own life. "I practice talking English like... I can talk English, but not like... it's different on TV," she said.
She went on to explain that she practices with Cumberbatch's movies, "talking the same lines, the same timing" to help her learn how to act in English.
When it comes to this Sunday's show, Shida is excited to be in the ring with a fantastic mix of talent, including returning hero Saraya, former champion Britt Baker, and Toni Storm.
"I think this is the biggest show for all Joshi wrestlers in history," Shida said. She went on to explain that it's a momentous occasion for Japanese wrestlers around the world, and that she's proud to "show the UK fans the moment [she] share[s] the biggest history again."
AEW All In London comes to Wembley Stadium this Sunday at 6pm. Click here for the remaining tickets, or tune in via Fite TV.
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