Kinda what Swole was hinting about the horses that took AEW this far being discarded at the moment. Only Shida was one of the faces of the company and held the women's belt for a year, especially during the pandemic. Can't imagine the feeling of seeing the people you were beating head to head end up taking your spot, the morale probably sucks due to that.

The Twitter post cropped out the most interesting part.

Shida not impressed with being outed.

Sean Ross Sapp ain't playing:

Shida going to the doghouse now, AEW Dark forever. Cannot speak out against Khan in the open public or at all criticize AEW for how they help foreign talents come stateside. No idea what she was thinking, maybe language barrier or thinking this would only stay in Japan and underestimated the parasites of wrestling journalism. 

Got to be careful what you say in wrestling because it will be twisted into some juicy news. I don't think she meant she was unhappy just saying the struggles of the current world. It is hard traveling back and forth across countries now. Can't feature Joshi's well if they can't get to the show. So the division must change some and find a new focus.

Twitter isn’t loading for me right now but if you go look at Shida’s tweet from this morning she seems more upset that an article that was supposed to be behind a paywall got ripped and (badly) translated by Fightful. They even copied and pasted the translation from wreddit without any credit.

Her words were misconstrued and she ended her tweet basically saying things will always be hard when you’re on top, referring to AEW.

If there is really no support in getting her housed that is bad, really bad. Dangerous.

Feb 11, 2022 17:26:53 GMT Blindy said:

Shida going to the doghouse now, AEW Dark forever. Cannot speak out against Khan in the open public or at all criticize AEW for how they help foreign talents come stateside. No idea what she was thinking, maybe language barrier or thinking this would only stay in Japan and underestimated the parasites of wrestling journalism. 

Don't understand why she would be punished. She only told it like it is. She didn't say she hated AEW or thought it was crap. She spoke very diplomatically.

When I read her comments I interpreted it as she's not interested in coming back to AEW (I think she's in Japan now), which is understandable if what she says is true.

Feb 11, 2022 17:55:05 GMT Todd said:

If there is really no support in getting her housed that is bad, really bad. Dangerous.

Yes that is very true. I’m curious about that part of it.

Feb 11, 2022 18:12:30 GMT Emperor said:

Feb 11, 2022 17:26:53 GMT Blindy said:

Shida going to the doghouse now, AEW Dark forever. Cannot speak out against Khan in the open public or at all criticize AEW for how they help foreign talents come stateside. No idea what she was thinking, maybe language barrier or thinking this would only stay in Japan and underestimated the parasites of wrestling journalism. 

Don't understand why she would be punished. She only told it like it is. She didn't say she hated AEW or thought it was crap. She spoke very diplomatically.

When I read her comments I interpreted it as she's not interested in coming back to AEW (I think she's in Japan now), which is understandable if what she says is true.

Blindy has recently joined NATH45 on the Fuck AEW Bandwagon so take what he says with a grain of salt because all his recent posts are just clinging to any bit of bad press he can find and shitting on any ex-WWE name that dares step foot in an AEW ring.

Not anti-AEW, more so just not on the kool aid of any of these companies. That goes for WWE too.

I agree with wrestlers speaking out, just this doesn't do her any good to put it out in the open given Tony Khan does read the internet and has gone out on record of saying he follows the pulse of the IWC and all of the happenings and what not. Khan does not like anyone speaking out against him or how he does business as he showed in the past on twitter vs Yannick Ngakoue. 

Khan has lost the plot of AEW being an alternative and instead is hiring ex WWE talent and giving them full creative freedom and wrestlers like Swole, Stunt, Kiss and Shida are seeing that first hand.

All Ex-WWE Wrestling you mean?

I will openly challenge any notion that what AEW is doing is amazing. It's perfectly acceptable wrestling. AEW has its good points. But it's hardly groubdbreaking.

I mean, when only a combined 1.5 million people watch both Dynamite and Rampage, it would suggest, maybe it's not as awesome as this incredibly enthusiastic fanbase says it is. Or despite this. Rampage has haemorrhaged 50% of its peak viewership, because it's a haven for jobbers and random, nothing matches.

The booking is odd, it's uninspiring. It follows a 4 week build format and moves on to the next angle ( I wonder who Page will wrestle in a months time and in what gimmick match? ) and and overall it relies heavily on the old TNA trope of " what's so-and-so doing in the Tony-Zone?! " to build interest.

WWE is no better, but we openly acknowledge how awful it is.

Feb 11, 2022 19:18:10 GMT Blindy said:

I agree with wrestlers speaking out, just this doesn't do her any good to put it out in the open given Tony Khan does read the internet and has gone out on record of saying he follows the pulse of the IWC and all of the happenings and what not. Khan does not like anyone speaking out against him or how he does business as he showed in the past on twitter vs Yannick Ngakoue. 

You're talking like Tony Khan is some tyrannical overlord. His subjects must not say a word against him, lest they be thrown into the dungeons and tortured. That's not the impression I get at all. He appears to be very generous to his wrestlers, letting them work other companies, supporting rehab programs and so forth.

Also I'm not sure if it's been mentioned but that whole Shida post was translated from Japanese by some redditor. It's very easy for the meaning and intent of her words to change completely from one language to another.

“My feeling is that the hurdle for Japanese women’s pro wrestlers to come to AEW has become much higher.  The major cause is the Corona disaster which is not easy to finish. And it’s because the AEW Women’s Division has grown so much in the past year.

AEW is an organization that is constantly changing, and the players come and go very rapidly. TV and YouTube. If you’ve been following AEW on FITE TV or YouTube, you’ll know that the women’s division in particular has seen an increase in the number of young, cute, and dynamic players over the past year.

At the time of the launch, the women’s division of AEW relied heavily on Japanese female pro wrestlers, and that was one of the selling points of the division. But that was only for a while after the launch. Nowadays, being a Japanese female pro wrestler is not as much of an advantage as it used to be.

On the contrary, it has become more of a handicap in terms of language barrier, obtaining a work visa, and the Corona disaster.  I myself am no exception to this, and even as a member of the AEW since its inception and a former Women’s Champion, I am struggling to survive in the current AEW.

In AEW, there is a high degree of freedom for the players, but because of that, everything is their responsibility. For example, there is basically no assistance from the organization in finding a place to live, even if you are Japanese. That’s how it was for me.

So when I heard that Sakura-san was moving to the U.S., I was worried. I was worried. I’ve been studying English since I was a child, and I speak English better than most people think, but I still had a lot of trouble. Sakura-san, on the other hand, was at a level where even daily conversation was questionable.

Even so, she found a room on her own and is desperately trying to seize the opportunity at AEW. But even though she came to America with such determination, she was not given a chance to participate in the TV matches. There is a fierce battle to get a chance to compete before you can show off your skills in a match. That is what AEW is today.

AEW is an organization that is always pursuing new possibilities, and I don’t think that Japanese women’s wrestling has disappeared from that list of options.  Once Corona settles down, there will be a day when AEW and Japanese women’s wrestling can interact in a new way. That being said, I would like to take this opportunity to say that even if we are able to sign a contract, it’s just the start.”

Edot:  Nevermind...

Not sure why people are blowing up about this.  She is basically talking about culture shock of moving to a country where you barely speak the language, during a national pandemic where people suddenly fear asians.  Can read into this as OMG ASIAN GIRLS GOT SCREWED, but read more like she is struggling a lot outside of the ring.

Feb 11, 2022 23:16:16 GMT c said:

So confused as to why some of this is in the third person...

Probably the crappy translation done by reddit

Misread Sakura-san not realizing it was Emi Sakura.

I do like how if you only report half of what she said it takes on a totally different feeling, which is what most are doing.

But let's face it, if AEW wants new faces like Moon, some girls need to be cut. And many of those girls will be the Joshi girls.  And frankly when covid settles you know damn well Mako Itoh is on the top of the signing list from Japan.  The fallen idol can be a massive star in the US.  IMO she will be bigger than Asuka.  She is amazing in the ring and hilarious on social media.  

Feb 11, 2022 21:27:27 GMT Emperor said:

Feb 11, 2022 19:18:10 GMT Blindy said:

I agree with wrestlers speaking out, just this doesn't do her any good to put it out in the open given Tony Khan does read the internet and has gone out on record of saying he follows the pulse of the IWC and all of the happenings and what not. Khan does not like anyone speaking out against him or how he does business as he showed in the past on twitter vs Yannick Ngakoue. 

You're talking like Tony Khan is some tyrannical overlord. His subjects must not say a word against him, lest they be thrown into the dungeons and tortured. That's not the impression I get at all. He appears to be very generous to his wrestlers, letting them work other companies, supporting rehab programs and so forth.

Also I'm not sure if it's been mentioned but that whole Shida post was translated from Japanese by some redditor. It's very easy for the meaning and intent of her words to change completely from one language to another.

It's not completely baseless, we've seen how TK has reacted to the slightest bit of criticism even from talent outside of wrestling.

Tony's three major weaknesses are using social media too much, not taking racism and trying to be friends with the talent. A lot of people are signed likely because Tony does just not want to fire them or say no. For AEW to work though he needs to start being professional, use a hype man, and make AEW more of a revolving door. You come in for 3 to 6 months, and if you hit, you stay. If not, then you go.

That said, everything I am seeing is looking like people twisting Shida into saying something is not. She does not speak English natively, and from what I see is yeah she wants to work more, but was happy to get to be around everyone and do what she has done. And it was far harder than they thought it would be to live in a country where she does not speak the language well. But she would love to keep going if they will have her and let people see what Joshi is about. People trying to make this into another Big Swole rant and that is so not want it is.

But whether or not she resigns, and this should not really be a question for the former champ, even if she is not in AEW anymore, she returns to Japan as a huge name and both of the women's feds will want her. Not like she will lack for work at all.

Emi Sakura on the other hand, while I love her so much, I just cannot see them resigning. Same for Riho. Shida I would give more time because she was champ and delivered when she had to. The other girls, well, neither are better than AQA or Ember Moon who still likely is coming in the US. Both are great but just did not click here. Time to let some people go. Even Elevation is getting crowded.

The Joshi experiment failed as the style clash is just so noticable. Shida finally learned work the US style, but took almost a year. Unless they can come in day one and deliver like Maki Itoh did, there is just no room now with all the talent Tony has been signing.


Also do find it weird people are pushing the diversity angle when two black workers just signed, and had great debuts. Lee damn near killed a man, and AQA hit the extremely rare female shooting star press on national TV and looked fucking amazing doing it. She also lost to the black champion who had been dominating anyone who faces her and IIRC remains undefeated.

Feb 12, 2022 4:16:56 GMT NATH45 said:

Beats working for a living.

Matt Hardy had a great story of how in the elimination chamber matches if you were not the guy winning your single goal was to get eliminated as fast as possible and they bet backstage for order of elimination in the era before the writers wrote out the entire match.

She gets paid the same rate to sit in catering as she does to wrestle.  Catering you are less likely to catch an injury.  Being in the back a lot also lets you talk with the agents and crew and get a better understand of the overall product.  And for her, she can work that English.  Language will always be a barrier in the US.

Feb 12, 2022 8:58:29 GMT c said:

She gets paid the same rate to sit in catering as she does to wrestle.  Catering you are less likely to catch an injury.

Ok Vince. :lol: Seriously though, AEW does something WWE have been killed over, like keeping people in catering and not using them, and look how an AEW stan spins it. :lol: I wonder what c had to say about Toni Storm being left in catering.

Also if Maki Itoh becomes a bigger star than Asuka, I’ll eat my hat.

I'd place a bet, if Liv Morgan sarcastically tweeted how much she enjoys sitting in catering and not working, you'd be campaigning for a regime change in WWE c

I mean she is not even in the country right now. She went back to Japan and is not expected to return to AEW before the decision on her contract is made. Not like she is sitting in catering now. And she was working weekly before this match.  She is doing Japanese dates now.

Feb 12, 2022 4:26:50 GMT Big Pete said:

Feb 11, 2022 21:27:27 GMT Emperor said:

You're talking like Tony Khan is some tyrannical overlord. His subjects must not say a word against him, lest they be thrown into the dungeons and tortured. That's not the impression I get at all. He appears to be very generous to his wrestlers, letting them work other companies, supporting rehab programs and so forth.

Also I'm not sure if it's been mentioned but that whole Shida post was translated from Japanese by some redditor. It's very easy for the meaning and intent of her words to change completely from one language to another.

It's not completely baseless, we've seen how TK has reacted to the slightest bit of criticism even from talent outside of wrestling.

Social media bickering is one thing, but has he ever punished talent for posting something he doesn't like on social media?

Feb 12, 2022 9:57:19 GMT Emperor said:

Feb 12, 2022 4:26:50 GMT Big Pete said:

It's not completely baseless, we've seen how TK has reacted to the slightest bit of criticism even from talent outside of wrestling.

Social media bickering is one thing, but has he ever punished talent for posting something he doesn't like on social media?

Brian Cage's wife was critical of the company, we haven't seen Cage ever since.

Otherwise not many have put it to the test and why should they? Easy money even if it means sitting at catering.

I don't think TK is a tyrannical overlord either. He's more like Richard Hendricks from Silicon Valley. A dweeb who is prone to throwing tantrums.

Feb 11, 2022 21:27:27 GMT Emperor said:

Feb 11, 2022 19:18:10 GMT Blindy said:

I agree with wrestlers speaking out, just this doesn't do her any good to put it out in the open given Tony Khan does read the internet and has gone out on record of saying he follows the pulse of the IWC and all of the happenings and what not. Khan does not like anyone speaking out against him or how he does business as he showed in the past on twitter vs Yannick Ngakoue. 

You're talking like Tony Khan is some tyrannical overlord. His subjects must not say a word against him, lest they be thrown into the dungeons and tortured. That's not the impression I get at all. He appears to be very generous to his wrestlers, letting them work other companies, supporting rehab programs and so forth.

Also I'm not sure if it's been mentioned but that whole Shida post was translated from Japanese by some redditor. It's very easy for the meaning and intent of her words to change completely from one language to another.

They are afraid to in fear they burn bridges with them or other promotions who are in cohoots with AEW. Look at Eric Bischoff, he mentions AEW needs to stop taking potshots at WWE with the precious TV time that they have and Khan goes nuclear and criticizes Bischoff's 90's run with WCW. 

He also banned Tino Sabbatelli from AEW for spilling the beans about the same guy Tony Khan dislikes, Eric Bischoff. Why even care enough if you detest Bischoff? 

The wrestlers he lends he makes sure to let people know how big of a deal it is, he is all about gratification and acknowledgement from the fans. He isn't doing this out of the kindness of his heart, he does this to increase his fan popularity. Football fans dressed up as clowns in the final home regular season game to try and get the GM out and to prove a point to both Tony and his dad and they ended up keeping the same GM(Baalke) and hire a coach that the fanbase didn't initially want. 

Feb 12, 2022 11:52:25 GMT Big Pete said:

Feb 12, 2022 9:57:19 GMT Emperor said:

Social media bickering is one thing, but has he ever punished talent for posting something he doesn't like on social media?

Brian Cage's wife was critical of the company, we haven't seen Cage ever since.

Otherwise not many have put it to the test and why should they? Easy money even if it means sitting at catering.

They also had Excalibur and Taz(Cage's former manager) take pot shots on AEW Dark on him as well. 



"Everything goes through me. Everything goes through me backstage"- Tony Khan. He also suspended Max Caster for the Simon Biles rap not too long ago but MJF can fatshame fans and it's cool "Because it's MJF, he's a cocky douchebag".