Why Mina Shirakawa’s AEW Runs Haven’t Been Long

AEW has a lot of talent who can come in and out of the company, especially those from Japan. Tony Khan needs to work around other schedules, and Mina Shirakawa is no different.

Sean Ross Sapp noted on Fightful Select that Mina Shirakawa has the possibility of being around much longer than the very brief last appearance. They had to make that happen with the quickness since her visa was coming up. It would appear that has been rectified.

Mina Shirakawa’s appearances in All Elite Wrestling have seen notable gaps, with her storylines picking up whenever she can come back around. Shirakawa debuted in AEW on the April 10, 2024, episode of Dynamite, stepping in briefly to save Mariah May from an attack by Anna Jay. The moment was celebrated with a kiss and champagne, but Shirakawa’s presence on AEW television was short-lived.

Mina’s next significant AEW appearance came in early June, when AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm challenged her in a Stardom vignette for a title match at Forbidden Door. Shirakawa returned to accept on Dynamite on June 5, setting up the June 30 showdown. At Forbidden Door, Storm retained the title, and after the match, Storm, May, and Shirakawa made up in the ring with a three-way kiss. However, Shirakawa once again exited the picture shortly after.

Following this, Mariah May turned on Toni Storm and won the AEW Women’s World Championship. May wanted Mina Shirakawa to celebrate her title win, but Shirakawa did not reappear until Dynamite: Grand Slam on September 25, when she reluctantly joined May for a brief celebration.

We will have to see when she comes back, but at this point fans are certainly keeping up the hope that she will be back in the fold sooner than later.

How do you think Mina Shirakawa’s sporadic appearances impact her storyline in AEW, and what role could she play if given a more consistent presence? Let us know in the comments what you think.