AEW: Riho Dealing with Visa Issue & Unsure of AEW Return, Next Week’s Rampage Show Preempted to Saturday Date, Matt Hardy AEW Update

Riho Currently in Process of Getting New Visa & Unsure of AEW Return Date

Riho announced on Instagram on Friday that she recently returned to Japan and is currently in the process of renewing her work visa for the United States. Riho also stated that she is currently not sure when she will be able to make her return to AEW.

“I am currently in Japan for renew my VISA. I don’t know when I will return to AEW. Please stay healthy and enjoy your life until then.”

Riho gives an update on her status pic.twitter.com/1vTXRL4DzS

— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) April 13, 2024

Riho most recently appeared and wrestled for AEW at their Dynamite Big Business show on March 13th in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Next Week’s AEW Rampage Show Preempted to Saturday Date & To Air as Live Show

During Friday’s taped AEW Rampage show, AEW commentator Excalibur announced that next week’s Rampage show will be airing on a special Saturday, April 20th date and as a live show following that night’s Collision show in Peoria, Illinois.

The reason for the preemption is due to TNT’s coverage and commitments with the 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament on Friday, April 19th.

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Matt Hardy AEW Status Update

As noted before, Matt Hardy’s contract with AEW expired at the end of this past March and is currently a free agent.

A recent episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast featured co-host Hardy providing an update of his current status with AEW and talks for a potential new contract.

“Sunday night going into Monday morning at midnight, that is when my contract expired. So yes, I am a free agent right now. Just negotiating, talking, I have interacted with everyone. I’m still interacting with AEW and that’s where we’re at right now. Whenever my deal ended up running out, that allowed me the opportunity to negotiate and speak to everyone available, really weigh my options. That’s what I’m doing right now.

If you’re an indie promoter and you’re listening to this, I have gotten so many texts and emails and stuff from independent promoters and whatnot. I’m going to hold off on that for a little bit. I’m trying to figure out what I’m doing in the big scheme of things and then I’ll go from there. I’m working on things. If you don’t hear back from me, don’t take it personally, because I’m very overwhelmed with all the people who have reached out and requests, especially indie promoters, but I’m working to get back to everybody as much as possible and I’m figuring out what I’m going to be doing. I’m in no rush to do it. I’m also going to say that I want to make sure I go to the best place possible. I don’t want to make a quick decision. I want to make sure that I’m doing the right thing for me long term. So that’s where I’m at.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com