Riho scored a big win in her return to All Elite Wrestling.
On the May 6 episode of AEW Rampage, Riho made her first appearance since AEW Battle of the Belts in January. She faced Yuka Sakazaki in a qualifying match for the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament. The two competitors delivered a hard-fought battle, but in the end, the former AEW Women’s World Champion emerged victorious.
Here’s how the match broke down, courtesy of our play-by-play coverage:
The two competitors feel each other out. The broadcast team notes that Riho looks different, as she is wearing an all-black outfit. Sakazaki and Riho are evenly matched at first, but the former AEW Women’s World Champion takes control with a dropkick and a diving crossbody. “Magic Girl” fires up with a cartwheel and a dropkick of her own. Sakazaki hits a cannonball senton outside the ring. She grounds Riho for a minute, but the former champion rallies. Sakazaki gets a two count with a Northern Lights bomb. Riho plants her opponent with a Dragon suplex. The two women battle on the top rope, and Sakazaki slams Riho face-first for a two count. They trade strikes, and Riho rolls Sakazaki up for the win.
And @riho_gtmv gets the win after an incredible match with @YukaSakazaki and qualifies for the #OwenHart Foundation Women's Tournament! Tune in to #AEWRampage on @tntdrama right now! pic.twitter.com/Okt7oECN6e
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 6, 2022
The broadcast team then revealed the bracket for the tournament. The matchups are as follows:
- Toni Storm vs. Jamie Hayter
- Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. vs, Joker
- Riho vs. Ruby Soho
- Red Velvet vs. Hikaru Shida
A first look at the brackets for the #OwenHart Foundation Women's Tournament, which starts next week at #AEWDynamite in Long Island, NY! Watch #AEWRampage on @tntdrama right now! pic.twitter.com/gF2PJJJihn
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 6, 2022
The tournament will begin on the May 11 episode of AEW Dynamite and conclude at AEW Double or Nothing.
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