AEW star Hikari Shida learned to speak English in a very interesting way (Picture: Getty Images/AEW)
Hikari Shida is excited to defend her AEW Women’s Championship at Wembley Stadium after the UK has played such a vital role in her life.
The 35-year-old Japanese star will put her title on the line against Britt Baker, former WWE star Saraya (Paige) and Toni Storm at AEW All In London on Sunday night (August 27), having first learned to speak English to help her come to the UK over a decade ago.
She exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘Actually, the UK is my first place I wrestled in a foreign country! [laughs] It was like… 12 years ago! It’s crazy! It sounds like a movie or something, you know?!
‘I’ve come so far, but I’m so glad! For me, the UK is a special country. Actually, I started learning English because I wanted to come to the UK.’
While Shida has made her name as one of the best wrestlers in the world, it wasn’t actually that world that drew her to the UK.
‘It was Harry Potter,’ she laughed. ‘When I was 11 or 12, the same age as Harry Potter – that’s why I started to learn English! Of course, I read the books and I’d watch the movies with English audio and English subtitles, that’s how I learnt!’
Shida learned to speak English through the Harry Potter books and films (Picture: Publicity picture)
She’s also a huge Sherlock fan, and still learns a lot from Benedict Cumberbatch (left) (Picture: Colin Hutton/BBC Worldwide)
She’s still a big fan now, and when we put her on the spot she decided that Goblet of Fire is her favourite of the series, while she also takes a lot of influence from Benedict Cumberbatch.
Shida – who was planning to head to the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London once our interview was done – is a massive fan of the BBC’s Sherlock adaptation, and the leading man has helped her in her own life.
‘I practice talking English like… I can talk English, but not like… it’s different on TV,’ she said, explaining that how she breathes and uses her voice is ‘so different’ compared to when she’s speaking Japanese.
Hikaru Shida is defending her women’s title at Wembley Stadium (Picture: AEW/Lee South)
She added: ‘So, I practice with Benedict Cumberbatch’s movies, and I talk with him the same lines, the same timing. That’s how I learn acting in English – it’s so different!’
When it comes to this weekend, Shida is excited to be in there with a fantastic mix of talent all vying for her title, including returning hero Saraya, who plays a villain on screen but will likely have the support of her fellow Brits.
‘I know how fans cheering give us the power. I felt the night I got this belt,’ she admitted. ‘I can say I’m happy for her. But I am going to kick her ass!’
Shida sees the show as a landmark for herself and Joshi wrestlers as a whole (Picture: AEW)
Saraya is a ‘mystery’ for her as they’re yet to lock horns, but Shida knows Toni well and she’s expecting ‘hard hitting’ action from someone who really knows the Japanese Joshi style.
Meanwhile, she has plenty of history with former champion Britt Baker, and she’s glad to see her fellow AEW original getting to share the spotlight under the Wembley arch.
‘I’m so glad Britt Baker is in this match, because we shared so much history, and I think me and Britt have made the women’s division,’ she smiled. ‘I’m proud to show the UK fans the moment we share the biggest history again.’
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As well as that shared pride, Shida sees her championship match in front of 80,000 fans as a landmark for Japanese wrestlers around the world.
‘I think this is the biggest show for all Joshi wrestlers in history,’ she said. ‘I feel, finally, I make history in wrestling, in my career. I know this is the moment, this is the greatest thing in my life.’
AEW All In London comes to Wembley Stadium on Sunday (August 27) at 6pm. Click here for the remaining tickets, or tune in via Fite TV.
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The AEW Women’s Champion has a lot of history in the UK.