The former AEW Women’s World Champion reflects on her return.
After being away since August 2022, due to a back injury that forced her to relinquish the AEW Women’s Championship, Thunder Rosa made her return to the company during this past Saturday’s episode of Collision, saving Abadon from an attack by Julia Hart and Skye Blue.
Appearing on Busted Open Radio, Rosa had the chance to reflect on her AEW return, noting that she’s been training for her comeback since August.
“500 days to be away from the ring. I never really left. I was always on people’s minds. I was always trending on Twitter. I was always here (on Busted Open) surrounded by people that helped me, by people that love me like [Mark Henry], my friends, my family, my community. I never really left. I was on Busted Open talking about the women’s division. I was on commentary. I’ve been working commentary since February. I’ve been working tirelessly representing the women’s division as much as I could in Mexico and America talking to athletes. I’ve been doing a lot that is not necessarily being in the ring. That was my next step, to come back in the ring. It was very important. It was important to represent my people and show that it’s okay to have setbacks and to fight back and get back in there. I’ve been training since August in the ring, little by little. It’s a progression. You can see the change in my body and my mobility. It was difficult to come back because I was scared, I’m not going to lie, I was scared because you’re coming from a back injury that didn’t allow you to jump and run, and it was some things you had to re-learn.”
-Thunder Rosa
When discussing her return, Rosa revealed that she was nervous about how she’d be perceived by the AEW fans, alongside mixing it up with the host of new stars that have risen in her absence.
“I was a little worried about botching that jump. I was a little nervous because it’s been 500 days and so much has happened during that time. There has been so much change in the women’s division. The new people, the new stars have risen. I was in the background for a long time. It was hard, in the beginning, to take that step. I learned it was important to take that role and learn about everyone in the ring, so when it became my moment, people were going to know when I was coming back. People kept asking, ‘When are you coming back?’ I said, ‘Everyone is going to know when I come back.’ Even though I looked different and came in without face paint and a full set of hair. It took me 500 days to recuperate, to find myself as a person, to physically, mentally, and spiritually heal. To face the fears of rejection. That people may reject me or boo me. Even though I was afraid and had doubts, I never doubted myself that I still have it, and I stopped listening to people who don’t like me and don’t want me to be successful.”
-Thunder Rosa
Ahead of her in-ring return, Rosa revealed that she still wants to be seen as one of the best wrestlers in the world, adding that she’s had to reinvent herself during her absence.
“Even though I was in pain, I have very strong conviction to be one of the best wrestlers when I return, in the whole world. I will give my everything every time I step into the ring. It was a process where I had to redefine and reconstruct myself, and really find that new person that is Thunder Rosa. She was gone for so long. She died the last match I had when I defended the title. That was the last time that Thunder Rosa was alive. She went through a journey in the valleys of death. I could not find Thunder Rosa. In the last couple of months, she started resurfacing, and she started resurfacing in a different way,”
-Thunder Rosa
Rosa will make her return to in-ring action on the December 23 episode of AEW Collision when she teams with Abadon to face Julia Hart & Skye Blue.
The bout will mark Rosa’s first match since the August 10, 2022, taping of AEW Dark: Elevation.
H/T to Fightful for the transcription.
