Kris Statlander Defeats Thekla On AEW Dynamite In 5th Defense Of Women's World Title

Key Highlights

• However, the champion played to the crowd a little too long and Thekla got back into things with kicks and stomps as the match entered the commercial break.
• During the break, it was all Thekla as she whipped Statlander all over the ringside area, continuing to wear the champion down once the action returned to the ring with a quick series of covers.
• The challenger then used a series of strikes and submissions to keep Statlander grounded. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementComing out of the break, Statlander got back into the bout, countering Thekla's inverted Tarantula by catapulting her face first into the turnbuckles.
• Statlander then hit a Michinoku Driver for a near fall, and just as Thekla looked to cut the champion off, she got hit with a vicious lariat as Statlander looked to go to the top.
• Thekla joined her on the top turnbuckle and hit a Spider Suplex from the top and followed it up with a crossbody to the outside, but when the action returned to the ring, Thekla couldn't make the cover after hitting a Spear due to exhaustion. A strike exchange led to Thekla spitting in Statlander's face, leading to the challenger locking in a Flying Octopus Hold and wrenching the arm back to set up a Curb Stomp.