AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander has confronted criticism surrounding the inaugural women’s Blood & Guts match held in 2025, emphasizing the match’s significance for the women’s roster. The brutal and bloody contest gained widespread attention for its intensity but also sparked debate over the level of violence involved.
Speaking with journalist Denise Salcedo, Statlander challenged detractors by pointing out biological realities and wrestler agency.
“Well, first of all, women bleed once a month anyway. So, it’s kind of an unfair criticism. We don’t have a choice, really, so to choose where we get to bleed from for once, I think that is more power to the girlies,”
she said. She added that viewers who dislike the match’s violence have the option not to watch, highlighting that the event’s nature is clearly presented in its title.
Fierce Resolve Behind the Match’s Raw Intensity
Statlander further defended the women’s willingness to push physical limits in AEW, connecting the match’s ferocity to their shared passion for wrestling.
“You don’t have to watch it if you don’t like it. It’s quite literally advertised in the name Blood and Guts. You should expect to see some tomfoolery to say the least. As much as people might like seeing the guys do it, we are wrestlers, too,”
she stated.
She elaborated on the wrestlers’ mindset during this historic event:
“We have this sick desire to be disgusting and dangerous as well. This was the first one ever. We haven’t had the chance to let that rage out. So, obviously, we’re going to go overboard and mutilate ourselves because we’re psychos and we all love to be that. That’s why we are where we are, and that’s why we are at AEW. Where the best wrestle and where the best bleed, also.”
?Kris Statlander, AEW Women’s World Champion
Details of the Landmark Match and Its Participants
The groundbreaking women’s Blood & Guts match took place in November 2025 and featured several key talents. Marina Shafir, Megan Bayne, Mercedes Mone, and the Triangle Of Madness trio—Julia Hart, Skye Blue, and Thekla—faced off against the Babes Of Wrath faction, which included Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale, alongside Jamie Hayter, Kris Statlander, and the Timeless Love Bombs team of Mina Shirakawa and Toni Storm.
This event marked a turning point by elevating the women’s division with its unprecedented level of intensity and physical storytelling, setting a new standard within AEW’s competitive landscape.
Impact on AEW’s Women’s Division and Future Prospects
The first women’s Blood & Guts match represents a milestone for AEW by showcasing the wrestlers’ toughness and willingness to deliver extreme matches typically seen in men’s divisions. Statlander’s response to criticism reinforces the determination of female athletes to claim equal footing in high-risk wrestling environments. Going forward, this match has opened doors for further intense competition and narratives within AEW’s women’s roster, likely influencing upcoming events and fan expectations.
