AEW Women’s Champion Kris Statlander shared that she actually passed out during her match against Toni Storm at WrestleDream 2025 while defending her title. In a recent discussion on TMZ Inside The Ring, Statlander opened up about her history with head injuries and described the moment when a submission hold left her unconscious in the ring.
Details of the Submission Hold That Led to Passing Out
During the intense singles match, Toni Storm applied her chicken wing submission on Statlander, who explained how the move caused her to lose consciousness briefly. This happened shortly after Statlander had defeated Storm for the championship, with Storm attempting to reclaim the title.
Toni, she puts me in her chicken wing submission. And you know, it’s right after I beat her for the title, so she’s obviously trying to win it back. And I passed out for real in the middle of my match, and but then I came back to right away,
Statlander said. Referencing the moment, she expressed how the experience was alarming but asserted her quick return to focus.
Experiencing a “Reverse Fade to Black” Before Rallying to Win
Statlander explained that being choked out felt unusual, almost like falling asleep while still partly aware of her surroundings. She described regaining consciousness as a gradual process, similar to a reverse fade to black on a screen, before gathering strength to finish the fight and secure her victory.
It was weird, if you’ve never been, you know, choked out before, it was like a weird, almost like you’re falling asleep, but you’re kind of aware of everything. And then I came back to and everything’s like, kind of slowly came back, like a reverse fade to black, basically,
she explained.
And then I was like, ‘Alright, let’s go. I can’t be in here anymore.’ You know what, I won the match.
Significance of the Incident for Statlander’s Career and Future Matches
This revelation highlights the physical risks Kris Statlander faces as AEW Women’s Champion, demonstrating her determination to persevere despite serious in-ring challenges. The incident at WrestleDream 2025 underscores the toll that intense wrestling matches can have on performers and raises awareness about safety in the sport. Statlander’s ability to recover quickly and retain her title could have a major impact on her confidence and reputation as she moves forward.
