Kris Statlander, known for her time as AEW Women’s World Champion, recently opened up about some of the most painful injuries she has sustained during her wrestling career, highlighting the risks performers face in the ring. In an interview with TMZ’s Inside The Ring, she recounted a terrifying incident from her independent wrestling days and a frightening moment at AEW WrestleDream involving a choke submission.
Statlander described the toughest impact she endured as not coming from a high-profile match on television but from a botched powerbomb on the independents. Intended to land on the apron, the move went wrong when the person executing it lost balance, causing Statlander to hit her head first on a hardwood floor. Despite the serious blow, she continued wrestling for another 15 minutes afterward.
Recall of a Painful Fall on the Independent Circuit
Reflecting on that incident, Statlander explained,
“Hardest bump, I wouldn’t say it’s the bed of nails, which is probably what everybody’s thinking. There was one time on the independents I took like a powerbomb that was supposed to be onto the apron, but the person lost their balance and I kind of went head first onto the hardwood floor. That one was very painful, and then I had to do like 15 more minutes of wrestling after that.”
?Kris Statlander, AEW Wrestler
This moment stands out because it happened outside the spotlight of AEW’s televised events, yet the injury was severe enough to test her endurance and pain tolerance in the ring. The reference to the “bed of nails” points to an earlier painful moment during AEW’s first Women’s Blood and Guts match, where Marina Shafir forced Statlander into a nail-studded surface in a dramatic sequence.
Passing Out During Title Defense Against Toni Storm
At AEW WrestleDream, Statlander experienced another alarming injury while defending her AEW Women’s Championship against Toni Storm. During the closing stages of the match, Storm applied her signature TCM Chickenwing submission hold. Statlander actually lost consciousness briefly but managed to recover quickly enough to finish and win the match.
She recalled the experience, saying,
“Middle of the match, actually it was towards the end, Toni, she puts me in her chicken wing submission. It’s right after I beat her for the title, so she’s obviously trying to win it back. I passed out for real in the middle of my match, but then I came back to right away. It was weird if you’ve never been you know choked out before. It was a weird almost like you’re falling asleep, but you’re kind of aware of everything. Then I came back to and everything kind of slowly came back like a reverse fade to black basically. And then I was like, alright, let’s go, I can’t be in here anymore.”
?Kris Statlander, AEW Wrestler
The hold’s physiological effect involves restricting blood flow to the brain, which can cause a rapid loss of consciousness. Statlander’s description matches typical reactions to properly executed blood chokes seen in combat sports and wrestling. Despite the risk, she forced a rope break and retained her title, demonstrating her resilience.
Overview of Statlander’s Championship Journey
Kris Statlander initially claimed the AEW Women’s World Championship in a four-way match at the All Out pay-per-view event. Her reign came to an end during a Strap Match on AEW Dynamite when Thekla defeated her. These moments underscore the physical and competitive challenges Statlander has faced throughout her AEW tenure.
The Physical Realities Behind Professional Wrestling
Though professional wrestling involves choreography and rehearsed sequences, genuine physical danger remains ever-present. Wrestlers like Statlander expose the delicate balance performers navigate between scripted entertainment and unpredictable accidents. Her recent revelations highlight the toll taken by injuries and real physiological responses sustained in the ring.
This insight into Statlander’s experiences with AEW injuries serves as a reminder of the toughness required and the ongoing risks athletes accept every time they compete. Fans and industry insiders alike can appreciate the courage and dedication behind each match and the unspoken sacrifices made to entertain audiences worldwide.
