Recent wrestling news has brought significant updates about Kris Statlander and other well-known athletes in the industry. Statlander, who currently competes in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), shared surprising details about her earlier involvement with WWE, shedding light on her initial experiences and a team name never used. These revelations come amid other notable changes in AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), impacting talents such as Lady Frost and Tomohiro Ishii.
Lady Frost Expected To Depart AEW After Contract Expires
Reports indicate that Lady Frost’s contract with AEW will conclude on April 1, 2026, after which she is anticipated to leave the company. Since joining AEW in 2023, Lady Frost, who previously had a stint with WWE in 2018, has primarily played a role supporting other wrestlers. Despite her consistent efforts, she has yet to secure a victory in AEW singles matches, though she has found success in Ring of Honor bouts. Her last appearance for AEW was in January 2026, facing Mina Shirakawa on Collision.
Speculation surrounds Frost’s future, with some anticipating a possible return to WWE. During her time in AEW, she clashed with Mariah May, now appearing in WWE’s NXT under the name Blake Monroe. This connection adds weight to the rumors of her WWE comeback.
CM Punk’s Cryptic Reference Sparks Rumors of Chris Jericho’s WWE Return
At the latest WWE Monday Night RAW episode, CM Punk confronted Roman Reigns in a tense match segment that ended the show. In the course of this encounter, Punk delivered a provocative line by saying,
“You’re gonna retire me? Well, congratulations, you just made the list”.
This particular phrase, “you just made the list,” led many fans to speculate that Punk was subtly hinting at Chris Jericho’s potential return to WWE. Jericho, a former AEW World Champion, has been absent from AEW television since April 2025. Discussions have been ongoing about his future, with reports mentioning that his AEW contract is currently frozen even though his name remains on the active roster.
The Untold Story of Kris Statlander’s WWE SmackDown Appearance
Before solidifying her presence in AEW, Kris Statlander briefly appeared on WWE’s SmackDown in 2019 under the ring name “Kristen.” During that episode, she teamed with Karissa—now known as Elektra Lopez—to challenge The IIconics for the Women’s Tag Team Championship. Statlander recently revealed that their team was originally assigned unique and quirky names that never made it to television.
On Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast, Statlander shared,
“Well, originally the team name was supposed to be the Brooklyn Pizza Connection, and we were supposed to be named Saucy and Cheesy…“I don’t know, we never got that far, but those were the options. Then it was the Brooklyn Belles, and then just used our first names. But I was like, that would have been iconic to have been either saucy or cheesy, and my only match there was a tag title match,”
Her humorous reflection highlights the creative directions WWE considered, contrasting with the more serious presentation she would later have in AEW as “The Galaxy’s Greatest Alien.”
Tomohiro Ishii Unable To Compete in NJPW Tournament Amid Injury
In a setback for New Japan Pro Wrestling and AEW fans alike, veteran wrestler Tomohiro Ishii has been forced to withdraw from the New Japan Cup tournament due to a severe neck injury. Ishii, a staple in NJPW and a frequent AEW competitor since 2021, was set to receive a first-round bye. However, NJPW officially announced his absence from the event tour and confirmed that Satoshi Kojima would replace Ishii to face the winner of the Ren Narita versus Taichi contest.
Prior to sustaining this injury, Ishii recently competed at NJPW’s The New Beginning event, where he lost the STRONG Openweight Championship to Oleg Boltin. The wrestling community expressed support for Ishii’s recovery following this unfortunate pause in his career.
Impact of Recent Updates on Wrestling Promotions and Fans
The disclosed information about Kris Statlander’s WWE beginnings offers new context for her evolution as a professional wrestler, illustrating the creative shifts athletes encounter in their careers. Lady Frost’s impending departure from AEW may influence ongoing roster dynamics, especially with her connections to WWE talent. CM Punk’s ambiguous comment has energized speculation surrounding Chris Jericho’s future, potentially signaling a significant roster movement between AEW and WWE. Meanwhile, Tomohiro Ishii’s injury highlights ongoing concerns about wrestler health and the effects on scheduled competitions.
Fans and analysts will be watching closely for how these developments unfold, as they could reshape the landscape of major wrestling organizations like AEW, WWE, and NJPW in the near term.
Cm punk said " you just made the list "
Could it be a hint ??#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/Jf67NvuQJx
— 🇺🇲✌ZortzWWE✌🇺🇲 (@ZortzGG) March 3, 2026
