Newly crowned AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander will not have to wait long for her first challenger, as she is set to defend her title for the first time on this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. In a social media post on Tuesday, September 23, AEW President Tony Khan announced that Statlander will face Mina Shirakawa with the championship on the line.
The announcement comes just days after Statlander’s shocking victory at the All Out pay-per-view, where she issued an open challenge to the entire women’s division. Statlander captured the AEW Women’s World Championship this past Saturday in a fatal four-way match, pinning the now-former champion, “Timeless” Toni Storm, in a surprising finish that also included Jamie Hayter and Thekla.
In his announcement, Tony Khan cited Shirakawa’s recent winning streak and wanting to avenge the loss of her friend and mentor, Toni Storm, as the reasons for her receiving the first title opportunity. The match will be a test for the new champion as she looks to solidify her reign at the top of the AEW women’s division.
Also announced for this week’s Dynamite is a six-man tag team match. The Don Callis Family contingent of Konosuke Takeshita, Hechicero, and Kazuchika Okada will take on The Conglomeration, consisting of Mark Briscoe, Hologram, and a mystery partner. The identity of the third member of The Conglomeration was strongly teased at the All Out pay-per-view to be the returning Orange Cassidy, who has been out of action with a shoulder injury since March.
Additionally, Tony Khan is scheduled to make an “important announcement” during the broadcast. For more on what that could be, click here.
For Kris Statlander, this first title defense is the culmination of a long and difficult journey. A homegrown AEW star, her career has been marked by two separate, year-long absences due to major knee injuries. After a successful return in 2023 where she captured the TBS Championship, she has now finally reached the top of the women’s division by winning the world title.
