Kris Statlander discusses transitioning out of alien persona, aware that some didn’t view it as world champion material

Photo Courtesy: All Elite Wrestling

The alien persona is one Statlander knows viewers were 50/50 on. 

Dating back to AEW Double or Nothing in May, Kris Statlander has been reigning as TBS Champion. Since capturing the title, Statlander has had a total of 15 defenses with the latest being against Willow Nightingale at Battle of the Belts VIII

Statlander spoke about her evolution as a character while chatting with D.S. Shin of Ring The Belle. She dove into her transition out of the alien persona. Statlander is aware that there were some who did not take it seriously and did not think it was a world champion material character. 

I know, I know. I feel like it’s a very 50/50 split with how people feel about that (alien persona). 

I get that (it went well with the athleticism I displayed). I felt like doing the alien thing, it gave people a better look into me as a person and it’s not to be like, oh, I’m an alien but I’m just — I know I’m a little bit of an awkward person, I’m a little bit different and sometimes the things that I do are unique and I felt like that was kind of just an easy way to show what I am as an easy, like, oh, yeah, alien, different, makes sense. I don’t know. I know some people, a lot of people didn’t take that seriously and they never thought that it would be world champion material and it might’ve been but I just felt like it was time for me to try and grow. Not just as a person, as a performer and just try something different. I mean, it did bring me to this. I don’t wanna say it was a mistake. Maybe it was time for something new. 

Statlander is currently engaged in a storyline with Willow Nightingale and Skye Blue. Both Blue and Nightingale have been misted by Julia Hart and they’ve been butting heads with one another since those instances occurred. 

If the quote in this article is used, please credit Ring The Belle with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcription.

About Andrew Thompson 8274 Articles
A Washington D.C. native and graduate of Norfolk State University, Andrew Thompson has been covering wrestling since 2017.