“The Toxic Spider” has arrived in AEW.
STARDOM veteran Thekla made her long-awaited arrival to AEW on Wednesday’s episode of Dynamite, attacking former world champ Jamie Hayter during an in-ring segment.
Is that!? @Toxic_Thekla just leveled @jmehytr!
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on TBS & MAX pic.twitter.com/0pzfYRFyjx
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 29, 2025
While Hayter was out to address her Owen Hart Tournament Grand Final appearance from last weekend against Mercedes Moné, her microphone time was cut short after the lights inside the El Paso County Coliseum went out.
After Thekla’s graphics started to air on the venue’s big screen, she appeared in the ring to jump Hayter.
Thekla’s AEW debut has been teased for weeks through subtle on-screen hints during TV broadcasts. Small graphics featuring red spiders have been shown on episodes of AEW programming in recent weeks, using imagery that has been closely associated with Thekla in recent years.
Thekla has spent the majority of her career as part of Japan’s women’s wrestling scene. After first starting out with Ice Ribbon in 2019, Thekla moved over to STARDOM by 2022, beginning a run that would see her wrestle over 250 times and appear in numerous high-profile matches.
Her last match was in April, when she lost to Sayaka Kurara at STARDOM’s All-Star Grand Queendom card. She was written off the promotion’s programming shortly after the match by attacking STARDOM President Taro Okada, who subsequently fired her.
It was reported earlier this month that Thekla had inked a deal with AEW.
