Thekla is still the top woman on AEW’s roster.
Thekla retained her AEW Women’s World Championship on Sunday night, taking down Kris Statlander in a best-two-out-of-three falls match at Revolution in Los Angeles, California.
An intricate closing sequence, including interference, a weapon, and a ref bump, allowed Thekla to score the win.
Referee Paul Turner was knocked out of the ring late in the match, kicking off the closing sequence. While down at ringside, Thekla took his belt to use as a weapon. However, Statlander took the belt from her and ended up being the one who got to use it as a weapon.
Statlander hit her Saturday Night Fever finisher on Thekla, but with Turner still out of the ring, she wasn’t able to get the pinfall. Shortly after this moment, Skye Blue and Julia Hart from the Sisters of Sin hit the ring for a run-in, but were taken out by Statlander.
Once Turner returned to the ring, he ripped his belt from Statlander’s hands. This distraction allowed Thekla to spear Statlander, then put her away with a pair of Curbstomps for her second fall in the match.
Thekla bent the rules of the match to earn her first fall earlier, clutching the bottom rope while rolling Statlander up for a pin attempt. Statlander tied the score up later on, reversing a legscissors submission into a Saturday Night Fever.
Sunday was the trilogy bout between Statlander and Thekla, who have been feuding since late January.
Statlander defended her title two months back against Thekla on an episode of Dynamite, winning in under 12 minutes. But antics from the Triangle of Madness caused Statlander to challenge Thekla to a second match, held under Strap Match rules, which Thekla won.
With two out of three falls rules in place this weekend, the winner would be able to say that they had not only beaten their rival twice, but scored three falls against them.
Thekla has defended her title twice since becoming champ earlier this year. She previously also took down Thunder Rosa on an episode of Dynamite earlier this month as part of the reign.
