10 Wrestlers Who Overdelivered In 2023
3. Kris Statlander
The booking of AEW’s women’s division has been spotty - often downright disinterested - from the jump, and 2023 has been no exception. A particular bright spot, though, has been the return of Kris Statlander, whose snatching of the TBS Title from Jade Cargill (under bizarrely heelish circumstances, but there you go) has allowed for many of the division’s best matches in the past year.
Like her pal Freshly Squeezed, Statlander’s workhorse credentials have been established during her run with the midcard belt. Every time she showed up, she showed out, bringing out the very best in Britt Baker (who had her finest match in ages) and helping to establish rising stars like Skye Blue and especially Julia Hart.
With all due respect to the undeniable star power of Cargill, this was exactly what the TBS title needed - a holder who could showcase it in diverse, well worked matches on a regular basis.
Most importantly, Statlander dropped the strap without taking the pin. It would be surprising were she not one of the next up for the roster’s main belt.