On the February 11 edition of AEW Dynamite, Thekla defeated Kris Statlander in a Strap Match to win the AEW Women’s World Championship.
Now that Statlander has been dethroned, it will be interesting to see how Thekla’s reign pans out and progresses over time.
It should also be intriguing to see who will be next in line for the AEW Women’s World Championship following Thekla’s run.
Here are eight potential next AEW Women’s World Champions after Thekla.
8. Kris Statlander
Back at AEW All Out 2025, Kris Statlander defeated Timeless Toni Storm, Thekla and Jamie Hayter to win the AEW Women’s World Championship.
Statlander would go on to have a successful five-month run with the gold with victories over a litany of challengers, including Storm, Hayter and Mercedes Moné.
While her run ended at the hands of Thekla, it does not seem impossible that Statlander will have another reign as the top champion in All Elite Wrestling.
After proving herself to be one of the best wrestlers in the entire women’s division, Statlander has more than earned another run with the gold at some point in the future.
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7. Jamie Hayter
When Thekla first arrived in All Elite Wrestling, she made a statement by laying out Jamie Hayter.
This led to Hayter defeating Thekla in their first singles match against one another at AEW WrestleDream in October of last year.
Since then, both women challenged for the AEW Women’s World Championship, but it was Thekla who got the job done against Kris Statlander in a Strap Match.
Despite creating a new tag team named The Brawling Birds with Alex Windsor, fans should not count out Hayter from being the one to beat Thekla once again to become a two-time AEW Women’s World Champion.
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6. Megan Bayne
Since debuting in All Elite Wrestling back in January 2025, Megan Bayne has seemed like a threat to become a champion sooner rather than later.
At AEW Grand Slam Australia, Bayne and Penelope Ford will challenge The Babes of Wrath for the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championships.
While she may come up short in Australia, Bayne has to be considered a favorite to win the AEW Women’s World Championship at some stage of her run with the company.
With her overwhelming size, power and presence, Bayne could be the individual who can overcome “The Toxic Spider” Thekla to hold the top prize in the AEW women’s division.
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5. Marina Shafir
Speaking of Megan Bayne, she also formed a formidable tag team with Marina Shafir called MegaProblems during the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship tournament.
Now that they have seemingly gone their separate ways, Shafir has been focused on Death Riders business and her feud with Timeless Toni Storm.
After doing battle with a former four-time AEW Women’s World Champion so much, Shafir might think she is ready to become a champion in her own right.
Having a top position in one of the most important factions in AEW, Shafir has the MMA background and intensity that might be enough to take down Thekla to become the new champion sometime soon.
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4. Timeless Toni Storm
The AEW Women’s World Championship has become synonymous with Timeless Toni Storm since her arrival in All Elite Wrestling.
Holding the record for most reigns and longest time with the title, Storm is someone who has given the title a legacy and lineage that the company can be proud of.
While she has been out of the title picture since her fourth reign ended, it feels like just a matter of time before Storm finds herself back in contention.
Storm challenging Thekla could be a tough test for the new champion that could lead to a title change and a fifth reign for “The Timeless One.”
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3. Athena
Back at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2025, Athena came up just short of capturing the AEW Women’s World Championship from Timeless Toni Storm.
Despite winning the Women’s Casino Gauntlet at AEW All In: Texas 2025, “The Fallen Goddess” just couldn’t get the job done in her first attempt in years at the top prize in the AEW women’s scene.
This should not be the only attempt that Athena gets at the gold, especially after her over three year reign as Ring of Honor Women’s World Champion.
Athena feels like someone who could overwhelm Thekla in a lot of ways due to her experience and underrated strength, and that could be enough to see her become the next champion.
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2. Willow Nightingale
On the December 31 New Year’s Smash of AEW Dynamite, Willow Nightingale defeated Mercedes Moné to win the TBS Championship.
With this victory, Nightingale made history by becoming the first woman to hold two AEW titles at one time.
Now that she is both the TBS and one half of the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions, there is only one title that has eluded Willow throughout her run in the company.
After seeing her best friend Kris Statlander ambushed and defeated by Thekla, it might be up to Willow Nightingale to dethrone “The Toxic Spider” and become a triple champion in AEW.
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1. Mercedes Moné
Mercedes Moné made history in 2025 when she became the first wrestler in North America to hold 13 titles at one time with championships from all over the world.
Setting records and making history, Moné also became the longest reigning TBS Champion with a 584-day reign.
After losing the title to Willow Nightingale at the end of 2025, “The CEO” decided to take some time off from All Elite Wrestling and promised to take more than titles when she came back.
Making her return and wanting the one title that has eluded her, Moné might be the perfect option to dethrone Thekla to finally get her hands on the AEW Women’s World Championship.
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