Kris Statlander has responded to criticism of her status as AEW Women’s World Champion following her title retention against Mercedes Mone.
Statlander became AEW Women’s World Champion at All Out in September, winning a four-way that also featured Thekla, Jamie Hayter and then-champion Toni Storm.
She has now successfully retained the title against Mina Shirakawa, Storm and Mone in singles matches, the most recent being against Mone at Full Gear last night.
However, this is Statlander’s first reign as World Champion and she hasn’t always been used at main event level, which has led to some questions about her status as being the top champion of the entire women’s division.
In a video released by AEW following her win against Mone, Statlander addressed this feedback, saying:
“I am your AEW Women’s World Champion. And yet, when I won this, everyone said, ‘Wow, Kris that’s so great, but you didn’t win it one-on-one so you should probably make sure that you actually deserve it.’
“So I went on and I beat Timeless Toni Storm one-on-one. But was that enough? Of course not.
“And then, Mercedes Mone comes out and challenges me. ‘You pull this off against the woman that’s beaten you twice, then you’ll really solidify yourself as a champion.’
“And I just did. And yet, I bet you all still don’t think it’s enough. So if my entire reign is my solidifying myself as a champion and proving myself worthy to all those who only believed in me when they thought that I didn’t have a chance, then so be it.
“So to every woman in AEW, or outside of AEW, or who will ever be in AEW, don’t say that I didn’t warn you.”
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