At DOUBLE OR NOTHING 2023, Taya Valkyrie was on the cusp of being the one to knock Jade Cargill off her perch as TBS Champion, as well as end her 60-match unbeaten streak, but somehow the defending champion found a way to escape that fight with championship intact.
Then it all unraveled; “Smart” Mark Sterling had to run his mouth about Cargill taking on any challengers, even in that moment right after the bout with Taya, only to have Kris Statlander make a triumphant return to action to not only be the one to hand Jade her first “L”, but to also become the 2nd ever TBS Champion!
It was a wonderful night for Statlander who, after suffering through a grueling recovery from injury, achieved a moment that made all the hard work, the mental toll, and the physical rehab worth the struggle. But of course, given the nature of the moment and how it came right after Taya’s failed bid, some began to question the validity of Kris’ victory, Valkyrie herself primarily among those doubters.
It doesn’t matter to Taya that Statlander jumped straight into the fire as a defending champion, putting the belt on the line against Nyla Rose just a few days after DON ’23, subsequently defending it on both nights of the HOUSE RULES tour in Huntsville and Tupelo, and then again on DYNAMITE against Anna Jay A.S., all Valkyrie saw was Statlander overshadowing a moment that should’ve been hers. It is somewhat understandable, after all Taya failed twice in trying to dethrone Jade, while Statlander did it on her first shot, but Taya just sees it as a moment stolen from her.
So being the kind of champion she’s rapidly proven to be, Kris Statlander is game to give Taya the opportunity to take another stab at becoming TBS Champion this Wednesday night in Chicago at the Wintrust Arena! The last time Statlander fought inside this building was REVOLUTION 2020 when, while struggling with a nasty flu, she unsuccessfully challenged Nyla Rose for the AEW Women’s World Title. Will Taya Valkyrie be able to make it 0-2 in the Wintrust for Statlander, or will the defending champion make it five successful defenses in 25 days?