Just days after Kris Statlander captured the AEW Women’s World Championship at All Out, the women’s division has been the center of discussion. With a new champion, fans awaited her first challenger. That question has been answered: AEW President Tony Khan has officially announced Statlander’s first title defense.
On Tuesday, Khan confirmed via social media that Statlander will defend her title against Mina Shirakawa. The match is set for this week’s AEW Dynamite at the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, PA.
Khan explained the booking in his post: “After her All Out World Title win, Statlander said she wants be a fighting champ! On a winning streak + aiming to avenge Toni, Mina’s stepped up! Stat vs Mina TOMORROW!”
The defense comes quickly after Statlander’s milestone victory on September 20 at All Out, where she pinned Toni Storm in a chaotic four-way match also featuring former champion Jamie Hayter and Thekla.
The win made Statlander the first woman in AEW history to hold both the TBS Championship and the AEW Women’s World Championship. It also ended Storm’s fourth reign, which lasted 217 days and featured six successful defenses against opponents including Mercedes Moné and ROH Women’s World Champion Athena.