Thekla bloodied Kris Statlander, spit in her face, and took her AEW Women’s title

I’m not mad at it. In fact, I dig it. I mean, I did kinda call for it. But I am pretty surprised that AEW ended Kris Statlander’s first AEW Women’s championship reign on Dynamite tonight (Feb. 11).

Statlander’s main event Strap Match with Thekla again proved she can have a really good-to-great match with anyone, and reminded us she’s one of the best wrestlers in the world right now — regardless of company or gender. That’s why I’m confident she’ll regain this title again (even as I hope for a Stat vs. IYO SKY match while they’re still in their primes). AEW made sure the Cosmic Killer looked dominant at various points throughout…

… and even after Thekla was alternately badass and creepy during her time in control, bloodying the champ and more as she reminded us why she’s been such a great addition to AEW’s women’s roster…

… had Stat on the cusp of victory before the Toxic Spider’s Triangle of Madness cronies got involved. The Sisters of Sin showed up when Thekla was in serious trouble after a strapping and a tombstone. Note how Excalibur tells us Statlander’s own sisters, Tag champs Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron, are already in Australia promoting their defense on Saturday’s Grand Slam show in Cameron’s home country. It’s right after Stat takes care of Julia Hart and Skye Blue with the strap, and right before she turns into the spear that precedes Thekla tying her wrists, curb stomping her, and pinning her to win the belt:

Dynamite was already well into an overrun, but that wasn’t why the new champ didn’t get a chance to celebrate. The newly formed tag team of Jamie Hayter and Alex Windsor, aka The Brawling Birds, ran in save Statlander in Babes of Wrath’s absence. Trios match upcoming? Too early to plan for a women’s Anarchy in the Arena?

Let us know if you were surprised by the title change and what you think is next for all involved in the comments below. And get coverage of everything on tonight’s Dynamite in our live blog here.