Kris Statlander Defends AEW Womens Blood & Guts Match

AEW Women's World Champion Kris Statlander has defended the promotion's first-ever women's Blood & Guts match, dismissing criticism over its violent and bloody elements as unfair and dismissive of female wrestlers' capabilities.

The match took place in November at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, pitting a team of Marina Shafir, Megan Bayne, Mercedes Moné, Julia Hart, Skye Blue and Thekla against Harley Cameron, Willow Nightingale, Jamie Hayter, Statlander, Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa. Billed as a hardcore stipulation event, it featured intense action including heavy bleeding among the participants, which drew backlash from some viewers concerned about the level of violence in women's matches. Statlander's team ultimately lost the bout, but the event marked a milestone in elevating the women's division with unprecedented brutality.

In a recent interview with Denise Salcedo on the Instinct Culture podcast, Statlander addressed the complaints head-on, emphasizing the inherent risks and passions of professional wrestling. "Well, first of all, women bleed once a month anyway. So, it's kind of an unfair criticism," she said. "We don't have a choice, really,...