“Wrestling always evolves and changes,” Kris Statlander continued. “And you kind of look to see how you can make yourself fit into where the product will be when you return. I think it was a lot more internal soul-searching that you learn about with an injury as opposed to just more moves or anything. You gotta start over and make sure that just you can still do what you used to do once you recover from an injury.”

Luckily for Statlander, she maneuvered her way back to AEW quite well. After nine months away from the action, she surprised fans with a dramatic return at AEW Double or Nothing where she dethroned Jade Cargill to become the new TBS Champion, and in the process, she also snapped Cargill’s undefeated streak. 

Statlander admitted she had some nerves heading into her match against Cargill, but after a moment of self-assurance, she burst through the curtain to accept Cargill’s open challenge. Since winning the TBS Championship, she has already had three successful title defenses against the likes of Nyla Rose, Anna Jay, and Lady Frost.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “Busted Open” with a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.