However, we are excited to announce that Kris Statlander will face the winner at the #AEW Anniversary edition of Dynamite Wednesday, Jan 8th in Southaven, MS. Tickets for both shows can be found at https://t.co/5WsWwyDkwZ
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) December 27, 2019
Kris Statlander was set to challenge AEW Women’s Champion Riho for the title at next week’s AEW Dynamite Homecoming episode but that match has been delayed due to a previous commitment for the recently signed wrestler.
The company has since announced that Riho will now defend her title in a Fatal 4 Way against Britt Baker, Nyla Rose and Hikaru Shida in Jacksonville. Statlander will then go on to challenge the Champion for the title at the Dynamite Anniversary episode on January 8 from Southaven, MS, the Memphis area.
Rather than force Kris to choose between her title shot or keeping her word on a commitment she made before signing here, we’re allowing her to do both. The champion Riho will defend vs. #2 Britt/#3 Shida/#4 Nyla in a 4 way title match. The winner defends vs. #1 Kris on January 8
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) December 27, 2019
The previous commitment Statlander had agreed to is an indie date for Joey Ryan’s Bar Wrestling promotion in California. AEW President and CEO Tony Khan commented on the decision and said they are allowing Statlander to keep her earned the title shot and keep her word on the previous commitment.
Here is the updated line-up for the January 1 AEW Dynamite Homecoming show at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville:
- Taz makes a special appearance
- MJF appears
- Cody Rhodes vs. Darby Allin
- Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks vs. PAC & The Lucha Bros
- AEW Women’s World Championship match: Riho (c) vs Britt Baker vs Nyla Rose vs Hikaru Shida
- The Jon Moxley vs. AEW World Champion Chris Jericho feud continues
Losing @callmekrisstat would’ve been a big blow to us not only financially with travel and replacement costs but also quality of talent loss. Thank you to Kris for keeping your bookings next week with @beyondwrestling and with us and to @AEWrestling for caring about independents. https://t.co/gEJLLL7ZjJ
— Bar Wrestling (@BarWrestling) December 27, 2019
After a few months of teasing, AEW have confirmed the wrestlers’ win-loss records to determine contenders will be reset with the start of the new year, starting with the January 1st episode of AEW Dynamite. Career records will remain intact, and the annual records will be important when announcing the weekly AEW rankings.
When recently asked about he and Tony Khan’s vision on it, Cody stated, “When the year ends and AEW is in Jacksonville in January, that is when the plan to reset it,” Cody stated. “Tony is obsessed with numbers. He mentioned we’ll do a reset, but we’ll have your overall record on there. I’m thinking that’s a lot of numbers with their Twitter handle and their nickname. He has a point: your overall record will always be intact, but just to keep the top fives for women, tag teams and men’s singles, every year will reset.”
New 2020 annual records will begin on #AEWDynamite this Wednesday, January 1.
Career #AEW records will be cumulative, and the annual records will reset each calendar year.
The annual records will be increasingly important in the rankings as the new calendar year continues. pic.twitter.com/q8Pky5DZfT— All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) December 27, 2019
Feature image courtesy of AEW