Former Champion Says Women “Don’t Have a Choice” About Bleeding
Kris Statlander has issued a fiery response to criticism surrounding the violence in the first-ever women’s Blood & Guts match from 2025. Speaking to Denise Salcedo, the AEW Women’s World Champion dismissed complaints that the match was too gratuitous, arguing that female wrestlers have just as much right to engage in hardcore wrestling as their male counterparts.
“Well, first of all, women bleed once a month anyway. So, it’s kind of an unfair criticism… to choose where we get to bleed from for once, I think that is more power to the girlies,” Statlander stated. She emphasized that the violence was advertised in the match name itself and suggested that those who didn’t like it simply didn’t have to watch.
“We have this sick desire to be disgusting and dangerous as well… We haven’t had the chance to let that rage out. So, obviously, we’re going to go overboard and mutilate ourselves because we’re psychos,” she added. The historic bout saw Statlander team with Jamie Hayter, Willow Nightingale, and others against a squad led by Mercedes Mone and The Triangle of Madness.
