Kris Statlander Qualifies for AEW’s First-Ever Survival of the Fittest Match on Collision

Kris Statlander punched her ticket to a historic match on Saturday’s edition of AEW Collision, earning a spot in the first-ever Survival of the Fittest match in AEW history — a contest that will ultimately crown a new TBS Champion.

Statlander secured her place in the match by defeating Mina Shirakawa, picking up the win after countering a pinfall attempt. The victory adds Statlander to a growing field of competitors vying for the vacant title in what promises to be a landmark match in AEW women’s division history.

Statlander is no stranger to championship gold. The Galaxy’s Greatest Alien is a former AEW Women’s World Champion and a former TBS Champion in her own right, meaning a win in the Survival of the Fittest match would see her recapture a title she’s already held. That history gives her entry into the match an added layer of significance — she knows what it takes to carry that belt, and she’s clearly motivated to hold it again.

The Survival of the Fittest format is a new concept for AEW, and with the TBS Championship on the line as the prize, the promotion is positioning it as a major event in the women’s division. Shirakawa, meanwhile, came up short in her bid to qualify, leaving her path to the title through other means for now.

With Statlander now confirmed for the match, the Survival of the Fittest field continues to take shape, and the race for the TBS Championship is heating up.