Thekla, who stunned Statlander to claim the championship earlier this month, credits her newfound confidence to her experiences in Japan over the past year or two. The 32-year-old Austrian discovered professional wrestling at age 19 when she stumbled upon a punk rock show and became captivated by the art form.
Drawing from her diverse creative background—including drawing comics, playing guitar, fashion, and photography—Thekla has crafted a unique wrestling persona that sets her apart on the AEW roster. 'I draw from everything,' she explains, noting that not growing up with traditional wrestling products gave her the freedom to start from scratch and combine her various artistic passions into her in-ring character.