Riho will still get to defend her AEW Women's Championship on the next edition of AEW Dynamite, but it will no longer be against Kris Statlander.
AEW announced that, due to a prior commitment, Statlander won't compete on the January 1 episode of Dynamite and will not face Riho for the title. As a result, Riho will now defend her title in a four-way match against Nyla Rose, Britt Baker and Hikaru Shida.
Due to prior commitments, Kris Statlander will not be in Jacksonville to face Riho for the #AEW Women’s World Championship on Wed, Jan 1st.
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) December 27, 2019
Riho will still defend her championship in a 4 way match w/ Nyla Rose, Britt Baker & Hikaru Shida pic.twitter.com/3UVp5TfoZD
Statlander had earned a shot for the title on the December 18 episode of Dynamite with a win over Baker. It should be noted that Statlander is booked for a match against Gisele Shaw on a Bar Wrestling event on that same night. Statlander will still get her title shot, but it will be on January 8 against the winner of the four-way match on January 1.
AEW founder Tony Khan issued a tweet about the matter.
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
Already announced for Dynamite is a rematch between Cody and Darby Allin as well as a six-man tag team match pitting the team of Kenny Omega, Nick and Matt Jackson against the team of PAC and Lucha Bros. Taz is also set to make an appearance on Dynamite.
Fightful will have live coverage of Dynamite with a post-show podcast to follow.
