Thekla stunned the wrestling world by defeating Kris Statlander to claim the AEW Women's World Championship. The 32-year-old Austrian, who discovered wrestling at a punk rock show at age 19, has developed significant confidence over the past year or two, crediting her time in Japan for forming the base of her wrestling career.
'Confidence can come and go, that's part of the journey,' she said, 'but one of my biggest accomplishments is getting to a point where I can say, 'I'm that good,' and actually believe it.' Thekla credits her diverse creative background—from art to punk rock to photography—for giving her a unique perspective on the sport, stating 'I draw from everything' rather than just wrestling history.