AEW Women's World Champion Thekla successfully defended her title against STARDOM's Starlight Kid at the Forbidden Door pay-per-view on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Thekla secured the pinfall after an 18-minute match, hitting a spear followed by two consecutive curbstomps.
She absorbed several of Starlight Kid's signature moves, including a top-rope moonsault and two Divine Punishments.
After the match, Thekla used silver scissors to cut off Starlight Kid's mask.
She spat inside the mask and shoved it into the face of STARDOM President Taro Okada, who was seated at ringside.
The victory marks another successful defense for Thekla since she dethroned Kris Statlander in February.
She has previously defeated Mina Shirakawa, Jamie Hayter, Alex Windsor, Hikaru Shida, and Thunder Rosa.
Long-Running Feud Intensifies
The animosity between Thekla and STARDOM escalated after she invaded STARDOM's The Conversion event on June 20 in Tokyo.
There, she attempted to shave Okada's head and whipped him with a belt before Starlight Kid intervened.
Starlight Kid had expressed her determination before the match. "Thekla, thanks for going out of your way to come all the way to Japan?
But this is our ring!!
You laid hands on the president, and tried to spit on the STARDOM logo again… This isn't a place for Thekla to do whatever she pleases," she stated on social media.
Thekla addressed the multi-year conflict in a pre-match interview. "I don't know how this all happened, honestly.
I feel like this is one of the longest feuds ever.
This has been going on since 2024, essentially, so I'd say around two years," she told Bleacher Report.
She explained that her departure from STARDOM resulted from numerous backstage altercations.
"I may or may not have slapped some of the civilians who work for Stardom in the face.
I ended up breaking my hand and getting a full arm cast, and I used that cast as a weapon," she said.
Future Challengers
Looking ahead, Thekla will face the winner of the Owen Hart Cup tournament at the upcoming Wembley event.
The tournament features Maya World and Mercedes Moné.
"I have not fought either of them. I've been asked before if I have a preference.
I do not have a preference.
I'll just let them handle and figure it out and then I'll see them at Wembley," Thekla stated.
The champion also categorized the AEW women's roster, naming Skye Blue, Julia Hart, Marina Shafir, and Megan Bayne as exceptions to her derogatory label.
"So yes, there are dumb b---hes, obviously, and there are smart b---hes. So both Skye and Julia are smart b---hes.
I would consider Marina Shafir a smart b--h. And so is Megan Bayne.
Everybody else I would say, more or less, is a dumb b---h," she asserted.
