AEW Double or Nothing 2026: Thekla explains why All Elite Wrestling was ripe for her at this stage of her career

Now more than ever, professional wrestlers have a choice when it comes to where they want to ply their craft in the United States. It's not just WWE any longer. No longer is it the lure of competing at WrestleMania. 

There's All Elite Wrestling, which has been around since 2019 and features the likes of MJF, Darby Allin, Jon Moxley, and Mercedes Mone. The slogan of AEW is: 'Where the best wrestle'. The moniker will be in full gear this evening with the 2026 edition of AEW Double or Nothing from the sold-out Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, live on DAZN PPV in over 180 countries (incl. US, Canada, and UK). 

One of the marquee matches on the show is AEW Women's Champion Thekla defending the gold in a four-way match against former champions Hikaru Shida, Jamie Hayter and Kris Statlander. She left Japan and made her AEW debut nearly one year ago on the May 28, 2025 edition of Dynamite. Long before her contract was up, the 33-year-old decided to re-sign in a longer contract for more money with the Tony Khan-owned company.

For the "Toxic Spider," the decision to stay with AEW was a rather easy decision to make. 

"I've always been watching AEW from the beginning," Thekla told DAZN News on Thursday. "There was a time when we used to watch the first pay-per-views, my friends and I. 

"I would jokingly always say, 'Hey, listen guys, just give me a break. Three years from now, I'm going to be on that show'. So it was just like, that's just going to be the goal for me. I like that they're trying new stuff. I like that they have crazy people on there, and they let me do my s—t. They don't try to make me somebody else. I think freedom is the number one most important thing to me. The women's roster isn't undervalued. There's so much talent in the women's roster in AEW."

This evening's Fatal Four is a survival of the fittest matchup. No disqualification, and Thekla doesn't even have to be pinned to lose her championship that she's held for 103 days. While she's looking to competing in her first AEW Double or Nothing, the 33-year-old isn't looking forward to competing in the match. 

The goal coming in remains the same: Retain the gold over three of the best women's wrestlers in the world. But Thekla vows the match won't be a pretty sight to watch as she looks to ensure the belt leaves New York around her waist.

"I'm looking forward to the event (but) I'm not looking forward to the four-way," Thekla admits. "A b—h is gonna try to whip the s—t out of me. Why would I be looking forward to that? 

"I'm very confident. I got my gold.  I have no intention of giving it away. So it's gonna be a s—t show for sure."