AEW: Kris Statlander schedule issue can have a positive outcome

AEW, Bar Wrestling and Kris Statlander can all stand to benefit from the scheduling conflict that has impacted the next edition of AEW Dynamite.

Scheduling conflicts tend to occur in professional wrestling, but its very infrequent when those conflicts force a change on major television. AEW is going through such a situation as the number one contender to the Women’s Title, Kris Statlander, will have her title match pushed back to January 8.

While some are wringing their hands due to this matter, All Elite Wrestling has done a great job of turning moments like this into positives. This, like others, has the potential to have a constructive outcome for everyone involved.

Statlander’s rise has been meteoric, to play off the gimmick of her being an alien. Since stepping into AEW, she’s shown that she has the potential to be a big star for the women’s division. This is especially vital as AEW continues to struggle to build that group while their main competition in NXT boasts one of the best women’s rosters in professional wrestling today.

Statlander may not be the definitive answer to that problem, but she’s certainly a step in the right direction. AEW is making the correct decisions by elevating her to title contention sooner, rather than later. Expectations were rising that she was going to take the title off Riho, but everyone will have to wait to see if that comes true.

The conflict for the Jan. 1 show comes due to Statlander being booked for Bar Wrestling’s Rose Parade set to happen in Los Angeles, California. AEW Founder Tony Khan tweeted about the situation once news broke.

For AEW, there’s the obvious disdain that everyone will have to wait another week before Statlander gets her shot at the belt, but this does help the promotion present itself as willing to work with the performers on the roster when it comes to bookings outside of AEW.

Contracted wrestlers have shown up in other organizations which creates an opening for cross over events – which help everyone involved. WWE has consistently been criticized for how that promotion depletes the independent scene and this shows that AEW is willing to do the opposite – at least in the early stages of growth.

For Bar Wrestling, that promotion gets the opportunity to elevate this upcoming show using Statlander’s name. Looking at the card she’s the biggest women’s name scheduled to date. With her name being bumped up in headlines due to this issue, Bar Wrestling should look to push her name harder in the waning days before the event.

What will be interesting to see if how AEW takes this moment and pokes fun at themselves like they’ve done time and time in the past. The most recent example includes the “phantom punches” during the Dark Order segment on the Dec. 18 episode, which was parodied on Being the Elite.

AEW fans continue to get behind the promotion that doesn’t take itself too seriously in moments such as these. Perhaps there will be a subtle mention of Statlander having to take care of business on her “home planet” or some other tongue and cheek reference. Either way, expect AEW to address this whole matter in a comical fashion.

No one wants AEW to push back the one-on-one match between Riho and Statlander for the AEW women’s title. Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts have created this matter. Now, the AEW fanbase and wrestling community looks to see how the promotion will leverage this situation into a constructive outcome rather than act like it did not occur.