Report: STARDOM Wanted Kris Statlander To Work NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17

All Elite Wrestling would have had more of a presence at New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom 17 if it hadn't been for an injury.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, World Wonder Ring STARDOM wanted Kris Statlander to work Wrestle Kingdom on January 4, 2023. The call for Statlander to work the show was made long before she sustained a torn ACL in August 2022 that kept her out of action for nine months.

AEW talent still worked Wrestle Kingdom. FTR dropped the IWGP Tag Team Championships to Bishamon, while Kenny Omega defeated Will Ospreay in a match-of-the-year contender to win the IWGP United States Heavyweight Title.

The IWGP Women's Championship was also defended at Wrestle Kingdom as KAIRI defeated Tam Nakano in a short match. Mercedes Moné then made her NJPW debut following the match and laid out KAIRI to set up their encounter at Battle in the Valley the following month.

Statlander returned from injury at Double or Nothing 2023 on May 28 and defeated Jade Cargill to become TBS Champion. She has since defended the belt against Nyla Rose and Anna Jay.