Kris Statlander is recruited for tag team, but it seems fishy

With Kris Statlander out of the world title picture, fans have been to curious to see the next direction for StatDaddy. It just might lead to the tag team division. Statlander is partnering with Hikaru Shida, but something seems fishy about that arrangement.

First off, Shida is teasing a heel turn. The Shining Samurai almost turned to the dark side after losing her return match to Willow Nightingale for the TBS Championship.

The Babes of Wrath broke up as partners, but not as friends. As Harley Cameron watched Willow triumphantly defend the TBS title, Renee Paquette approached to ask what’s next for the Aussie puppeteer. Harley was hanging with Statlander, and that brought inspiration. Harley wanted to reform WrathLander. When Statlander shot down that idea with a hint for Harley to go solo, Harley misinterpreted that as an invitation to be mentored by StatDaddy. Harley accepted, even though, Statlander wasn’t asking. This was classic Harley being Harley.

Harley isn’t the only one asking to be Statlander’s partner. After Dynamite, Shida approached with a proposition. She understands Statlander not wanting to tag with Harley. I don’t know what Shida said in Japanese, but the tone sounds insulting about Harley. Shida was passionate about sharing a bond with Statlander back to the beginning of AEW. Statlander nonchalantly shook her head like she doesn’t remember any connection between them. Nonetheless, AEW booked Statlander and Shida in tag team action for Collision.

In case you don’t remember the history between Statlander and Shida, they teamed together to defeat Emi Sakura and Bea Priestley on the ninth episode of Dynamite back in 2019. The winners moved well with chemistry.

Statlander challenged Shida the following week as a way to move up the women’s world title rankings. Statlander pulled the upset to win.

Statlander and Shida have been partners for a handful of matches since then. Their tag team record is 3 wins and 4 losses, but they are riding a two-match win streak from 2023.

The reason not to trust that Shida’s intentions are true is the aforementioned heel tease and also how she was mad-dogging Willow’s title defense on Dynamite. Willow and Statlander are friends again, so this could be a sinister plan by Shida to get in Willow’s head.

What’s your theory about Hikaru Shida recruiting Kris Statlander for tag team action? Would you like to see them challenge for the women’s tag titles? If you understand what Shida said in Japanese, let us know the translation in the comments.