PWI Weekly for February 23, 2026
World Class Winners: Celebrating The Wonderful Women Of Wrestling
WE LIKE TO THINK that we do a decent job of championing women’s wrestling here at Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Over the years, our annual ranking of the top women in the business has expanded from 50 grapplers to what it is today: the “Women’s 250.” Of course, the credit for that doesn’t go to us; rather, it speaks to the sheer volume of talented competitors in the sport.
However, more can always be done to highlight women’s wrestling. With that in mind, we hope you enjoy this edition of the PWI Weekly. It’s entirely fueled by girl power.
WRESTLER OF THE WEEK
Anyone familiar with her game from her time in Japan likely needed no reminder of how good Thekla can be. However, on the February 11 edition of Dynamite, a reminder was nevertheless provided. In a bloody, brutal, main-event strap match with Kris Statlander, “The Toxic Spider” bested her foe to become the new AEW Women’s World champion. Sure, the Austrian owes some gratitude to her Triangle of Madness associates, Julia Hart and Skye Blue, for their interference. But that does little to sully the accomplishment. As the powerful, athletically impressive Statlander proved to be tough to put away, Thekla remained ravenous in her pursuit of the win. For that alone, she has our continued respect.
A QUICK WORD ABOUT …
On a night when the tiara-loving Arianna Grace ascended to the throne of Knockouts champion, it was a former champ who stole the headlines. Following The Elegance Brand’s successful Knockouts tag team title defense over Indi Hartwell & Xia Brookside at No Surrender, Mickie James made her celebrated return to TNA. One of the recipients of our 2024 Stanley Weston Award, James arguably achieved her greatest career success in TNA. And she was warmly welcomed back by fans in Nashville. The five-time Knockouts World champion promptly hit the ring and helped dispatch the dastardly, albeit elegant ones. One loves to see it.
SPOTLIGHT ON …
With each passing week, Kendal Grey seems to get better and better. Whether it’s in EVOLVE or NXT, the former amateur standout is proving to be far more than simply a proficient professional. Already in possession of the EVOLVE Women’s championship, the Nevada native came close to adding NXT Women’s gold to her trophy case in January.
Dare we say it, but Grey seems to possess “The Three Is” that another amateur wrestling great once touted as his keys to success in WWE: Intensity, Integrity, and Intelligence. It’s still early days yet, but Grey already seems poised for a bigger year than she had in 2025—one in which PWI readers voted her Rookie of the Year.
WE HEARD THAT!
“I am the wicked b***h of wrestling” –Alexxis Falcon to PWI, the day after her successful PROGRESS Women’s title defense against Rhio on February 15
Falcon was less than sporting in her treatment of her former best friend, going so far as to spit in the face of former champion Rhio. PWI was reliably informed by sources that even Falcon’s own mother is against her new, meaner demeanor.
TERRITORIAL DISSINGS
While Liv Morgan might not have fully understood everything Stephanie Vaquer was saying to her on last week’s Raw, the message came through clear as day. So rocked was she by the WWE Women’s World champion that the usually cocky Morgan was reduced to tears. The Women’s Royal Rumble winner may be thinking long and hard about whether it’s wise to choose Vaquer as her WrestleMania opponent.
SPOTLIGHT PHOTO
Since rebranding as Mara Sade, the former Jakara Jackson has made a strong impression across multiple promotions. In the above shot, taken during a November 2025 TNA Xplosion taping, Sade boasts for the fans in attendance before soaring to victory in a triple-threat bout.
Absolutely tremendous how the Morgan/Vaquer angle played out last night on RAW. Good lord, Vaquer sold that mic punch like a million bucks. Well done...and for someone like myself, not the biggest fan of women's wrestling, that was done very well.