AEW's Thekla Talks Mercedes Moné, Okada & Forbidden Door

AEW Women's Champion Thekla joins TMZ's Inside The Ring ahead of AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2026 to discuss her championship reign, Starlight Kid, Mercedes Moné, Kazuchika Okada, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Stardom, and her journey from Austria to becoming one of the most talked-about stars in professional wrestling. Thekla opens up about defending the AEW Women's World Championship at Forbidden Door, explains why she doesn't compare her path to Mercedes Moné's, discusses the grind of wrestling in Japan, shares her thoughts on NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada, and reveals what makes Japanese wrestling different from AEW and American wrestling. The "Toxic Spider" also talks about Austria's growing wrestling scene, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Gunther, her background as a visual artist, designing her own merchandise and masks, backstage life in AEW, dating within the wrestling industry, and much more. Hosts: Branson Quirke, Roger Corral Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices