Top free agent is in town ahead of AEW Double or Nothing; massive debut teased

Most new AEW signees make surprise debuts, but Tony Khan & Co. have teased a top free agent's arrival multiple times over the past few weeks. Now, Thekla has sparked a flurry of speculations with a new social media post ahead of tonight's Double or Nothing pay-per-view.

Thekla was a major name in World Wonder Ring Stardom, having won multiple championships in the Japanese promotion. After she wrapped up her tenure there in April, fans knew it was only a matter of time until she debuted in WWE or AEW. Recent reports have given the edge to the Jacksonville-based company, with some even claiming that Tony Khan had already signed her.

All Elite Wrestling has also been teasing her arrival on Dynamite and Collision with a spider graphic in recent weeks, a nod to Thekla's "Toxic Spider" moniker. The Austrian star has now stirred the pot with an Instagram post from Arizona:

"Issa good life," she wrote.

Tonight's AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view takes place in Glendale, AZ, and many have already predicted that the 32-year-old will make an appearance. Revealing that she's in the United States—specifically Arizona—hours before the big event could be Thekla's final tease before her big debut.

About the author

Jacob is an AEW contributor and editor at Sportskeeda Wrestling. He has edited and published over 8,000 articles for Sportskeeda Wrestling in just over two years, and subsequently donned the hat of a contributor, demonstrating his commitment to continuous learning. His experience goes beyond wrestling, with five years as an editor for several independent publishing houses and three years as a captioning specialist.

Jacob's first memory of pro wrestling dates back to Sting vs. Ric Flair for the World Heavyweight Championship at Great American Bash 1990. He later began writing for a newsletter and blog at the University of North Texas, and his love of wrestling naturally led him to seek opportunities in the media.

His favorite wrestler is The Icon, as he feels Sting has evolved throughout his career on a parallel path with his own growth as a person. He was Jacob's childhood hero and teenage idol, and now he makes him less afraid of getting older.

Jacob ensures relevance and accuracy in his articles by working hard to maintain his ideals and objectivity without sacrificing his unique voice, inspiring other writers in the section to follow suit.

Jacob’s non-wrestling interests include Anime, video games, and fantasy novels.

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Edited by Sayantan Niyogi