Thekla (wrestler)
| Thekla | |
|---|---|
Thekla in April 2025 | |
| Birth name | Thekla Kaischauri |
| Born | 30 April 1993 Vienna, Austria |
| Alma mater | University of Applied Arts Vienna |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name | Thekla |
| Billed height | 155 cm (5 ft 1 in) |
| Billed weight | 52 kg (115 lb) |
| Billed from | Vienna, Austria |
| Trained by |
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| Debut | 18 June 2017 |
Thekla Kaischauri (born 30 April 1993), better known mononymously as Thekla (Japanese: テクラ, Hepburn: Tekura), is an Austrian professional wrestler. As of May 2025, she is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). She is best known for her time in World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she became one of the few high-profile gaijin in Japanese women's wrestling.
Known for her villainous character work, Kaischauri is nicknamed the "Idol Killer" for her brusque and antagonistic in-ring persona, which contrasts sharply with the cute and cheerful "idol" archetype expected of most female wrestlers in Japan. As a founding and principal member of Stardom's villainous H.A.T.E. stable, she was portrayed as someone who sought to "rid the joshi wrestling scene" of idol culture, which drove most of her feuds and storylines. She is also billed as "The Toxic Spider" for combining an aggressive and agile wrestling style (which emphasizes grappling, submission, and fluid acrobatics) with arachnid-themed attires and moves.
Considered one of Stardom's top wrestlers and its "breakout star", Kaischauri is recognized for her unique gimmick, which challenges traditional conventions of joshi puroresu, and for utilizing her diverse background in dance, gymnastics, music, and visual art in her performances. She is a former Goddess of Stardom Champion (alongside tag-team partner Momo Watanabe), a former Artist of Stardom Champion (alongside Giulia and Mai Sakurai), and a former SWA World Champion.
Before joining Stardom in 2022, Kaischauri toured the independent circuit in Austria and Japan, achieving breakthrough success in the latter at Ice Ribbon, where she won the Triangle Ribbon Championship and earned a reputation for her technical fighting style and heel work.