A counter-rotating blade stage in lieu of a stator stage may compensate for relatively low rotational speed of a gas turbine engine spool. A first spool may have at least one compressor blade stage and at least one turbine blade stage. A combustor is located between the at least one compressor blade stage and the at least one turbine blade stage along a core flowpath. The at least one counter-rotating compressor blade stage is interspersed with the first spool at least one compressor blade stage. A transmission couples the at least one additional compressor blade stage to the first spool for counter-rotation about the engine axis.