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When Toni Storm abruptly requested her release from WWE in December 2021, wrestling fans worldwide wondered what the future held for her.
While her subsequent switch to AEW was no real surprise, what she has achieved in wrestling since then has probably shocked the people who hadn’t been paying attention.
However, as previously highlighted by Sports View, the New Zealand-born star always seemed destined to reach the pinnacle of her chosen profession.
An interview with Renee Pacquette following her departure from the WWE highlighted why Storm deserved to showcase her talents on a big stage.
Like many wrestlers before her, Storm admitted that the WWE’s desire to portray itself as an entertainment company impacted her love for the sport.
"I didn't feel that appreciated,” Storm told Pacquette. “I just felt like at times they didn't have very much respect for me and over time they crushed my love for wrestling.
“It just wasn't even wrestling anymore - you're not even allowed to say ‘wrestling’. You get group texts saying 'Don't say professional wrestling in promos,' - I understand, but like whatever."
After debuting with AEW in March 2022, Storm reverted back to her old rockstar persona which was inspired by the glam metal bands of the 1980s.
Her subsequent morph into ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm saw her transition into the character of a demanding and paranoid Golden Age of Hollywood starlet. The move was a masterstroke.
The black and white look was perfect for Storm, while the dramatic monologues she delivered allowed her to showcase her brilliant microphone skills.
Her lengthy feud with Mariah May took things to a completely different level, and ultimately became one of the best storylines the AEW has ever produced.
The WWE have rarely come close to matching their efforts in the women’s division, highlighting the ability of both wrestlers to deliver the goods.
The nuanced storytelling, psychological deception and theatrical emotion each wrestler produced will go down as one of the most legendary periods in professional wrestling.
May’s ability to sell as a heel proved to be the perfect foil for Storm’s brilliance, and each wrestler deserves enormous credit for what they have achieved together.
Their crowning moment came at AEW Revolution 2025, where the pair engaged in a brutal bloodbath that had fans on the edge of their seats.
Storm retained her title to secure her ‘Hollywood Ending’ in a match which attracted widespread praise from across the professional wrestling community.
Some critics questioned the amount of bloodshed during the bout, but WWE Hall of Famer JBL said he was delighted with what Storm and May produced in Los Angeles.
“I don’t have an issue with it,” JBL told the Something to Wrestle podcast. “It’s shocking, it’s gory. Especially when it’s women because you’re not used to that.
“People are talking about it. When they’re talking about it, I’m not sure they’re talking about it in a bad way, but they’re talking about it. I think that’s great.
“I think it’s created the buzz that they (the AEW) probably wanted. I’m the last person to say, but I don’t feel like I had a problem with it.”
Having driven women’s wrestling to new heights over the past couple of years, Storm’s next challenge is to continue her upward trajectory.
Given the furore she created with her ‘Hollywood Ending’ it is not unreasonable to think that this was merely a scene-setter for something even more grandiose a little further down the line.
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