Major AEW Stars Turn Heel On Dynamite

A couple of big-name AEW players seemed to have had enough of babyface life on Dynamite...

Toni Storm Saraya Hikaru Shida
AEW

Toni Storm and Saraya appeared to at least hint at a heel turn on last night's episode of AEW Dynamite, if not turn outright.

Recent weeks had seen semi-ally Hikaru Shida look to be heading down the heel route. Spurned by Saraya in favour of Storm for a recent tag team match with Jamie Hayter and Britt Baker, Shida effectively cost the faces the match, sliding Baker a kendo stick that she struck Toni with before the pinfall.

This was subverted on Dynamite. Facing insuppressible babyface Willow Nightingale, Toni worked with a nastiness typically reserved for hated rivals after starting sportingly. She scored the pinfall with a handful of tights while Saraya distracted the referee. Post-match, Saraya and Storm jumped Storm, leaving Willow's usual ally, Ruby Soho, to make the save while Shida looked on, stuck in the middle.

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Positioning Storm and Saraya opposite Soho and especially Nightingale, who radiates unparalleled babyface energy, almost cements Toni and the former Paige as heels in itself.

If this is the direction, it follows recent crowd reactions. Responses to Saraya and her big-time wrestler act have soured since her cathartic, feel-good Grand Slam debut in September, turning to jeers in recent weeks. Turning her would therefore make sense.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.