Toni Storm Brings Back Old Gimmick In AEW Return
Toni is no longer Timeless in All Elite Wrestling.
Toni Storm made her much-anticipated return on AEW Dynamite last night under a new - or rather, old - look.
After her rival Mariah May defeated Mina Shirakawa on the Winter Is Coming special edition of the show, using Toni's Storm Zero short piledriver finisher, the actual Toni Storm cut short the celebrations.
In a cute bit of continuity, after "retiring" under the Timeless Toni Storm persona, Storm came back wearing the 1980s rocker look with which she arrived in AEW in March 2022 (and walking onto the stage backed by the Heart soundalike theme).
The biggest compliment one can pay Storm is that she was so committed to and believable in what was an affected role across 2023 and 2024 that her return under the old persona actually felt like she was in full gimmick, and not the other way 'round.
A rematch with Mariah May now seems certain; the only real question is "when". As shown on Dynamite last night, Thunder Rosa took in the main event as part of the crowd. AEW has all but telegraphed that a Women's World title shot is in her future.
The title picture is widening up. AEW is of course due to present Grand Slam: Australia (albeit downsized) from the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on February 15, 2025. That seems to be the most plausible and fitting destination for the second in-ring chapter of the most memorable storyline in the short history of AEW Women's division.
There are no reports confirming that the Timeless persona has been dropped forever; Storm might present the alter-ego in a similar manner to Keiji Mutoh and Mick Foley before her.
High praise, but she's earned it.