8 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynasty (Results & Review)
7. The Old Thunder Rosa Resurfaces
On a night that both women really needed, Timeless Toni Storm Vs. Thunder Rosa rocked.
Storm has constantly battled (fair) accusations that the gimmick brings down her stellar in-ring. Rosa, meanwhile, has failed to reach the standard she set - for the entire women's division - in 2021. This however was great: a two birds, one stone triumph.
Rosa impressed early by launching a stunning tornillo into both Storm and Luther. Back in the ring (and on the apron), Storm and Rosa traded stiff shots and huge bombs. The fans were receptive to the snug physicality and the tone of real enmity. Rumours persist that genuine dislike exists between the two women. Storm might as well have admitted it a couple of years ago. They struck the sweet spot by laying everything in without a hint of awkwardness. They didn't try to make one another look bad; they instead beat the piss out of one another in a match that may have been as cathartic for them as it was for the audience.
The real backstory was explored when Rosa, attempting to strike Storm with a Fire Thunder Driver, crumpled in agony. Storm never did seem to believe that Rosa had a legitimate issue with her spine two years ago, but certainly tried to give her one with a backstabber and scary release German.
The bumps were taken at increasingly sick angles as the match escalated. Storm won a lip-purser of a shoot-out with a neat meta edge when Deonna Purrazzo's attempts to equalise the interference of Luther and Mariah May only served to distract Rosa. A low blow and Storm Zero sealed it.