Toni Storm Brings Back Old Gimmick In AEW Return

Toni is no longer Timeless in All Elite Wrestling.

toni storm
WWE.com

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).

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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.

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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.

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High praise, but she's earned it.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!