Toni Storm is set for a Hollywood ending at the upcoming AEW Revolution PPV.
This week’s episode of AEW Collision opened with Mariah May attacking the AEW Women’s Champion backstage. May then dragged Storm onto the stage, holding the Women’s title in her hand.
The former protege laid out the Timeless star with a Storm Zero. Mariah then asked for the spotlight and cut an intense promo challenging Storm to a Revolution match:
“Look what you made me do. You never did know how to write an ending, did you? I guess I’m going to write one for you. I’m going to write it in your own blood. This is our spotlight; this is our moment. Let’s be stars together. At Revolution, let’s have a Hollywood ending.”
The match was later made official for the upcoming AEW PPV. Here is the update card for the show:
Steel Cage Match: Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher
AEW International Championship Match: Konosuke Takeshita (c) (with Don Callis) vs. Kenny Omega
Singles Match: MJF vs. “Hangman” Adam Page
AEW World Championship Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Cope
AEW TBS Championship Match: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Momo Watanabe
AEW Women’s Championship Match: Toni Storm (c) vs. Mariah May
“Big Boom!” A.J. is also expected to be in action at the March 9 show but his opponent is yet to be confirmed. The AEW Revolution PPV will be taking place from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
‘Timeless’ Toni Storm’s return to Australia proved to be a triumph as she regained the AEW Women’s World Championship at Grand Slam. In the show’s main event, Storm dethroned Mariah May, who had held the title since All In: London 2024, where she had defeated Storm.
Storm and May traded momentum and it would be a surprise roll-up that would give the Timeless One the win. With her victory, Storm has become the first-ever four-time Women’s World Champion. On X (fka Twitter) made note of Storm’s record-shattering achievement.
In the comments, fans quickly speculated that the finish, a small package, will set up a rematch between the two for the gold. While such a match has yet to be confirmed, fans can expect May to be hungry for another showdown with her former mentor.
May’s reign had seen her retain against the likes of Anna Jay, Thunder Rosa, Willow Nightingale, and her STARDOM ally Mina Shirakawa, among others. Now that Storm once again holds the gold, it remains to be seen what’s next for the Glamour and her former ‘mentor’ post-Grand Slam: Australia.
Mariah May felt the pressure of facing Toni Storm at All In: London 2024 but the duo was determined to prove that they deserved the opportunity.
The match against Storm was special for May on a lot of levels. Not only was it her first PPV match ever under the AEW banner, but it was also her first match in the UK in many, many years. Being the conclusion of a long-running angle with the timeless one, fans had high expectations from the bout as well.
The AEW Women’s Champion spoke about the match and her victory over Storm during a new interview with Niko Exxtra. She claimed that even though it was her rookie year in AEW, she knew that she had what it takes to become the face of the division:
“So I never actually had a pay-per-view match before. But obviously like I said I always knew, I know it’s my rookie year, but I always knew I could run this division and be the face.
So for me, it was like it was my first pay-per-view. It was also my first time wrestling in the UK for years, I think. Cuz I lived in Japan and wrestled there and I’ve been in America and Canada. So it was kind of my return. My whole family was there.
The only time they ever saw me wrestle was my debut which was I think like 80 people in a school gym. So it was a pretty cool come up to be like ‘Look I did it.’ So yeah, I think there’s definitely pressure.”
Mariah May noted how fans were also expecting them to deliver big on a card that featured many notable matches. All the pressure, however, only motivated them to do their best:
“I think there was pressure too because I knew how much people cared about this story and this match. I think I’m never one to say ‘Women should get more time because we’re women.’
I don’t believe that. I think if you are the best match on the card, you’re the most entertaining feud. We were getting millions of views online. I was like ‘I want to prove that we are the most entertaining characters.’ This was the feud that everybody cared about on such a strong card where we had Bryan Danielson might have retired. We had Mercedes Mone who’s a huge star that just joined us.
We had all these other factors. I wanted to prove that people underestimate us, Toni and I. But we were going to deliver the best. I think what we created Cinema is what I always say. I think there was definitely pressure but diamonds are made under pressure.”
Toni Storm took time off from AEW for a world tour after her loss to May. The former champion returned to the company last week, but with a twist. You can check out more about it here.
Two new championship matches including a stipulation match have been made official for the AEW Worlds End PPV following tonight’s Collision.
Mariah May had previously told Thunder Rosa to name a time and a place for their Women’s title match. This week’s episode of the Saturday night show then saw Rosa announcing that she would be challenging May in a Tijuana Street Fight at the upcoming PPV event.
Elsewhere in the show, Don Callis declared that he would have his revenge on Powerhouse Hobbs for betraying the Don Callis Family. He announced that Konosuke Takeshita will defend the International Championship against the heavyweight star at the upcoming show.
Don Callis had a bad night last night, and he wants Powerhouse Hobbs to PAY for it by pitting him against his 'Alpha' @Takesoup for the International Championship at #AEWWorldsEnd!
A total of four title matches have been made official for the show so far, apart from the finishing matches of the ongoing C2 tournament. Below is the updated match card for AEW Worlds End:
Continental Classic Semi-Finals and Final
Dynamite Diamond Ring Match: MJF (c) vs. Adam Cole
AEW World Championship Fatal Four Way Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Orange Cassidy vs. “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Jay White
Tijuana Street Fight For AEW Women’s World Championship: Mariah May (c) vs. Thunder Rosa
AEW International Championship Match: Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
AEW Worlds End 2024 will be taking place on Saturday, December 28, from the Addition Financial Arena in Orlando Florida.
Toni Storm made her long-awaited return on this week’s AEW Dynamite, and has seemingly left her ‘Timeless’ days in the past. On the Winter Is Coming show, Mariah May retained the AEW Women’s World Championship against Mina Shirakawa.
Storm arrived to interrupt May’s celebration and was in her original outfit and used her ‘Watch What’s Next’ theme song. May was shocked to see her former mentor’s return, while Thunder Rosa, who was sitting in the crowd, held a ‘WTF’ sign.
Storm had been missing since AEW All In: London in August, where she lost the AEW Women’s World Title to May. Storm, still the Timeless One at the time, left the show by wandering into the streets of London. Last month, Storm claimed that she was retiring from wrestling and that AEW would be fine without her.
Now though, Storm is back, much to the chagrin of May, and those wanting celebrity-endorsed tacos in Mexico. Storm has previously suggested she’d wait until AEW Grand Slam: Australia to challenge for the gold, and it remains to be seen if AEW will wait until the February 2025 show. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Toni Storm now that former champion is back, and isn’t living in the past.
Mina Shirakawa was left feeling worse for wear after Mariah May attempted to betray her at AEW Full Gear 2024 last weekend. During the pair’s celebration of May’s championship reign, the AEW Women’s World Champion attempted to attack her friend. Shirakawa, seeing the betrayal coming, ducked, kicked a champagne glass out of May’s hand, and speared her off the ramp through a table.
Mina may have been the one standing tall at Full Gear but she hardly left the show unfazed. In addition to the heartbreak of being betrayed by her longtime friend and tag team partner. On X, the Japanese star showed the nasty lump on her head she suffered at the pay-per-view.
Shirakawa is ready to bring the fight to her former friend and the pair are expected to feud over the AEW Women’s World Championship. Mina has yet to hold gold since arriving in AEW while May has held the title since All In: London, where she destroyed another former ally in ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm. The New Zealand-Australian star recently ‘retired’ from professional wrestling, though many, including Tony Khan, have doubts that the former champion is truly gone for good.
In the meantime, Shirakawa is poised to feud with May, and is wise to her former friend’s schemes as shown by her quick thinking at Full Gear. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on this feud, with May already vowing to get revenge on the Japanese star.
Mariah May’s triumphant celebration as AEW Women’s World Champion took an unexpected turn at Full Gear 2024 when her alliance with Mina Shirakawa came to a shocking end. Now, May has addressed the betrayal that left fans in disbelief.
On November 24, May posted a chilling statement on Twitter, writing: “I want Mina.” The tweet, accompanied by striking images of the moment Shirakawa speared her off the entrance ramp and through a table, underscored the intensity of their fallout.
The dramatic incident unfolded during what was meant to be a celebratory segment highlighting May’s reign as AEW Women’s Champion. Her victory over Toni Storm at All In 2024 had established her as a dominant force in the division, and the event at the Prudential Center in Newark was supposed to showcase her success. Instead, it ended in chaos.
May, who boldly declared during the segment that she was “killing the AEW Women’s Division,” attempted to betray Shirakawa. However, her plan backfired spectacularly when Shirakawa retaliated, sending May crashing through a table in one of AEW’s most memorable betrayals.
The fallout has shattered the once-strong partnership between May and Shirakawa, who had been nearly inseparable since Shirakawa’s return to AEW television. The betrayal serves as a stark reminder that alliances in AEW are rarely as stable as they appear.
Fans are now left wondering: will Mariah May get the revenge she seeks, or has Mina Shirakawa firmly positioned herself as a new threat to the AEW Women’s Division?
Six months into her AEW tenure, Mercedes Moné is grateful she’s after coming back from a career-threatening ankle injury and remains focused on elevating women’s wrestling.
Since joining AEW in March, Moné has worked with talents including Willow Nightingale, Britt Baker, Hikaru Shida, Emi Sakura, and Queen Aminata. She’s also recruited Kamille as her enforcer.
Moné quickly gained the TBS Championship and the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship following her return. She intends to challenge for more titles in AEW and lead by example, encouraging respect and recognition for women wrestlers.
The “CEO” is preparing for a big TBS title defense next weekend at Full Gear, but she’s also eyeing more hardware. Moné tells Uproxx that she’s “super proud” of AEW Women’s Champion Mariah May. So proud, in fact, that she wants to take her prized possession.
“She is our women’s world champion, beating Toni Storm in one of the best storylines in women’s history. So to see her rise this fast and to see how good she is in the ring, it’s so incredible.
Like I said, we have the best women’s division in the game right now. I’m definitely looking at the title that she has around her waist.”
– Mercedes Moné on Mariah May
Mercedes Moné is set to defend her TBS title against former champion Kris Statlander at AEW Full Gear next Saturday, November 23. Mariah May is not currently scheduled to defend the Women’s World Championship at the pay-per-view.
At the post-AEW WrestleDream media scrum, May was asked who she plans to face next. The Glamor addressed Baker’s illness and admitted that she’s grown tired of the current crop of challengers to the AEW Women’s World Championship.
“I line them up, I’m ready to shoot them down. I’ve really beaten everybody. Britt Baker went out and got strep throat so she didn’t have to wrestle me. Schiavone, who should I wrestle? I’m bored.”
One woman fans are eager to see back in the ring with May is ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm, who hasn’t been seen in AEW since her title loss to The Glamor at All In: London 2024. Storm has shared that she is ready to wait until AEW Grand Slam: Australia in February 2025 before she has a championship rematch with her former protege. AEW’s first event in Australia would certainly be fitting, given that May won the gold in her home country, and Storm will have the chance to regain the title in hers.
In the meantime, Mariah May will continue to defend the AEW Women’s World Championship, even if the list of potential opponents is hardly exciting the champ. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Mariah May and her reign as the top woman in All Elite Wrestling.
All Elite Wrestling is home to several Hispanic wrestlers who wow fans each week with their skills in the ring. This past weekend, AEW kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month in style by presenting a special Lucha Libre match before the Jacksonville Jaguars’ home opener.
In an electrifying tag team contest, Sammy Guevara and Hologram defeated the team of The Beast Mortos and Matt Taven in a two-out-of-three falls match. This win makes Hologram 10-0 in AEW after debuting for the promotion earlier this year.
This match wasn’t the only way Jaguars fans got to see the stars of AEW as Wardlow, Harley Cameron, and reigning Women’s World Champion Mariah May were in attendance at the game. This marked a rare appearance for Wardlow, who hasn’t competed for AEW since the Big Business: Dynamite in March of this year.
Despite the influx of AEW talent at the game, the Jaguars lost to the Cleveland Browns 18-13. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from the world of AEW as the company continues on the road to its Grand Slam: Dynamite special.
At AEW All In: London, Mariah May captured the AEW Women’s World Championship, ending the reign of her former mentor Toni Storm. After retaining on the latest Dynamite against Nyla Rose, a new challenger has emerged for the title currently held by the Glamor.
In a digital exclusive, Queen Aminata addressed May attacking the injured Skye Blue during the All Out: Zero Hour pre-show. Aminata said that while Blue will kick May’s ass one day, she will do it first this Wednesday on AEW Dynamite.
This coming edition of AEW Dynamite will take place at the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. After the show, AEW will tape its weekly Rampage which will air on Friday, September 13.
Mariah May was dressed to celebrate her AEW Women’s Championship win, but decided against doing so in Champaign, IL.
May took out her former friend in Toni Storm to become the new champ this past Sunday at AEW ALL IN and a celebration was advertised for this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. Tony Schiavone was standing on stage during the show and introduced the new champion, who merely came out with a black silk robe on. However, there were no fireworks, balloons or champagnes as May decided that Champaign, IL wasn’t fit for such an occassion.
She ran down the town, claiming it should be called “p*** warm beer” instead of Champaign, and then made a vulgar implication towards the average looking women of the area.
May had Schiavone all kinds of flustered in his ‘Mean Gene’ Okerlund role, and probably got a good deal of the viewing audience the same way when she opened up her robe to show a revealing outfit along with her newly won title.
Mariah wasn’t the only woman celebrating that evening as Mercedes Mone had a little backstage bubbly to celebrate her victory against Britt Baker. Private Party tried crashing the party, but Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen were removed from the premises with a little help from Kazuchika Okada.
Posted August 29th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: Mariah May.
Mariah May and Toni Storm haven’t waited for AEW All In: London 2024 to get their hands on one another as the pair brawled at the All In Celebration. At the Wembley Park event, May was taking part in an interview with RJ City when Toni Storm made a surprise appearance to attack the woman who’ll challenge for her AEW Women’s World Title.
The confrontation escalated quickly, with Storm even attempting to throw a stool at May before they were separated. Grabbing the mic, Storm asked if May was prepared to die and said that her life will be very different in 24 hours, after their match.
Toni Storm attacked Mariah May at today's ALL IN Celebration at the Box Park Wembley!
Mariah May shocked the wrestling world by turning on Toni Storm after winning the 2023 Owen Hart Women’s Foundation Tournament. Storm was left a bloody mess due to the attack the feud has only intensified since then, with Storm even going so far as to ask May if she is “ready to die.”
The pair had previously been allies on TV with May helping Storm in her efforts to remain AEW Women’s World Champion. This weekend’s match will mark May’s first time competing inside Wembley Stadium and the second for Storm who wrestled at All In 2023.
AEW All In: London 2024
AEW All In: London 2024 will take place from Wembley Stadium on August 31, and will be AEW’s second event inside Wembley Stadium. Currently, ten matches have been announced for the evening, including eight title matches. The show will begin at 5:00 pm British Standard Time, which is 1:00 pm PT.
Mariah May was encouraged to stop with public displays of affection with Mina Shirakawa and Toni Storm by AEW, according to the British wrestler herself. Speaking on the Wrestling with Freddie podcast, May recalled the backstage reaction to her locking lips with her long-time tag-team partner Shirakawa during an episode of AEW programming.
“It was not pitched. We just did it. Mina and I are extremely close. We’ve always been very close in Stardom. We just did it. The next time around, they were like, ‘Hey, can you guys stop kissing?’”
May blamed the request on an “archaic view” of things, adding that it’s her choice who she kisses and she would say if she was not comfortable. The number-one contender for the AEW Women’s World Champion added that her kissing Mina earned gripes from “the usual suspects.”
“‘Oh my God. This is setting women’s wrestling back so much.’It’s like, first of all, no one made us do it. We chose to do it... Like I said, if I don’t want to do something, I won’t.”
May has had little reason to kiss anyone ever since turning on Storm following her win in the Owen Hart Women’s Foundation Tournament. The former allies will face off at AEW All In: London 2024 this Sunday inside Wembley Stadium. The show will be a homecoming for May though she has yet to compete inside Wembley. The match will be Storm’s second match in the Stadium after competing at last year’s All In: London pay-per-view.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on AEW All In: London 2024 including breaking news and match results from this weekend’s event.
On this week’s 250th episode of AEW Dynamite Mariah May came out dressed as Toni Storm to address her attack last week.
May delivered a powerful promo, explaining her attack on Toni Storm from the previous week. May criticized Storm for being so desperate for the spotlight that she failed to realize she was losing it.
She declared that her greatest performance will be at AEW All In 2024, where she plans to defeat her mentor and capture the AEW Women’s World Championship.
Wrestling fans are still reeling from the closing scenes of this week’s AEW Dynamite, which saw Mariah May attack Toni Storm.
May defeated Willow Nightingale to win the 2024 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. She had a tough road to victory, defeating three former AEW champions (Hikaru Shida, Saraya, and Nightingale) en route to winning the tournament. Just moments after winning the tournament, she showed her true colors and left her former idol in a pool of her own blood.
During a conversation with veteran journalist Justin Barrasso for SI.com, May shed light on this shocking situation. Now that she’s secured a title shot at AEW All In: London 2024 and shattered Toni Storm, it’s time to finish the job.
AEW All In: Toni Storm vs. Mariah May
Mariah May gave us a look into her twisted mentality on AEW Dynamite, but her plan for August 25 is also disturbing.
“My mother will be there at All In. She’ll watch me from the front row as I destroy what’s left of Toni Storm.”
– Toni Storm to SI
May told Barrasso that her lifelong dream since she was a little girl was to come to American and wrestle on television. Today, she’s involved in one of wrestling’s most engaging storyline’s and she’ll challenge for the AEW Women’s World title at Wembley Stadium.
More on Mariah May & Toni Storm
AEW has released footage new of Mariah May and Toni Storm from backstage at AEW Dynamite following May’s betrayal:
Mariah May is one of the top women’s wrestlers in the world and has been a vital part of the AEW roster since her arrival back in November 2023. However, many wrestling fans who primarily consume WWE content aren’t familiar with her work and this guide aims to help change that.
May has been in the industry for quite some time, and her early run alongside Toni Storm and then turning on her ‘mentor’ is just a small part of what she has accomplished in the industry. We’ll be going over all all of the questions that fans are asking about the All Elite Wrestling star and 2024 Women’s Owen Hart Tournament winner.
Wrestling Career
Early Days in Japan
Mariah May’s wrestling career took a significant turn when she ventured into the Japanese wrestling scene. In 2022, she made her debut in Japan with World Wonder Ring Stardom, one of the most prestigious women’s wrestling promotions in the world. Her debut came at Stardom’s Dream Queendom 2, where she aligned with Mina Shirakawa and former WWE NXT UK Superstar Xia Brookside to form the faction known as Club Venus.
May’s time in Stardom was marked by notable achievements and memorable matches. She quickly established herself as a formidable competitor, donning the persona of Sexy Dynamite Princess. One of her early highlights was participating in the Cinderella Tournament 2023, where she advanced to the second round before being eliminated by Mai Sakurai.
AEW
Mariah May, a top free agent in wrestling with interest from both WWE and AEW, signed with All Elite Wrestling in November 2023. Upon her debut, she expressed admiration for AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm, which led to a well-crafted storyline where Storm adopted May as her protégé. Storm’s character work flourished, with May serving as the perfect counterpart. As they transitioned from heels to tweeners due to fan support, their dynamic evolved, culminating in memorable moments like May adopting Storm’s old persona and a romantic angle with Mina Shirakawa.
May’s journey saw her win the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, earning a match against Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship. In a dramatic twist, May turned on Storm after her tournament victory, attacking her with the Owen Hart Foundation title belt. This betrayal set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown at AEW’s biggest event of the year, All In, at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Personal Life
Who is Mariah May’s Husband?
Mariah May is married to British pro wrestling star Danny Duggan. Duggan has appeared for a number of companies in the UK, including PROGRESS, where he was part of the Do Not Resuscitate stable alongside Spike Trivet, Chuck Mambo, William Eaver and Drew Parker.
Mariah May Instagram
Mariah May is quite active on Instagram under the handle @MariahMayx. Her account is a mix of personal insights, professional updates, and glamorous photoshoots.
In addition to her wrestling career, Mariah May has a YouTube channel where she shares a variety of content, including vlogs, wrestling insights, fashion tips, and gaming videos.
Is Mariah May Tiffany Stratton?
Mariah May and WWE’s Tiffany Stratton have often been compared by fans due to their similar looks and wrestling styles.
Stratton, addressing these comparisons in an interview with ComicBook Nation, stated: “Just because we have the same coloured hair it does not mean that we look alike or we stealing each other’s gimmicks or styles.
“I get compared to so many other people, Trish Stratus, Charlotte Flair. Honestly, I think everyone is on their own path, and I think Mariah May is amazing. She’s such a great wrestler, she’s gorgeous.”
Mariah May is on the road to Wembley after winning the Owen Hart Women’s Cup, and has split from Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm.
In the finals of the 2024 Owen Hart Foundation women’s tournament, May defeated last year’s winner Willow Nightingale on Dynamite. May advanced to the finals by defeating Saraya in the first round and Hikaru Shida in the semi-finals, both of whom are former AEW Women’s World Champions. Willow’s path to the finals saw her defeat Serena Deeb in the first round and her former ally Kris Statlander in the semis. Statlander and Stokley Hathaway would get involved in the finals to try and cost Willow the match.
With this victory, May has earned herself an AEW Women’s World Championship match against ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm at AEW All In. After the match, Storm seemed happy for her ‘understudy’ to win, seemingly predicting an easy title defense next month. On the ramp, May attacked Storm with the Owen Hart Foundation Championship and Luther also took a beating from the British wrestler.
THE WHOLE TIME?! Mariah May seems OVERLY excited to be facing her mentor #AEW Women's World Champion "Timeless" Toni Storm at #AEWAllIn!
On commentary, it was suggested that this had been May’s plan the whole time and that her loyalty to Storm was never genuine. Whatever the case may be, May now has a golden opportunity next month in her home country.
AEW All In 2024 will take place on August 25, from Wembley Stadium in London, England. The show will be the second AEW All In event, and the third All In event overall. Tickets for the show went on sale on December 1 and the event will be AEW’s second pay-per-view to take place outside the U.S. AEW All In 2024 was confirmed immediately following last year’s AEW All In event.
AEW’s Mariah May is looking forward to the future after locking lips with Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa at Forbidden Door 2024.
Storm and Shirakawa faced off at the third annual AEWxNJPW: Forbidden Door event for Storm’s Women’s World Title. Going into the match there was speculation as to where Mariah May’s loyalties would lie. The British wrestler is a long-time friend and tag-team partner of Shirakawa’s but also serves as the ‘understudy of AEW’s ‘Timeless’ star.
Toni Storm On The Kiss
May stayed relatively uninvolved at ringside, leaving it to the two women in the ring to tell the story. In the end, Storm retained her title after delivering a Storm Zero finisher to Shirakawa.
After the match, May was able to bridge the gap between her two allies. The three women shared a handshake, followed by a hug and a three-way kiss before leaving the ring together as a united front.
Speaking after the match, Storm was asked if she’s been able to put aside her differences with Shirakawa.
“When I first met Mariah’s friend Mina, I was not impressed. In fact, I was quite pissed. But now, after touching those cushiony lips, I can honestly say that I feel this is the start of a very beautiful relationship.”
Toni Storm.
Mariah May Responds
This three-way kiss is a huge victory for Mariah May who has struggled to remain aligned with both women in this feud. When asked for her own comments, she said:
“I can take them both.”
Mariah May.
Shirakawa was also asked for her comments, and admitted that at first she did not rate Toni Storm. Now though, she has grown very fond of the AEW Women’s World Champion. It remains to be seen what’s next, but these three could prove to be a dominant trio, if they remain a united front.
Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa went above and beyond showing respect for one another at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, and it all came courtesy of Mariah May.
Toni Storm’s “love triangle” with Mariah May and Shirakawa has arguably been the best told story on AEW television over recent weeks and this contention ended up having a happy ending.
The eccentric Storm took on the wild child Shirakawa one-on-one for the AEW Women’s Championship at the PPV and it was Storm who ultimately retained her title by defeating her challenger. However, the most talked about aspect of this match may be what happened afterwards as Mina offered Toni her hand in respect. May watched on, who remained neutral during the fight and was dressed reminiscint to Miss Elizabeth at WrestleMania V.
My favorite elements of Storytelling in AEW reside within the details.
Mariah May has taken a neutral corner for this match and her attire at ringside is reminiscent of what Miss Elizabeth wore at WrestleMania 5 during the match between Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. #AEWxNJPWpic.twitter.com/UnPB9LnZtb
Storm ended up shaking it, but Mariah wanted more than that between her two friends. Akin to The Best Friends of old, instead of “hugging it out” May, Storm and Shirakawa “kissed it out” as all three smooched one another at once.
This turn of the tables was quite different from all that went down on the pre-show to Forbidden Door. May had her Owen Hart Cup quarterfinals match against Saraya and she nearly lost, but did get a roll-up pin victory against the former Paige. After her win, Storm and Shirakawa both came out to celebrate but May had to split the two up from fighting with one another. Now all is harmonious between the three, but for how long? If May ultimately ends up winning the Owen Hart Cup tournament, she’ll have a ticket to ALL IN in Wembley to face Storm if she’s still the champion by Labor Day weekend.
Fans who attended the recent STARDOM event were stunned to see AEW Women’s World Champion ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm appear with a very special message.
Storm appeared at the STARDOM American Dream event in Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena, better known as the ECW Arena. Storm began by expressing her gratitude for STARDOM, stating that she wouldn’t be where she is today without the promotion.
The three-time and reigning AEW Women’s World Champion then presented flowers to Mariah May and said she was proud of her understudy. Turning her attention towards Mina Shirakawa, Storm got in the face of the Artist of Stardom Champion and told her that “the Forbidden Door is always open.”
Shirakawa is booked for Ring of Honor Supercard of Honor 2024. She’ll team with Maika and Mei Seira against Tam Nakano, Saya Kamitani, and AZM. As for Storm, her next high-profile match will come later this month at AEW Dynasty. The Starlet of Wrestling will put her gold on the line against Thunder Rosa.
Another Surprising Name
Toni Storm wasn’t announced for the event, making her appearance at STARDOM American Dream a big surprise, but she wasn’t the only notable non-STARDOM name at the show. WWE Superstar Natalya was also at the event. On Twitter, the former Women’s Champion spoke about reuniting with Kyoko Inoue at the STARDOM show and shared some pictures from backstage.
In 2005 I got my first big break in wrestling and got the opportunity to wrestle in Japan with some of the greatest female wrestlers in the world. I was lucky enough to work with and compete against the one and only Kyoko Inoue. It’s been almost 20 years since I’ve last seen her.… pic.twitter.com/c4RaSqvRqk
Natalya is not currently booked for a match at WWE WrestleMania 40. With that said, some fans are hoping to see a Women’s Battle Royal at the event, which would likely include the BOAT. The hashtag #WomensBattleRoyal trended for multiple days on Twitter.
AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm expressed her appreciation of Mariah May in quite some fashion during the March 30 episode of Collision.
During a backstage segment, it was noted that the #1 and #2 wrestlers in the women’s division rankings will face each other next week. The winner of this match will earn an AEW Women’s World Championship match with the ‘Timeless’ one.
Next week’s match will see Thunder Rosa and Storm’s protege Mariah May face off. Storm questioned for how long has May been “plotting” this and seemed angry that May could be in line for a title opportunity. Instead though, Storm kissed May and declared her a “magnificent b***ard”.
Storm is evidently of the opinion that a victory for May next week will ensure her an easy title defense. May was clearly pleased to have been kissed by Storm, though Luther was far from happy at May and the AEW Women’s World Champion being so closely aligned.
#AEW Women's World Champion "Timeless" Toni Storm reacts to the news that the women with the top 2 records in the Women's Division will clash for a future opportunity for the title!
Toni Storm is in her third reign as AEW Women’s World Champion, a record number that she shares with Hikaru Shida. Her most recent reign began at AEW Full Gear 2023 when she dethroned Shida. She defended the gold at AEW Worlds End against Riho and at AEW Revolution 2024 against Deonna Purrazzo.
Storm’s ‘Timeless’ character has proven to be a hit with fans and sees the AEW Women’s World Champion often filmed in black and white segments. May is described by Storm as her “understudy,” a term that leans into the notion that Storm is a Golden Age of Hollywood starlet.
The fans of AEW will have a chance to ‘Get the Feeling’ thanks to a new trademark filing by the promotion. This week, AEW filed a trademark for the phrase for its use on merchandise, as well as at professional wrestling events. At this time, there’s no word on what ‘Get the Feeling’ will mean for the on-screen product.
Interesting Name at AEW Collision
The January 6, 2024, edition of AEW Collision featured some top names, including Adam Copeland, Ric Flair, and Sting, but a different WWE Hall of Famer remained backstage. PW Insider reports that former NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Magnum TA was backstage at the Collision taping in Charlotte, NC.
Kurt Angle’s AEW Cameo
Kurt Angle has made it clear he’s a WWE guy, but that didn’t stop the Olympian from making a cameo for AEW this week. On Twitter, Stokely Hathaway shared a Cameo featuring Angle, in which he claims that Hathaway is a changed man to Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander. It seems Kurt didn’t stop recording when he should have, as the video ends with Angle asking Stokely where’s his money.
Mariah May looked to set the wrestling world on fire during her AEW in-ring debut this week before the debuting Deonna Purrazzo interrupted. On Twitter, May shared that the place she lives suffered a fire. Fortunately, everyone is okay and the hunky firefighters proved to be a silver lining for the British wrestler.
and I made friends with some animals I carried out
Mariah May just made her way to America thanks to AEW inking her to a contract. She had an eventful past couple of months, and today was no different, as she had to escape from a fire.
Mariah May’s Fiery Incident
Mariah May used her X account on January 5th to update her fans and followers following a fire incident in her building. Luckily, she is safe from harm, and nobody else was hurt in the fire.
Mariah said that despite the fire, everyone emerged safely. Adding a touch of humor, May also noted that the responding firefighters were noteworthy nice to look at, so that was a perk.
sad news… the building I live in had a fire good news…
everyone is ok and the firefighters are sexy
sad news… the building I live in had a fire
good news… everyone is ok and the firefighters are sexy
Mariah May replied to her own post, where she added a bit more information. She is safe and sound, and it seems she also has more four-legged friends after helping some animals escape the blaze. So, she considers that a win.
and I made friends with some animals I carried out
a win is a win
and I made friends with some animals I carried out
Mariah May made her way to AEW by way of STARDOM. She was placed alongside Toni Storm as her biggest fan, vying for the Timeless One’s attention in any way. As Mariah May continues her road in All Elite Wrestling, odds are she will gain Toni Storm’s attention eventually.
Just before Full Gear, Mariah May arrived in AEW. She showed up in a backstage segment with RJ City. She is a super fan of Toni Storm. In the following weeks, she has been holding Storm’s AEW Women’s Championship. She has interfered on her behalf.
After applauding Storm’s work on commentary, she asked the champion if she would provide commentary for her first match. Storm replied that she was much too busy to do so. She also declined to watch her first match to provide feedback, but if she holds a seminar, May would be the first to know.
During a segment on Dynamite, May spoke with Renee Paquette. After explaining that her attack on RIHO last week was just supporting her hero, she announced when her first match would be. She didn’t feel like “2023 had the best vibe and not enough glamour, so my debut is going to be next week on the first Dynamite of the new year. Because 2024 is ‘all about Mariah’.”
Mariah May is with Renee Paquette to announce when her debut match is going to take place!
AEW will be live from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on January 3. It is unclear who will be May’s first opponent.
Prior to joining AEW, May spent nine months in STARDOM (like one Toni Storm). During her five year career, May has also wrestled for Rev Pro and PROGRESS in the UK. Her last match came on September 30 in the prestigious 5STAR Grand Prix tournament.
