The All Elite Wrestling Women’s World Champion is one of the remaining bright spots in the promotion, providing a dash of class, comedy, and character

By Ryan K. Boman | May 22, 2025

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For many fans of All Elite Wrestling, a handful of performers continually draw them to the promotion’s weekly programming. Over its six-year history, the company has aired some great angles featuring the likes of Cody Rhodes, MJF, Sammy Guevara, and The Acclaimed. And while those stars had breakthrough moments in AEW, their hot streaks cooled off rather quickly. This led to departures, low morale, and some hard feelings being aired in the media.

However, the most enduring personality in AEW right now may be its greatest character of all time. The current Women’s World Champion, Toni Storm, has been a real blockbuster for Tony Khan’s organization. While she was always a capable and compelling wrestler, her transformation into a classic Hollywood movie star was the fuel that set her character on fire.

Portraying a disillusioned, deranged, and washed-up actress, in the same vein as Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard, her promos have become must-watch TV. And the fact that the company adds black-and-white effects when she’s onscreen just adds to the brilliance of the persona. Technical mastery is often rare for AEW, but the crew seems to be able to produce an amazing visual of their ‘starlet’.

Storm Has Made A Name For Herself On The Microphone

Storm’s whimsical approach to promos has entertained fans ever since she took on her current gimmick in 2023. She’s been especially entertaining when doing interviews with Renee Paquette backstage – when the ‘Timeless One’ makes the announcer her foil. And after each exchange, Storm utters one of her more memorable phrases, “Chin Up, Tits Out… and Watch for the Shoe.”

Then, as she exits the shot, her shoe comes flying back in. It’s a mix of silly humor and slapstick comedy, but done in a way that’s not overly offensive to old-school fans. In fact, some would say Storm embodies a modern-day version of some of the 1980s’ more outlandish characters.

At just 29 years of age, the New Zealand-born grappler has already achieved worldwide success. She’s held multiple championships in Europe, including the now-defunct NXT UK Women’s Championship.

Storm is a four-time AEW World Women’s Champion and has held the title for more cumulative days (518+) than any other female in the promotion’s history. She will put her title on the line again against the newly signed Mina Shirakawa at Double or Nothing on Sunday.

What Makes Toni Storm So Entertaining?

While some have criticized Storm’s persona as being a little too silly, it’s a breath of fresh air in modern pro wrestling. She has totally been absorbed by the gimmick, and it’s gained her much more attention than if she were still doing her original ‘glam rock’ character.

What she’s done as a performer is take what could have been a total failure and make it a smashing success. In the same vein as another Hollywood hero, Goldust, she has embraced her alter ego. And in the same way, both gimmicks would have failed if given to a lesser performer.

More importantly, in a company that mostly just ships out wrestling matches and focuses less on storytelling, she has become the most compelling figure on weekly programming. She’s a standout because she’s (quite simply) different from anything else on Dynamite or Collision.

So, if any wrestling fans still haven’t had the chance to see Toni Storm being Timeless? Then, pop the popcorn and settle down in front of your screen. When the credits finally roll… You will more than likely give her performance two thumbs up

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