AEW (All Elite Wrestling) isn’t just known for being where the best wrestle — it’s also a promotion that prides itself on telling stories in and outside the squared circle. One of the best AEW stories to date is Toni Storm and Mariah May’s potentially wrapped-up storyline. Their storyline proves Hollywood endings aren’t always sickly sweet; sometimes, they’re violent and full of rage and love. From the narrative inspired by All About Eve, the sapphic subtext that quickly became text, and the stellar matches and moments, Storm and May make for a formidable pair.
The truth is that many women in wrestling haven’t always gotten the best treatment in the Western world. When WWE was still one of the few accessible promotions, there were a lot of degrading matches in the 2000s era. During this era, there were a lot of bra and panties matches (yes, that’s what they were called), and they consisted of very little wrestling. Those matches weren’t meant to elevate women. Their design was to titillate and appeal to people who saw little value in women’s wrestling.
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When comparing WWE’s history (as it’s still the largest wrestling company in the world) to other companies, they still struggle with their treatment of women. Even with events such as WWE’s one-time PPV Women’s Evolution, for instance, much of their progress for women feels more about checking boxes for representation. There’s still an imbalance in who receives opportunities (see Charlotte Flair’s immediate title shot for WrestleMania 41). This is especially true now, as some women in the WWE roster have made recent complaints. Their active lawsuits and political affiliations don’t help disapprove anything.
Instead of falling into the trappings of the days of old, AEW allows the women to be gritty, get bloody, and occasionally steal the show. Storm and May are perfect examples of this with their memorable and captivating storyline.
Toni Storm and Mariah May make for a watchable and intense rivalry.
May’s journey started as a ring announcer, and eventually, she wrestled across multiple promotions, such as Revolution Pro in the UK, the Japanese promotion Stardom, and more. That led to her debut in AEW on November 8, 2023. Establishing herself as Toni Storm’s biggest fan comes across as innocent—until it’s not.
May’s AEW run began with her as a bright-eyed rookie who wanted to be as successful as her idol, “Timeless” Toni Storm. Their relationship evolved from adornment to something more, as shown in moments of intimacy and special exclusives. However, the relationship took another turn when May won the Owen Hart Cup.
May solidified her shot at Storm at the AEW World Women’s Championship at All In (2024). The betrayal was executed in a violently erotic way, ultimately playing into the concept of wanting to be someone and wanting to be with them. Meanwhile, in a “family-friendly” wrestling company like WWE, implied queerness hasn’t always been deemed in a good light. And with the company aligning with the Trump administration behind the scenes, there’s very little room to excuse them.
To progress the storyline, May won the belt from Storm at All In, and from there, they have two rematches. One was at Grand Slam Australia (2025), where Storm won back her belt, and the final time was at AEW Revolution (2025), where they ended their feud in a beautifully bloody way. It’s the perfect ending to tie into Storm’s Hollywood gimmick. Their feud began with fawning and progressed to fighting, and instead of a convoluted resolution, the execution was perfect.
The potential for more women driven narratives in wrestling is possible.
Women’s wrestling is still a work in progress. But if you asked me ten years ago if I could imagine a storyline like this happening onscreen, I would probably have told you no. For years I watched women get minimal screen time, and when they did, it wasn’t always satisfying or intriguing. Not to mention the conversation surrounding intersectionality and many American companies failing to properly elevate marginalized talent on screen. Instead, AEW push women who might be more commercially attractive, rather than outright wrestling stars.
Storm is an out bisexual woman, and May hasn’t confirmed either way. It’s a significant feat to see openly queer people be center stage consistently in the wrestling world. It’s still not as common as it should be, and we need more. The storyline was never meant to be fetishized, it was merely a storyline that fans were either all in about or weren’t. While it’s fantastic to see queer representation in women’s wrestling, it would be great to see more diversity as far as queer women of color. Regardless, Storm and May’s feud is one of AEW’s best storylines to date, not just on the women’s side of the roster.
AEW’s potential to tell even more women’s storylines is highly possible. They might not all fully match the energy of GlamourStorm (the name for Toni Storm and “The Glamour” Mariah May), but knowing the companies’ commitment to smashing the glass ceiling, I’m not as doubtful. There are plenty more heights to reach, and if you find yourself tuning into AEW because of this, you won’t be disappointed.
You can stream AEW Dynamite, AEW Collision, pay-per views, and the defunct AEW Rampage on Max, TBS TNT, and more.
