Mariah May versus Toni Storm is a story telling master piece

It finally happened at AEW All In. Mariah May completed her transition from understudy to star when she defeated Toni Storm to win the AEW Women’s World Championship. Once again, AEW set a predictable stage in one of its most important angles, and the moment delivered beyond expectation. Since stepping into All Elite Wrestling, Mariah May has been perfectly booked for this position.

Look at how May was booked since joining AEW. Initially, May was announced on the November 8 edition of AEW Dynamite, exciting fans but leaving them perplexed at how she would be used. What initially seemed like an angle inspired by Mickie James and Trish Status, would have been great – but it morphed into something much bigger.

Paul Heyman once described The Bloodline angle as having different chapters and innings. The same could be said for May versus Storm. This story has gone from Storm initially rejecting May, to taking her on as a reluctant background character, to May getting her own momentum, involving Mina Shirakawa, up to May’s own victory in the Owen Hart Cup, to the big turn, and now a champion on her own. Each step along the way, there were twists and turns that had fans wondering who would turn on who. When would the turn happen? These are the intricacies that make professional wrestling so much fun.

And each part of the angle was near perfect. Storm’s character work shined. May, while still young in the game, kept up along the way. Even Luther provided his parts without even uttering a word. This was the right trio to take fans on the ride that lasted 10 months, and there’s still more to come.

Storm is going to stay on the hunt to get her lick back on May. That should be the angle for at least one more PPV cycle. AEW All Out is on Saturday, September 7, and May versus Storm in a rematch for the championship should be one of the big matches to anchor that card. The stakes should be ramped up with the inclusion of a cage match or Storm being unable to challenge for the title again if she loses. Storm’s character arc involves her further falling into insanity without the championship while eyes will be on May to see how she grows on her own. There’s a certain someone in Jamie Hayter who is back that would be an interesting foil at some point.

Regardless of what’s next to come, it is necessary to look back at the twists and turns of the Mariah May and Toni Storm arc and recognize its greatness. These two ladies were the right ones to be put in this situation and they delivered in every way.