AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm has drawn a clear line between the past and the present, offering a scathing assessment of her former rival Mariah May while simultaneously praising her new WWE persona, Blake Monroe.
The bitter feud between the two culminated at an AEW pay-per-view earlier this year, which marked May’s final appearance before her contract expired and she joined WWE’s NXT brand. During a recent appearance on the Ariel Helwani Show, Storm did not hold back when asked about their history.
“We’ve all had relationships like Mariah haven’t we, that end in broken glass, fist fights, bloody kisses. What can I say about Mariah? She’s the single most evil, cold-hearted b—ch I’ve ever met in my life,” Storm stated. “And I’m glad that I’ve banished her. I really did compromise her to a permament end.“
However, in a fascinating turn, the champion’s tone shifted completely when discussing the character May portrays now. “But I’m a big fan of that Blake Monroe,” she admitted, adding that while she’s seen some of Monroe’s recent work, she doesn’t “study it religiously.” (h/t WrestleTalk)
Since arriving in NXT over the summer, Blake Monroe has undergone a significant transformation. After debuting as a babyface, she made a decisive heel turn just over two months ago at WWE Evolution, a move that aligns her more closely with the persona that made her a star in AEW.
With her old rival now forging a new path, Toni Storm’s focus remains on her own title reign as she prepares to defend the AEW Women’s World Championship in a four-way match this weekend at All Out against Kris Statlander, Jamie Hayter, and Thekla.