3 Stars who can benefit from Toni Storm’s AEW hiatus

Toni Storm was attacked backstage this week on Dynamite. That attack has pushed the former AEW Women’s World Champion on a prolonged hiatus from All Elite Wrestling. As per reports, The Timeless One is set to be out for the rest of 2026 due to an undisclosed reason. Storm holds a strong position in the women’s division, and her absence will definitely affect the company.

However, it could work as a blessing in disguise for a top female star to step up and take Toni’s position in All Elite Wrestling. Several names can benefit from the former WWE star’s absence in the Jacksonville-based promotion. Storm’s exit allows Tony Khan to build another female name to the epitome of professional wrestling later this year.

In this article, let’s take a look at three stars who can benefit from Toni Storm’s AEW hiatus:

#3. Mina Shirakawa

Mina Shirakawa has become pretty popular among the fans over the past year. Her alliance with Toni Storm has made her character very interesting, and fans are invested in her storylines. Following the attack on Storm, the Japanese superstar vowed to take down her friend’s attacker. This storyline has the potential to elevate Shirakawa to new heights in All Elite Wrestling.

With Storm’s exit, Shirakawa has to elevate as a singles star in the Jacksonville-based promotion. Such a character arc would heavily boost Mina into a top spot in the women’s division. Since she joined All Elite Wrestling, the Japanese superstar has been looking for her breakthrough moment. This injury to Toni Storm could be just the moment for her to put her career in second gear.

#2. Kris Statlander

Kris Statlander has solidified herself as a strong name in the women’s division. But still, she needs some key storylines in All Elite Wrestling to become the top name in all of pro-wrestling. Now that Toni Storm is out of the picture, Tony Khan has time to focus on propelling Statlander as the poster girl of All Elite Wrestling.

Stat has proved time and time again that she possesses the ability to carry the women’s division. Toni Storm was carrying the mid-card division in AEW with her program with Marina Shafir. Now that Storm is out, Shafir needs a strong opponent to carry forward her momentum.

Tony Khan can put a former AEW Women’s World Champion like Kris Statlander against Shafir to capitalize on the hype following her feud with Storm in All Elite Wrestling. Such a storyline would heavily benefit Statlander as one of the key babyfaces in the company.

#1. Toni Storm’s former rival, Athena

Athena has been holding the ROH Women’s World Championship for more than 1200 days. However, fans are clamoring to see her join All Elite Wrestling and rise in the ranks in the company. Now that Toni Storm is gone, Tony Khan needs someone to shake things up in the women’s division with fresh energy and potential to become the future main eventer.

Minion Overlord has all that and more to become the main event star in All Elite Wrestling. Athena holds immense experience in pro-wrestling and has competed all over the globe. Her career path is no different from Toni Storm, which makes her a perfect equivalent to The Timeless One.

Therefore, Tony Khan can bring her in as a replacement for the latter to rejuvenate fans’ interest in the women’s division. Such an angle would easily make Athena a strong contender in the company, something that she has been looking to become over the past year.