The Timeless Era is running out of time

Toni Storm saved her career with the "Timeless" persona. When she debuted the character, it was a desperately needed reinvention for someone who had lost her way in the shuffle of the AEW women's roster. Fast forward to the road to Full Gear 2026, and the gimmick has run its course. It is time to take the belt off her.

That might sound harsh. Storm has carried the division through some incredibly turbulent months. She delivered an absolute classic against Willow Nightingale at Dynasty, a match that proved she can still go when the bell rings. She managed to drag a passable title defense out of a visibly rusty Britt Baker at All In 2025. But the reality is starting to set in. The character work is overshadowing the actual wrestling, and it is holding back a locker room full of killers.

AEW built its reputation on an in-ring product that laps the competition. Right now, the women's world title matches are turning into Vaudeville acts, and fans are losing patience.

The booking problem hiding in plain sight

Here is my biggest issue with the current state of the AEW women's title picture. Tony Khan is booking the division like it is a 1980s territory, and not in a good way.

Almost every Toni Storm title defense over the last six months has relied on the exact same crutch. Luther gets involved on the apron, Mariah May causes a distraction, and Storm hits the Storm Zero for the pin. It was funny the first three times. By the time we got to the main event of Grand Slam, it was just exhausting.

It completely devalues the challengers. When someone like Kris Statlander spends months rebuilding her credibility, churning out incredible matches on Collision, only to lose a pay-per-view match because of a shoe thrown from the outside, nobody gets over. The fans see right through it.

There was a glaring misstep at WrestleDream last month. Hikaru Shida, arguably the most consistent performer in the history of the company, was treated like an afterthought. Storm barely sold Shida's Katana, winning a rushed match that did no favors for anyone. That is not how you book your world championship. You don't sacrifice your best workers to keep a comedy routine rolling into the winter.

Who steps up at Full Gear?

Full Gear 2026 has to be the turning point. The roster is simply too stacked right now to keep the title wrapped up in a comedy act, no matter how entertaining that act used to be.

Look at the names waiting in the wings.

Jamie Hayter is the obvious choice. She is still the most organically beloved woman on the roster. Her return pop at Wembley was deafening, a visceral reminder of what a legitimate superstar sounds like. Throwing her against Storm at Full Gear writes itself. Hayter brings a terrifying physicality that the division has been lacking at the top of the card since her injury.

A short, brutal, 12-minute sprint where Hayter just dismantles the "Timeless" character would be a perfect palette cleanser for the entire division.

The student surpasses the master

If not Hayter, then the trigger has to be pulled on Mariah May.

AEW has been teasing the tension between Storm and May for over a year. It is the most compelling long-term story they have told since Hangman Page chased Kenny Omega for the men's belt.

May is undeniably ready. Her matches against Serena Deeb and Thunder Rosa over the past month have been spectacular. She hits harder than anyone expects and her ring psychology has improved drastically since her Stardom days. Having May turn on Storm, finally rejecting the understudy role to violently take the championship, is the kind of blood feud the division desperately needs right now.

We do not need another black-and-white film vignette. We need a fight.

The Mercedes Moné factor

You cannot talk about the top of the women's card heading into 2027 without bringing up Mercedes Moné. Her run in AEW has been undeniably polarizing.

While her matches with Stephanie Vaquer and Zeuxis showed flashes of her old brilliance, her booking has been disjointed and frustrating. Keeping her separated from the primary world title picture for this long was a massive mistake. She feels completely disconnected from the rest of the roster, operating in her own isolated universe with the TBS Championship.

Moné needs to be in the mix for the world title by early next year. To get there, the belt needs to be off Storm and around the waist of someone who can match Moné's intensity in the ring. A Hayter vs. Moné main event at Revolution 2027 is the marquee match everyone actually wants to see.

Nobody wants to see Mercedes trying to out-camp "Timeless" Toni.

Pulling the trigger

Toni Storm has been a fantastic champion. She did exactly what was asked of her. She entertained the crowds during a transitional period, sold a ton of merchandise, and anchored the division when it was severely lacking star power.

But professional wrestling is about knowing when a story has peaked.

The "Timeless" act peaked at All In. Stretching it out to Full Gear 2026 feels like watching a television show that got renewed for one season too many. The jokes are not landing the same way, the matches are getting repetitive, and the rest of the roster is clearly ready to move forward. The fans are ready for violence again.

At Full Gear, Tony Khan has a choice. He can keep leaning on the safe, comedic routine that got him through the last year, or he can unleash the actual wrestlers he has sitting in the locker room. Give the belt to Hayter. Give it to May. Just give us something real again.