The Big Picture

The AEW women's division just hit a massive detour at Dynasty 2026. Thekla snuck past Jamie Hayter to retain the AEW Women's World Championship, shaking up the top of the card. But the ghost of "Timeless" Toni Storm hangs over everything.

Tony Khan admitted she was pulled from the Dynasty card at the last minute. Hayter calls it an opportunity for others, but the reality is a glaring, black-and-white void on our screens. The division feels lighter without her. Here are the top 10 matches waiting for Storm whenever she decides it is time for her next picture.

10. Thekla

Thekla just retained the AEW Women's World Championship over Jamie Hayter at Dynasty 2026. Wrestling Inc reported it as a sneaky, hard-fought victory. That alone puts a massive target on her back. Storm never truly lost her grip on the top of the card, and seeing an outsider claim the throne will infuriate the former champion.

The stylistic clash is fascinating. You have Thekla's gritty, toxic-spider submission approach going up against Storm's heavy hip attacks and theatrical brawling. It ranks at 10 because a title match needs a proper build, and Storm might have deeply personal scores to settle before chasing gold.

9. Mariah May

The bloody history between Storm and Mariah May cannot be ignored. May took everything from the "Timeless" character at Wembley, ending her incredible 281-day reign and shattering her mind. We still need the definitive, violent conclusion to this arc. Storm has to get her win back, plain and simple.

Their previous encounters were emotional bloodbaths, ending with brutal Storm Zero piledrivers. But the next one needs to be a clinical execution. I put this at 9 because maybe the audience has seen enough of it for now. Let the wound breathe before tearing it open again on pay-per-view.

8. Jamie Hayter

Hayter is out here doing press, openly claiming Storm's absence is a chance for the locker room to step up, as noted by F4WOnline. That sounds exactly like the kind of off-hand comment Storm would take personally. Hayter hits harder than anyone in the division, throwing lariats that genuinely scramble brains.

Storm taking those stiff shots in her dramatic, black-and-white cinematic style would be incredible television. This match sits here at 8 because they are both currently trying to find their footing against Thekla. But a number one contender's match? Book it for Double or Nothing in May.

7. Mercedes Moné

Mercedes Moné is the money match Tony Khan has kept in his back pocket for far too long. Moné wants all the spotlight on her CEO branding. Storm genuinely believes the spotlight exists purely to illuminate her face. The backstage promos alone would carry Dynamite for a month.

Moné's technical precision and Bank Statement transitions against Storm's brawling is a perfect contrast of styles. It is only at 7 because AEW has a terrible habit of dragging these mega-matches out until the heat dies. If they pull the trigger, it needs to be immediately upon Storm's return.

6. Hikaru Shida

Hikaru Shida remains the ultimate measuring stick for the AEW women's roster. Whenever someone needs a phenomenal, hard-hitting match to re-establish their main event credibility, they call Shida. Storm returning from her sudden Dynasty removal will require her to prove she hasn't lost a step in the ring.

Shida's brutal katana strikes meeting Storm's chaotic, desperate energy is a guaranteed television classic on any given Wednesday. It ranks right in the middle because it is a foundational wrestling match, not necessarily a main event blood feud.

5. Britt Baker D.M.D.

Britt Baker has been suspiciously quiet regarding the whole "Timeless" phenomenon over the last year. The reality is Baker built the division, and Storm hijacked it with a wildly popular gimmick. There is real, believable animosity to mine there for television.

Baker loves to cut down anyone stealing her precious airtime. A bitter feud between the original face of AEW and its most successful character actress would print money. It places high because the verbal battles and backstage segments would be vicious.

4. Athena

Athena has been terrorizing Ring of Honor for years, operating as a bully with a championship belt. It is time she brought that violence to the main roster permanently. Storm isn't afraid to get hit, and Athena throws the heaviest forearms and dropkicks in the business.

Imagine the "Timeless" character trying to comprehend Athena's sheer, unadulterated aggression. Storm would be forced to drop the act entirely and fight for her life. This sits at 4 because the sheer physical toll of this match would be legendary.

3. Willow Nightingale

Willow Nightingale's relentless, smiling positivity against Storm's fading-star depression is a brilliant psychological dynamic. They have tangled before, but the stakes are completely different now. Storm is lost in the wilderness, having missed Dynasty entirely according to Ringside News.

Willow is exactly the kind of powerful opponent who could snap her back into reality with a devastating Doctor Bomb. It ranks this high because their in-ring chemistry is undeniable and the crowd investment is always massive.

2. Mina Shirakawa

The forbidden door is always open in AEW. Mina Shirakawa's involvement in the Mariah May storyline added incredible depth to Storm's character last year. We never got the pure, uninterrupted singles match between Storm and Shirakawa with no outside interference.

Shirakawa's targeted leg submissions against Storm's desperate pacing would be a wrestling masterclass. It misses the top spot barely. That is mostly because coordinating the Stardom talent schedules can be a logistical headache for the booking team.

1. Deonna Purrazzo

Deonna Purrazzo is a wrestling purist. She hates nonsense, she hates gimmicks, and she definitely hates black-and-white camera filters. Storm represents everything Purrazzo despises in modern professional wrestling. This is the absolute perfect foil for a returning Toni Storm.

Purrazzo twisting Storm into knots with a Venus de Milo while screaming about the theatricality of it all is brilliant television. It takes the number one spot because it is a fresh, untapped matchup. It requires zero title belts to be compelling. It is pure, concentrated stylistic hatred.

Honorable Mentions

  • Julia Hart: The spooky House of Black gimmick against the old Hollywood act would be visually stunning.
  • Serena Deeb: Locking Storm in a pure wrestling clinic would test her technical limits.
  • Riho: Utilizing her speed to counter Storm's power offense is always a reliable main event.