Though Toni Storm was originally scheduled to face Thunder Rosa for the AEW Women’s World Championship at AEW All Out, the bout was changed when Thunder Rosa was forced to step away from in-ring competition due to injury. Instead, a fatal four way match was held at AEW All Out to crown an Interim Women’s World Champion. Storm emerged victorious over Britt Baker, Hikaru Shida, and Jamie Hayter.
On the most recent episode of AEW Dynamite, Toni Storm successfully defended her interim championship against former AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida, with whom she had a long history during their time competing in Japan.
Toni Storm Wants To Defeat Thunder Rosa To Do Away With “Interim Nonsense”
During a recent interview with Bleacher Report, Toni Storm spoke about her reign as Interim AEW Women’s World Championship, saying that she loves her time in the company but admits it can be stressful reigning as champion.
“I’ve really loved it so far,” she said. “I’ve really loved putting myself into AEW, and it’s my life now. I’m on the road with them every week, and I love it. I get to go out and compete and perform for great crowds all over the United States and Canada, which is awesome.
“So, I’m just having a really awesome time, as stressful as it is being champion and, you know, high expectations of me. It’s a lot of pressure, but I just love being a part of a locker room. They have such a great locker room full of wonderful, hardworking people. Now. I feel like I’m at home, I feel like I’ve found a family within AEW.”
However, Toni Storm admits that she wants to defeat Thunder Rosa once and for all to be properly recognized as the AEW Women’s World Champion.
“I guess my first thing would be to beat Thunder Rosa and stop this interim nonsense. That’s kind of what’s been bothering me. I think that’s been bothering a lot of people because she’s still calling herself the AEW women’s world champion and I’m the one here every week doing the work.
“Right now. I guess it’s about being a good champion, being a strong champion. That’s what I’m up against every day. I’m working harder than I ever had in my entire career. The time is now. I look at every week as just an opportunity to prove myself. I love giving it my all and who knows where we go from here? But all I know is I’m gonna continue to work hard.”
h/t BleacherReport