Missing AEW Star Spotted At Recent Shows
An AEW wrestler who has been away for a long time has been training in the ring again.
When AEW launched in 2019, the women’s division featured some wrestlers who were known by most wrestling fans, but many of them were unknown to the American pro wrestling audience.
In October 2019, the first AEW Women’s World Champion was crowned when Riho beat Nyla Rose to become the first woman to hold the Women’s World Title. Riho went on to have a 133-day reign as the Women’s Champion.
Since her reign as Women’s Champion, Riho hasn’t been featured as much on television and has also been wrestling a lot in Japan, but she remains with AEW.
Riho only wrestled four matches for AEW in 2024 (six matches total in the year) and just eight matches since mid-August 2023. The reason for the long time out of the ring is that Riho suffered an injury in a July 2024 AEW match against Lady Frost.
The good news for fans of Riho is that Fightful Select is reporting that Riho was at the AEW World’s PPV in late December and she was in the ring training ahead of the show. It’s not known when she will be able to return to the ring, but the fact that she has been training is a good sign for a comeback.
“Timeless” Toni Storm Sends Message To AEW Women’s Champion Mariah May
In other news regarding the women’s division, there was a memorable moment that took place on AEW Collision involving Toni Storm and Maria May. Former Women’s Champion Toni Storm showed Mariah May that Storm’s “rookie” act was all a ruse because she revealed that it was “Timeless” Toni after all. Storm delivered this message to her former ally May, who turned on Storm on her way to becoming the Women’s Champion.
“What makes you think our dance is done? Each scar, every drop of blood — I will feel forever! But now, it’s my moment in the sun. They say the hardest role you will ever play is yourself,” she said while removing her shoes and pants. “But what you just witnessed is the performance of a lifetime.
Mariah May, you may be the woman from hell, but you came from my womb and I will shove you back up there and spit you out. I am Timeless, Timeless, Timeless Toni Storm, and I’m gonna rip your t*ts off.”
Toni Storm will challenge Mariah May for the AEW Women’s Title at Grand Slam: Australia on February 15th.