She is TIMELESS Toni Storm!! (No longer...)

[bog]

Dec 12, 2024 6:38:53 GMT -5 KME said:

More than willing to give it a chance and don't think Toni will suddenly become boring or anything but it does feel a bit like turning The Rock back into Rocky Maivia. Like I don't think I'd seen anybody ever, outside of grifter, want her to go back to her old gimmick, it did kind of taint the moment for me. Interested to see where it goes but I'm hoping it's all a bit of a bluff because the Timeless gimmick is one of the best ever while her old gimmick was pretty universally...not even hated, I just don't think anybody thought anything about it, it wasn't really a gimmick. I trust them to do something good with it but the Statlander stuff and going from having her look like a killer as a heel with Stokely with her awesome theme to going back doing the Zoolander cosplay stuff as a white meat babyface is sticking in my mind a bit.

Do also think AEW need to get smarter with big returns to be honest, they wasted Jamie's on a pre show, are potentially giving Kenny's to NJPW, and gave Toni to a crowd that needed constant livening up from the wrestlers not to mention right at the very end of the show with no real time to soak it in, though I did appreciate the surprise factor because Thunder Rosa being out there made me think there was chance of Toni so fair play to them for that. And she did get get a great reaction all the same.

I see what you're saying, but The Rock, and the Rock gimmick, became the number one character in wrestling, breaking through to the mainstream, getting a show named after one of his catchphrases, etc. Timeless was a great gimmick and very much over, but it was starting to slow down a bit for some and nowhere near the level of the Rock

[The anti-ratings Luddite]

Dec 12, 2024 2:22:45 GMT -5 bearned said:

The ‘awww no she’s boring Toni again’ reaction when she’s literally been on TV about 60 seconds and not uttered a single word….sure is something.

Is it truly the online wrestling community without opinions based on zero to minimal known facts?

[KME]

Dec 12, 2024 16:51:51 GMT -5 bog said:

Dec 12, 2024 6:38:53 GMT -5 KME said:

More than willing to give it a chance and don't think Toni will suddenly become boring or anything but it does feel a bit like turning The Rock back into Rocky Maivia. Like I don't think I'd seen anybody ever, outside of grifter, want her to go back to her old gimmick, it did kind of taint the moment for me. Interested to see where it goes but I'm hoping it's all a bit of a bluff because the Timeless gimmick is one of the best ever while her old gimmick was pretty universally...not even hated, I just don't think anybody thought anything about it, it wasn't really a gimmick. I trust them to do something good with it but the Statlander stuff and going from having her look like a killer as a heel with Stokely with her awesome theme to going back doing the Zoolander cosplay stuff as a white meat babyface is sticking in my mind a bit.

Do also think AEW need to get smarter with big returns to be honest, they wasted Jamie's on a pre show, are potentially giving Kenny's to NJPW, and gave Toni to a crowd that needed constant livening up from the wrestlers not to mention right at the very end of the show with no real time to soak it in, though I did appreciate the surprise factor because Thunder Rosa being out there made me think there was chance of Toni so fair play to them for that. And she did get get a great reaction all the same.

I see what you're saying, but The Rock, and the Rock gimmick, became the number one character in wrestling, breaking through to the mainstream, getting a show named after one of his catchphrases, etc. Timeless was a great gimmick and very much over, but it was starting to slow down a bit for some and nowhere near the level of the Rock

Well yeah, it wasn't her level of success I was comparing to the Rock, just someone with way more charisma than you thought they had going from the gimmick that made them back to a moniker that wasn't over (even if in this case it might be a swerve for all we know so far). I don't know what a better example is off the top of my head, JBL going back to being APA Bradshaw after 18 months or something?

The Rock's act wore thin a few times too, over as he always was fans turned on him multiple times and obviously led to Hollywood Rock. And that's what I'm kind of hoping for Toni, an evolution of her Timeless gimmick, as opposed to just going back to what she was before it.

[bog]

Dec 12, 2024 17:09:43 GMT -5 KME said:

Dec 12, 2024 16:51:51 GMT -5 bog said:

I see what you're saying, but The Rock, and the Rock gimmick, became the number one character in wrestling, breaking through to the mainstream, getting a show named after one of his catchphrases, etc. Timeless was a great gimmick and very much over, but it was starting to slow down a bit for some and nowhere near the level of the Rock

Well yeah, it wasn't her level of success I was comparing to the Rock, just someone with way more charisma than you thought they had going from the gimmick that made them back to a moniker that wasn't over (even if in this case it might be a swerve for all we know so far). I don't know what a better example is off the top of my head, JBL going back to being APA Bradshaw after 18 months or something?

The Rock's act wore thin a few times too, over as he always was fans turned on him multiple times and obviously led to Hollywood Rock. And that's what I'm kind of hoping for Toni, an evolution of her Timeless gimmick, as opposed to just going back to what she was before it.

Yeah that makes sense (and the idea of JBL going back to Bradshaw is an interesting one!). I'm assuming Toni will have elements of both characters thrown together, but there's no way of knowing until she starts talking/wrestling again

[Hayabusa]

Alvarez stirring the pot a bit on his show but maybe making a good point - saying everyone he's spoken to in AEW is appalled that Toni's return match is happening on Rampage. It is really weird to have your top female star (sorry Mercedes) return after months away on what has been a leftovers show. Recently they have been treating Rampage like they want to save it, but it's dead at the end of the month. They could've made it a big attraction for next week's Dynamite in DC.

[Johnny Flamingo]

Dec 12, 2024 2:22:45 GMT -5 bearned said:

The ‘awww no she’s boring Toni again’ reaction when she’s literally been on TV about 60 seconds and not uttered a single word….sure is something.

We have zero idea of where this is going to go. I liked how they handled her. Gave her a great moment and I thought it was a good cliffhanger to end the show.


No way anyone can tell if she will be OG going forward or a three faces of Foley style character.

Hell they can even do like ECW did with Raven where they acknowledge who she was and build on that.

[markymark]

Dec 12, 2024 19:16:27 GMT -5 Hayabusa said:

Alvarez stirring the pot a bit on his show but maybe making a good point - saying everyone he's spoken to in AEW is appalled that Toni's return match is happening on Rampage. It is really weird to have your top female star (sorry Mercedes) return after months away on what has been a leftovers show. Recently they have been treating Rampage like they want to save it, but it's dead at the end of the month. They could've made it a big attraction for next week's Dynamite in DC.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}{SPOILER: CLICK TO SHOW}
Toni showed up on Collision just now.

[cjb01: Limited Edition Item!]

Dec 12, 2024 19:16:27 GMT -5 Hayabusa said:

Alvarez stirring the pot a bit on his show but maybe making a good point - saying everyone he's spoken to in AEW is appalled that Toni's return match is happening on Rampage. It is really weird to have your top female star (sorry Mercedes) return after months away on what has been a leftovers show. Recently they have been treating Rampage like they want to save it, but it's dead at the end of the month. They could've made it a big attraction for next week's Dynamite in DC.

I'd rather AEW try and make their shows must-see then try and punt them

Toni will likely wrestle multiple times across all shows to build up to a world title match.

[asuka007]

Dec 12, 2024 21:09:55 GMT -5 cjb01: Limited Edition Item! said:

Dec 12, 2024 19:16:27 GMT -5 Hayabusa said:

Alvarez stirring the pot a bit on his show but maybe making a good point - saying everyone he's spoken to in AEW is appalled that Toni's return match is happening on Rampage. It is really weird to have your top female star (sorry Mercedes) return after months away on what has been a leftovers show. Recently they have been treating Rampage like they want to save it, but it's dead at the end of the month. They could've made it a big attraction for next week's Dynamite in DC.

I'd rather AEW try and make their shows must-see then try and punt them

Toni will likely wrestle multiple times across all shows to build up to a world title match.

Rampage is ending soon. If they put this match on Collision then yeah I could see that. But Rampage is dead either way.

Such a weird choice?

[KME]

With Thunder Rosa the next contender for the title they're presumably going to build Toni back up slowly to some extent and flesh out whatever they're doing with her gimmick, and if that's the case why not have her on every show possible, she returned on Dynamite, wrestled on Rampage and it sounds like she'll be on Collision too. Does it really make that much difference if her first actual match back is on Rampage? I had my issues with her return and expressed them but she came out at the end of the main event with the world champion in the ring on the A show, nobody should be "appalled" as to where she had her first match back, she's clearly being set up for the biggest match possible in the very near future, with her biggest rival for the world title at what will be a really special show for her in Australia, I don't think her first match back being on Rampage will do anything to affect anything in any way to be honest.

She hasn't been gone that long either in the grand scheme of things and has been wrestling elsewhere in the time she's been gone, having already had her return on Dynamite I don't know how much of a big deal you need to make of her first actual match back, it's more about what's happening with her character and her storyline going forward that are going to be the talking points and I'm guessing those answers won't be provided on Rampage.

[cjb01: Limited Edition Item!]

Dec 12, 2024 21:38:43 GMT -5 asuka007 said:

Dec 12, 2024 21:09:55 GMT -5 cjb01: Limited Edition Item! said:

I'd rather AEW try and make their shows must-see then try and punt them

Toni will likely wrestle multiple times across all shows to build up to a world title match.

Rampage is ending soon. If they put this match on Collision then yeah I could see that. But Rampage is dead either way.

Such a weird choice?

Apparently she's gonna be on Collision too this week

[asuka007]

Dec 12, 2024 21:57:52 GMT -5 cjb01: Limited Edition Item! said:

Dec 12, 2024 21:38:43 GMT -5 asuka007 said:

Rampage is ending soon. If they put this match on Collision then yeah I could see that. But Rampage is dead either way.

Such a weird choice?

Apparently she's gonna be on Collision too this week

Good.

[Feargus McReddit]

My counter to the whole “Storm booked on Rampage” thing is basically this;

AEW has perceptions about being a show people can go to and enjoy, right? And one of the reasons is that sometimes the matches they get aren’t the ones that make people happy to have gone or aren’t quite big enough.

So if you were at that show, stayed all the way through to Rampage and not only saw Toni Storm return but also saw her first match back? That’d be something you tell your friends about, surely. And then the next time they come down; they’ll get something different and the atmosphere will be better because people expect good stuff to happen. Basically, it’s rewarding the fans for staying until the end.

Or, like, you could just watch her on Rampage? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Bo Rida]

There's also benefit in having a return match with less of a spotlight, shake out the ring rust, see if the nagging injury has healed, work out what she's capable of etc.

We've seen a few cases in recent months of people being put back into high profile matches on Dynamite and even PPV too soon.

[Feargus McReddit]

Dec 13, 2024 5:09:50 GMT -5 Bo Rida said:

There's also benefit in having a return match with less of a spotlight, shake out the ring rust, see if the nagging injury has healed, work out what she's capable of etc.

We've seen a few cases in recent months of people being put back into high profile matches on Dynamite and even PPV too soon.

As much as people don’t like it, it’s how they’re doing it with Jamie Hayter and makes all the sense in the world when you remember she was out for over a year and nobody knew if she’d even be back or not.

[almondjoy]

Dec 13, 2024 5:19:54 GMT -5 Feargus McReddit said:

Dec 13, 2024 5:09:50 GMT -5 Bo Rida said:

There's also benefit in having a return match with less of a spotlight, shake out the ring rust, see if the nagging injury has healed, work out what she's capable of etc.

We've seen a few cases in recent months of people being put back into high profile matches on Dynamite and even PPV too soon.

As much as people don’t like it, it’s how they’re doing it with Jamie Hayter and makes all the sense in the world when you remember she was out for over a year and nobody knew if she’d even be back or not.

Hayter was actually injured though, and gone for a year because of it.

Storm has been off TV for 10 weeks and has wrestled multiple times in other promotions in that time. Not sure there is any ring rust to shake in her case.

[Feargus McReddit]

Dec 13, 2024 7:04:47 GMT -5 almondjoy said:

Dec 13, 2024 5:19:54 GMT -5 Feargus McReddit said:

As much as people don’t like it, it’s how they’re doing it with Jamie Hayter and makes all the sense in the world when you remember she was out for over a year and nobody knew if she’d even be back or not.

Hayter was actually injured though, and gone for a year because of it.

Storm has been off TV for 10 weeks and has wrestled multiple times in other promotions in that time. Not sure there is any ring rust to shake in her case.

Then my first point comes more into play; think of Toni Storm being on Rampage like when John Cena or Cody Rhodes would do a dark match after Raw except you can actually watch it. It might not mean a lot to the viewers not watching but it means a lot to the people who brought their ticket to Dynamite and didn't expect it. "Wow, we not only saw Toni Storm return but we also saw her wrestle?! What happens if we come back the next time AEW is in town?!". That sort of stuff.

[Bang Bang Bart]

Dec 13, 2024 7:08:26 GMT -5 Feargus McReddit said:

Dec 13, 2024 7:04:47 GMT -5 almondjoy said:

Hayter was actually injured though, and gone for a year because of it.

Storm has been off TV for 10 weeks and has wrestled multiple times in other promotions in that time. Not sure there is any ring rust to shake in her case.

Then my first point comes more into play; think of Toni Storm being on Rampage like when John Cena or Cody Rhodes would do a dark match after Raw except you can actually watch it. It might not mean a lot to the viewers not watching but it means a lot to the people who brought their ticket to Dynamite and didn't expect it. "Wow, we not only saw Toni Storm return but we also saw her wrestle?! What happens if we come back the next time AEW is in town?!". That sort of stuff.

plus, it's kinda clear that with Rampage apparently wrapping up soon, they want to go out with a bang, hence why Toni's in-ring return is on there.

[Saiyanic Panic]

"HUE HUE HUE HUGH. That'sa Toni Storm alright! She ain't doin this because she's hungry. She's on a RAMPAGE."

to the one person that gets this i'm so sorry

[Feargus McReddit]

Dec 13, 2024 14:59:05 GMT -5 Bang Bang Bart said:

Dec 13, 2024 7:08:26 GMT -5 Feargus McReddit said:

Then my first point comes more into play; think of Toni Storm being on Rampage like when John Cena or Cody Rhodes would do a dark match after Raw except you can actually watch it. It might not mean a lot to the viewers not watching but it means a lot to the people who brought their ticket to Dynamite and didn't expect it. "Wow, we not only saw Toni Storm return but we also saw her wrestle?! What happens if we come back the next time AEW is in town?!". That sort of stuff.

plus, it's kinda clear that with Rampage apparently wrapping up soon, they want to go out with a bang, hence why Toni's in-ring return is on there.

On the flip side, if they are trying to pitch it to networks putting the former women’s champion one week and a C2 match on another shows they can at least try to make it seem somewhat important. If it doesn’t work out, they can’t say they didn’t try to do more even if it is a bit last minute.