Mariah May's Shocking Turn on Toni Storm on AEW Dynamite | Busted Open

Dave LaGreca and Tommy Dreamer discuss Mariah May’s shocking turn on Toni Storm, and why they think Storm should end her schtick.
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Busted Open airs seven days a week, 9am-12pm ET on SiriusXM Fight Nation 156. Host Dave LaGreca discusses all aspects of pro wrestling with the greatest cast of co-hosts in the industry: WWE Hall of Famers Bully Ray & Mark Henry, ECW legend Tommy Dreamer, Nic Nemeth, Thunder Rosa, and Denise Salcedo.
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#wrestling #aewdynamite #aew

[@MikeDee412]

The shot of Mariah holding Toni and their All In graphic in the back was perfect.

[@JonathanBarragan-gd9jg]

Just The Like Way Dominik Turned On His Dad At Clash At The Castle 🏰, When He Joined The Judgement Day.

[@miked4309]

@@JonathanBarragan-gd9jg roddy piper hitting snuka with coconut on pipers pit was a time that made me feel sad and shocked in wrestling.

[@JonathanBarragan-gd9jg]

@@miked4309 Tell It To Dominik Mysterio.

[@miked4309]

@@JonathanBarragan-gd9jg tell what to dominik?

[@JonathanBarragan-gd9jg]

@@miked4309 Dominik Mysterio.

[@mitchellchagas1669]

Toni didnt watch for the shoe 😢. The beautiful irony. What a way to close out the show!

[@ARAKARABLUE]

Tits out.

[@miked4309]

very well done. it felt like a movie not pro wrestling.

[@benclaridge8130]

And don't forget it was a heel-turn, using a heel. Quite literally turning heel (turning the heel on her wound). It's a fantastically worked turn, with all the irony and in-jokes. Love it!

[@TheTony024]

“You sick fuck” chants told me the fans were mesmerized and in the moment. Awesome turn, up there for one of the best heel turns of the year. I thought Toni was turning but that curveball was well delivered. Even the dude in the suit took a bump 😭

[@vspecmaster]

It told me that the fans just wanted to chant "you sick fuck"

[@leonstroker4026]

True ECW Style

[@miked4309]

when toni said weeks ago..."was this the plan the whole time you magnificent bastard" really fooled me. i never saw this coming.

[@XXXXSTORMXXXX]

Stardom talent does no wrong.

[@AeriykTheRed]

Mariah holding Toni like a hunting trophy was wild.

[@tyfrier2434]

Honestly I thought Toni was going to turn on her last night but AEW surprised me with that move.

[@mrnicemam8523]

They tried making Toni storm a heel against Serena deeb but it failed cause fans didn't want to boo her.

[@PAPERBOYPRINCE107]

Storm was great she was still character the whole time even covered in blood

[@phillysfinest215]

She’s an actress of course

[@patmoar7242]

I don’t know if I’ve ever seen such a brutal heel turn for a women’s wrestler. It was nasty.

[@jonathan__g]

I wouldn't be surprised if they make it a "First Blood" match personally.

[@zap_sigma1]

Between MJF's heel turn & Mariah May's, there was some wild shi going on on Dynamite.

[@Alien_on_earth69]

Dynamite getting back good 👏🏽

[@pinroshan020]

Good because its not gonna draw more than 800k viewers. Lmao! 😂

[@zap_sigma1]

@@pinroshan020 It's a viral video. Btw, how much of WWE's success has anything to do with you? How many classic matches have you performed by them? How much money have you made them? Are YOU in their HOF, casual? Yeah, just as I thought, loser. You're still a nobody, STILL a bum. LMAO! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@KK-pm7ud]

Toni Storm is one of the best things AEW has going. She's improved significantly on character.

[@tonycampbell4982]

It's boring as hell bring on Kamil already!

[@johnnysupreme5718]

@@tonycampbell4982 How can you watch the clip of Toni getting her head caved in with that heel and call it boring

[@a.j.santiago303]

Of course a turn was coming, but in 40+ years of fandom I've never seen such a vicious women's pro wrestling beatdown on national television. For me, it wasn't the turn so much as May was (kayfabe) unnecessarily brutal. (I mean that in the best way possible.) The visual was stunning; if this was real life, someone would have called the cops. But for effect this was amazing! Can't wait to see what Mariah has to say.

[@PAPERBOYPRINCE107]

Storm will be a super baby face

[@RobertoSanchez-rd1km]

That heel turn was awesome i couldn't believe it and it literally shocked me. AEW has amazing talent on there roster and I can't get enough of it. The character name's are really catchy in a way u have to see who they when knowing who they are or are seeing them for first tome. I can't wait to see the rest of this story line im super excited 😃😃💯💯💯

[@pinroshan020]

Lmao! Sorry to disappoint you but its gonna be a forgettable anyway.

[@DateMike22]

Phenomenal and well executed heel turn 👠👏🏼👏🏼.

[@SWDCHS]

Love the old school Pirates hat on Tommy.

[@IndustryPets]

What if Toni switched to another era like 70’s horror movie era. Some Texas chainsaw revenge 🍿

[@cliffordwhitehead2393]

Damn, that sounds like it could be cool.

[@jessiemorris84]

Honestly that would be the best way to evolve her character, and still keep her as Timeless Toni Storm

[@MikeDee412]

The way toni cried from the beating really got me and made me feel for her

[@victorbilly4769]

It felt real.

[@thewilliamquinnchannel]

I want her to come back as Mommie Dearest.

[@diendong]

No more wire hangers….EVER!

[@joshmartin4761]

The video from backstage they put up on Twitter today was great also and not a word was said

[@MikeDee412]

The contrast of how white toni does her face and the blood was pretty cool. Definitely did not see it coming.

[@Alien_on_earth69]

That was a brutal turn Mariah will be a star for them 👏🏽

[@PAPERBOYPRINCE107]

When the show ended Maria may was electric she was glowing ✨️ 😍 💖 a real bad ass "B" blond hair waving in the air! I was like God damn that was a great show and all I could think was storm is gonna be a super baby face.

[@InnocentFurryCat-we6yz]

Not only that Toni is going to mess her up

[@ARAKARABLUE]

Nothing CEO VS DMD can do to top that.

[@ARAKARABLUE]

@@InnocentFurryCat-we6yz Jamie

[@Rendclaw]

Anyone who has been watching wrestling for more than ten years knew this entire arc was going to end with Mariah turning on her, or Toni in a fit of jealous rage turning on her. I think the more shocking thing is that Mariah turned on Toni, rather than Toni turning on her.

[@silxix2599]

Yeah some turns are a matter of when. There's Jade & Bianca. Anyone knows that ain't lasting forever. That's a way to make Jade a bigger star. For now she's getting the Rub on Bianca. I don't watch it, but Like you said, anyone that knows wrestling can see that coming, even if it's from very far away. Now how it's done is the cool stuff and this between Storm and Mariah was great. Because there's a bigger reason to want to see the match. Elevated Mariah, putting her more on the spotlight.

[@jamesreding6336]

I expected it to happen later this year

[@StephenStepz]

All In is going to be fun. Looking forward to being there again!

[@PAPERBOYPRINCE107]

Yhea the belt wips where crazy looked so real probably was!

[@SophisticatedViking]

Love Toni and Mariah

[@therev_sungyungmoon24]

They need to bring Mina Shirakawa back now into the story and get someone on Toni's side now to feud against Mina and Mariah. Toni should dye her hair black with black leather and do a total pissed off character now with this evolution of the story.

[@gregthegroove]

That was awesome man. Everyone played their parts perfect and I was shocked. Tony finally hit a grand slam with this one. Story, drama and all. Aside from the Rock beat down on Cody in Chicago, which is unbeatable, this was the 2nd best close to a wrestling show this year.

[@jlaws63]

Last time I saw something like this was Dusty Rhodes/Abdullah the Butcher.

[@brianhatcher2799]

The match should be a non-sanctioned street fight a la HHH vs. HBK in 2002.

[@bryannevers4679]

One of the best heel turns. Reminds of the time when Bayley turned on Sasha Banks back in 2020

[@michaelvazquez7851]

Nice interview

[@AUBwins]

I did not expect it to happen right away. I'm familiar with the story they were telling so figured MM would be the turn. For a brief moment was wondering if she would turn after the embrace in ring like typical turns, but they gave me that false sense of happiness still going to get the belt. Then she went off immediately on Toni. So it got me good despite thinking about it right before. So well done lol

[@Basser_]

I like toni storm coming back without the funny character. It should return but it should be almost like a demon Balor. Bust it out for 1 night.

[@RApollos107]

An idea I thought of that’s kinda similar to what Tommy said is have her be off TV for a couple weeks. Then have a pre-tape segment announced as Toni giving an update on her condition. And at the beginning of it, she’s still in full character, black and white and everything, but as the segment continues she slowly drifts out of the gimmick and getting angrier and angrier. And you can also show this with the screen slowly going from black and white to full color. And it ends with her saying something like “next time you see me Mariah, no chin up, no tits out and watch out for my fist” or something like that.

[@TheNeonParadox]

I wouldn't say we didn't see it coming. A turn was the obvious conclusion from jump. What we didn't see coming was who would be the one to turn and how crazy the turn would be. That was almost unsettling, but it was beautiful as a piece of television.

[@madtokki833]

Toni Storm screaming in agony made the whole thing for me. Fantastic stuff.

[@WhutThu]

It got REAL!

[@miked4309]

i saw it live and was shocked. i felt so sad. i watched it again and it made me cry. toni storm is so convincing and its pretty graphic. i think aew has done so well with this timeless toni storm. its been so funny and now its so dramatic.

[@mistamuthafuka]

Remember....watch for the shoe!

[@TheWolfLucifersAngel]

AMAZINE AEW show that was, next one is 250 then blood and guts, the round to All in will be amazine

[@MrChrisStingray]

Why would they have two heel turns two weeks in a row?

[@iam_rvxv]

I would be all for this scenario. Toni gone for a few weeks when she returns she just seems over it, she can stick with the Timeless gimmick. But vignette teasers that show the glasses, lightning bolt, eyeblack. Then Wembley its time for the match, a video package loads, and its Timeless Toni walking towards a countertop, and she reaches, grabs the eye black (camera in black and white.) she grabs the glasses and puts them on it goes to full color, cuts to black. Her original music hits, and she comes out wearing the Red and Black and the backwards cap. MOMENT MADE

[@ericshipp2158]

I don't think it's shocking as they had to brake them up but I thought it was great as it was shocking how fast it happened and it works better and makes Toni the baby face they want to cheer. So congrats to them

[@xXGeko1Xx]

Definitely an all out street fight type brawl

[@johndrake2729]

Toni wouldn't let Mariah take all the thunder. Hence the pent-up frustration and jealously Mariah kept having every week until this point.

[@ojmcclanahan689]

It was definitely a surprise, but a surprise isn't always a good thing. I liked it, but I agree with Tommy that it would have made more sense if Toni would have done those things to Mariah. It would have playing into Toni's paranoia, and I just think having the townie go into the PPV as the heel is weird.

[@kimchi2780]

Its based on the movie all about Eve. In the end Eve became the bad guy.

[@ojmcclanahan689]

@@kimchi2780 Okay. Still doesn't make sense for the person challenging for the title in their hometown at the big PPV to be the heel. I wish people would realize that wrestling isn't a movie. What works in a movie doesn't always work in the context of pro wrestling.

[@metalassassin9537]

That was very unfortunate what happened to Britt Baker. But lets get real Toni Storm has made the AEW women's world title the most prestigious title in women's wrestling. They might as well put a small name plate on the front of it that says "timeless"🙂

[@DresdenShuffle]

If you’ve seen the movie All About Eve which the storyline is heavily based on you’d know Mariah was going to be the one to turn.

[@MrMeleo08]

I see it coming on the ppv

[@jlyon983]

This was coming since Mariah debuted. When was the surprise; but it was always going to be Mariah that turned. She earned Toni’s affection for that moment. Just outstanding.

[@willhannah4542]

No way should she give up the character for good. Leading up to this match and the match itself, maybe out of the Timeless character and then back in - The ultimate performance!

[@0378steve]

How’s that for long term story telling ?

[@travisford6663]

Man, I have to agree. It was the best turn that I have seen all year probably the best one in the last two years whatever show you wanna say. the way they produced it was perfect. The look on the woman’s face after she did it. You can see hatred in her eyes, and we all know it’s not real, but she made it look real as it could! I don’t watch dynamite, and have not in almost two years I follow through KZbin! Is just not worth two hours of my life but I will tune in next week to give it another shot! And fyi I don’t give time too wwe for the same wanted to say that to so the aew geek squad don’t say I’m a hater, not a hater at all but I have them both a shot in 23 again wwe drains me far as carrying on to long with something! And aew don’t carry a story at all mid the 90s as do everyone I’m sure!

[@MyDudeMRP]

I think the blood should transition the character to when black and white went to color, she could then save the Black and White for whenever she turns Bad Again.

[@edwardlockwood2641]

Mariah will be the villian for US fans but hero with British fans.

[@THEORIGINALTRAVMAN]

There's a trend in the comic book world called Black, White, and Red. Each mini, focusing on one specific character, is artistically done using only black, white, and red, masterfully making brutality pop against the black & white. I don't see why AEW couldn't have Toni Storm go serious but still pay homage to the gimmick by coming out in the B&W but you can still see her bleeding.

[@adam7899]

When Storm returns she needs to go back to being the bad ass character she use to be

[@wondahquinn6825]

No mention of Mina Shirakawa?? I believe Mariah could have betrayed Storm to go with someone she loved as well. I also think the PLE match should be a No DQ match at least or Last Woman Standing match.

[@chrisxxc648]

A thing you should do once in awhile keep up with people free agents now

[@JohnnyZ716]

This Storm/May ordeal is now an actual "Blood Feud" Honestly have we ever really had anything like that with women. I'm talking the long term story line of it all, and then the eventual brutal heel turn for Mariah. It's like Mariah was evil all along and she was just playing and using Toni to get to the top. One thing though, I think Toni needs to be serious now for this feud. I mean if she comes out next week or whatever and starts cracking jokes etc, its just gonna come off cheesy. She needs to be pissed off and angry. Or the other way and be so distraught and sad that her best friend and protégé turned on her.

[@sons714native4]

Tommy Dreamer trying to stay awake 😂😂😂

[@brandonwilliams5526]

😂

[@jayzero4206]

A blind man saw this coming 😂

[@therev_sungyungmoon24]

Best supporting actress winner Mariah May.👏👏This has to be the work of Jennifer Pepperman. Well done. The best part is it looks like it is just getting started. Plenty more twists and turns to come.

[@InnocentFurryCat-we6yz]

Toni Storm is one of my favorite wrestlers in AEW

[@robdurfee6861]

Is it shocking? Everyone saw this coming

[@joeguerra8435]

Too much blood. I have no idea how they bring Toni back. Toni is a very lovable character that something like this shouldn’t happen to.

[@imwithoutshoes]

Mariah WILL NOT get boo'd in england trust me, she will be the face just like MJF in long island. Mariah can do no wrong over here!

[@iamfireshadow73]

Mariah will get cheered like crazy in London

[@starshipfame1]

11:19 I think she should mix it together.

[@alphanerd7221]

Dropping Toni's character would be a huge mistake.

[@chrishollister80]

Using a heel for a heel turn.

[@marlonmoore6694]

Toni is a good enough to keep the timeless character but just make it a little more serious

[@hortdog00]

Watch for the 👠

[@hortdog00]

She used Toni to get into the Owen. The writing was on the wall. For me I thought she should of turned when Toni pinned Mina and FB but glad they did it like they did

[@ericmarks6322]

How much does Toni Storm beating Mina Shirikawa defending the AEW women's title play into Mariah May turning on Toni?

[@barrystewart5946]

Hey Taylor sign a pre nupt

[@joshhefner8179]

They had MJF doing that last week they should have waited at least another one week before having her turn.

[@leonstroker4026]

Why is Tommy's wall wrinkled? Lol.

[@42Belanger]

First of all, to my knowledge here, that was the worst incident involving two female wrestlers in all of Pro Wrestling History since Babydoll was attacked by Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express jabbing the tennis racket into the gut. Second of all, I agree with you, Tommy Dreamer, Toni Storm needs to be off TV for a little bit and when she comes back, she should go from Black and White screen to color and say something to Mariah May because this incident reminds me of Wrestle War '89 when Ric Flair won his sixth NWA World Heavyweight Title from Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and in the post match celebration Terry Funk cheap shots Flair and then piledrives Flair thru the table injuring Flair at the Municipal Auditorium. Finally, I think the AEW Woman's World Title should be either a Cage Match or a London Streetfight because this incident was graphic to say the least

[@tonyosorio4253]

What happens when Jamie pops up? 👀

[@janus78]

I partially disagree with how Toni Storm should be going forward. The Rock didn't stop being the Rock when he was in a feud. She just has to be a darker version of her gimmick. She actually would get dark at times during previous promos for feuds, but she just has to go even darker. She needs to retain the personality but she just needs to leak out the real Toni Storm in between the promos, she has always snuck reality into it, just a little bit more.

[@QCS_AdamCole]

Toni got some good colour

[@quentingoodwin8114]

Is there going to be a heel turn every week on Dynamite? Seems like they’re going to jump the shark on these shocking turns

[@johnriley7312]

But according to the IWC, AEW doesn't have long term storytelling?

[@richardsantos8028]

@KathrynElizabeth-s5f😂

[@yungflav193]

How about just enjoy the product instead letting iwc nerds get what they want out of you

[@awesomeatronik]

​@KathrynElizabeth-s5fLoL hahaha 🤣

[@InnocentFurryCat-we6yz]

I saw the video of her turning on Toni it was messed up

[@Trunks7500]

😮

[@shreder75]

There was nothing shocking about it. As soon as she won a shot to go against Storm, you could see it coming. That doesn't make it any less effective, though. This is actually one of the few really good stories to come from aew creative in a long time. Loved it.

[@awesomeatronik]

​@KathrynElizabeth-s5fthey seemed to have understood the subtext better than you.

[@Amiga1200Mark]

Does she come back as Toni Storm of old?

[@hervehightower2364]

i knew she was gonna turn on because every woman in the aew lockroom and for months she i saw something every time they went to the ring or interview with them i saw looking at the championship belt deep down she pretender to dress like her here she use that closeness to toni.

[@joehenry709]

How was this not predictable? You knew if Mariah won somebody was going to turn on the other person. It wasn't going to be hwy good luck fighting me for my title. We will still be friends afterwards

[@alphanerd7221]

Becuase pretty much nobody predicted it.

[@jamesgroover4643]

Mariah ripping up on Toni was superbly done 👍 Better than the final bonehead tearing uo Cofy in Chicago 🤕🤕

[@MrBostonrobb]

Dave's a hard listen. Give me Bubba, please.

[@mrnicemam8523]

Dave who? Meltzer?

[@MrRaider772]

Are you really a Pittsburgh Pirates fan Tommy or are you just collecting different MLB caps instead of choosing one MLB team to be a fan of?

[@RobertoMaciel-lj5dh]

Honestly Toni should bring back her old gimmick not this new black and white gimmick she is going to need the real Toni storm back

[@greghacker4555]

A lot of blood shed last on the show.

[@JoesMadness]

I thought the turn was lame and over acting was ridiculously bad and I saw that coming a mile away. This was another skippable episode of AEW Dynamite

[@climbitmyself782]

I agree with Dave. Toni should come back as her old gimmick, but with this new confidence. She can now reclaim her past that Mariah took.

[@climbitmyself782]

The referees are the ones that ruined that segment to some degree. Someone is getting bloody assaulted and the refs half heartedly tried to stop it just to limply walk away. Wrestling needs to be more logically consistent in every company.

[@philo2189]

.... you're just looking for something to bitch about.

[@johnnielewis4250]

If Tommy dreamer did booking it's understandable how ecw went under. His creative is trash . I understand he risked his body in matches. But it doesn't mean you need to be in creative. It's obvious he's still in the business through politics 😅😅😅