The return of Toni Storm | AEW Dynamite | Wrestling Observer Radio

[@wereallscrewed9714]

"Dave I can't" spoke VOLUMES

[@randomthoughtstoday]

TONI ON RAMPAGE IS SYMBOLIC OF AEWS BOOKING

[@danield2836]

I'm convinced TK does that just to mess with the fans

[@ronniesouthern7829]

Dave 3 seconds into the video: It’s my uhm, uhm wait a minute, my turn to talk.

[@MarionGrahamJr]

The look on Dave's face when Brian ask the obvious questions 😂

[@TheZestyOne]

Ah the Kris Statlander playbook of getting over with a fun gimmick and then dropping it, genius

[@NatePuderbaugh]

@@TheZestyOne I am an alien was extraordinarily stupid

[@keni95851]

"She's an alien" was about as fun as "Mantaur" and "Glacier"

[@AdrianBeegoatz]

The Alíen schtick was pigeon-holing Statlander. She got a lot more over once she dropped that sillyness and started the “more that a woman” stuff leading up to get beating Cargill. The booking falled Statlander afterward.

[@dex4463]

Statlander has never been over and her first gimmick was the worst.

[@ArthurDent33]

Put Toni on Rampage to pop a rating. Too bad the shows been cancelled, Tony.

[@hamilstarr4292]

Toni found herself in a great gimmick that put her as a main event level… Now this return that’s designed to not make money ? TK you’re consistent

[@apjapki]

The Britt Baker trajectory

[@SeeingShadows]

she was a main eventer b4 the timeless gimmick

[@LancePrimus]

​@@SeeingShadowsnot really

[@SeeingShadows]

@@LancePrimus her losing the world was caused the timeless gimmick how are u world champ and not a main eventer?

[@SeeingShadows]

@@dp-ec9vb they where both secondary champions and Toni was consistently in the main event mix with women

[@beejay271]

But the "Timeless" Toni gimmick was supper over and still had legs. Plus, it made her arguably the most popular female wrestler in a major promotion with maybe the exception of Rhea ripley. WHY kill the gimmick now? 😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@jimhardy665]

Not to mention she was BAREFOOT THE ENTIRE TIME! No more feet. Have to relive the glory with YT and webms. 😢😢😢

[@centristamerican7845]

​@jimhardy665 youre a weirdo man, thats too far

[@quentinkaasa47]

Charlotte was a lot more over than Toni without being on TV all year. Even Nia Jax is more over.

[@centristamerican7845]

@@quentinkaasa47 lol that simply isn't true

[@centristamerican7845]

@jimhardy665 that comment should not be allowed to stay on here, get help

[@jasonweppelman3318]

“It’s a tune up”. It’s ok Dave just say it’s stupid.

[@markula_4040]

It's a Broken Matt Hardy situation. Every time her career is sagging, she's going to bring the gimmick back. It's a bad strategy that is going to make her character inconsistent and people will stop caring about her in general. She's sabotaging her own career. Also, did they really set up the betrayal between Mariah and Mina on PPV and then have the resulting match on weekly TV? Talk about getting it backwards.

[@apjapki]

I thought exactly this.

[@dsadams17]

Or the Tribal Queef.

[@liquiddookie7526]

It would be like if Becky Lynch returned at the end of RAW then had her first match on the pre-show of the PPV lol

[@Am0ment0fB]

Speed. Ha.

[@quentinkaasa47]

Uh, AEW basically just did that with Jamie Hayter. And look where she is now.

[@paulc1553]

Should be Timeless Toni Storm.

[@Funkmonkv1]

Thunder Rosa found her way out of catering to ringside to put up signs.

[@jackboy14747]

3:07 crowd did not get really into Dave stop lying we all can hear

[@TheBrettFarrelly]

2:00 - I always like when something is really horrible

[@perryco34]

He’s at the right fucking place

[@AdrianBeegoatz]

Dave trying to defending his friends consistenly bad “indie booking” ideas

[@Br0130]

1:23 Dave has completely given up on trying to give words to Tony Khans lunatic booking.

[@manuelmodimola9732]

Tony Khan is incredibly incompetent 😮😮😮

[@joaquimaraujo96]

Why would she return to the timeless Toni Storm? She already said that gimmick retired, maybe will be back in the future, but it didn't make sense to return as timeless Toni Storm, Mariah "killed" that gimmick.

[@o2Tenka]

Toni on Rampage is such disrespect

[@joaquimaraujo96]

She is on Dynamite, Rampage or Collision what's wrong?

[@WillS724]

Ohhh Dave you know damn well khan is pulling a amnesia angle now that u mentioned it

[@blob624]

Even Dave cant defend this stupid booking 😂😂😂

[@beep6437]

So happy Toni is back

[@MikeCameron-jh6si]

The gimmick had run it's course and was getting stale so they had Mariah May turn on her as a reason for Toni to leave and come back as just Toni Storm

[@normaningemann3868]

Why was she Timeless Toni Storm in the first place? And why is she back to her original gear? Make it make sense!

[@aletriestolive]

​@@normaningemann3868it's not too difficult guys: betrayal was too much to bear, to overcome. And "timeless" is nonsensical now that she lost everything: friendship, the absolute leadership, the hybris of being the one and only. It's a step back to get her revenge. Timeless is dead, long live Timeless.

[@normaningemann3868]

@@aletriestolive But why did she become Timeless in the first place?

[@decepticonxhunter4850]

@@aletriestolive All of that doesn't really explain why Toni decided to act like a TCM starlet though.

[@aletriestolive]

@@decepticonxhunter4850 that could be true and definitely a point but...I think it's time to stop asking a promotion to explain every single part of its booking like we all need to be spoon fed...come on!

[@andrebdd5818]

It’s like charlotte flair coming back and her return match was on nxt or 205 live instead of the main roster. When Dave thinks something tony is doing is horrible then you know it’s horrible horrible

[@RonJP-pm7jp]

It’s kinda like one of their injured big stars making his return to a Japan promotion instead of the company that pays him.

[@abudaaaa]

Honestly, stop lying about this shit

[@TribalThief]

Let's put her back to the gimmick that didn't get over 😂🤦

[@bestintheworkdsjsjhkk]

Bryan Alvarez Babyface arc has been great

[@dashingdreww1185]

First Kyle beats Okada not even the main event on a random collision barely anyone watched , now Toni’s return match on rampage lmaoo ??

[@dngn4774]

I will never understand going through that bidding war with WWE just to make Okada a comic relief character for the Young Bucks’s stable.

[@keni95851]

@@dngn4774 maybe because it didnt happen

[@Saddler1944]

@@dngn4774 There is never a"bidding war". What you are seeing is AEW guys using the idea that WWE wants them to force Tony to offer them more money. Oh whats that Tony you want to give me 3 million I have HHH on my other phone and he is offering 5 will you go higher? We all know HHH is not on the other phone. Tony did you see Dave Melterzer said WWE wants to hire me I think you can afford to give me millions more. Okata, Danial Garcia, MJF, John Moxely, The Bucks, Kenny Omega. All of them have used this carnie act on Tony and it worked every single time because Tony is clueless.

[@AdrianBeegoatz]

To be fair, Okada has meant absolutely NOTHING in AEW anyway 🤷🏻‍♂️ Bintage Tony Khan anti-push

[@CrustyTuna]

Proof Tony Khan couldn't book a library

[@Wil63]

So let me get this straight, yall complain about Rampage and Collision being nothing shows, so when they try to put big matches and angles on them to try to get more viewers, yall still complain. So, exactly how are they going to make these shows mean something if they don't put meaningful things on those shows?

[@joshwent]

Brand Split. Create new stars on the secondary shows to become their own main draw and feature them when appropriate but sparingly on Dynamite. This would make the other shows unique. Instead they do it the opposite way, basically just 3 hours of matches/wrestlers not good enough to be on the main show.

[@justinb998]

Well for Rampage, at the very least, that show is going away and everyone knows that. So it really is a nothing show. Collision is a more reasonable option IMO

[@hiddensword9387]

Rampage is cancelled! why would you want to make that mean something?! you make no sense!!! Use the top women's wrestle on your highest rated show. Collision is drawing like half of Dynamite these days and having Toni storm on it won't do much for ratings. When your main show is losing more and more ratings each month you can't afford to use potential draws on shows you half assed up until now.

[@blablablaa14]

"Dave I can't" is how I feel watching AEW these days. It feels like watching an indy show that is only on once a month so they tell very little story and just do great matches

[@AdrianBeegoatz]

With all due respect, AEW has pretty much been “big budget indie” since it’s inception. It’s just that there are less people there that actually put in the work to try and make it a professional show.

[@dsadams17]

If you think they don't tell a story, you aren't watching. Quit exposing yourself.

[@blablablaa14]

@@dsadams17 Having a story, and telling a story are two different things. Grow up a bit and you'll learn about the difference

[@matthewfrohbieter1803]

Funny how Bryan seemingly scolds Dave for the decision. Like Dave has anything to do with it.

[@rapturedbretheren7]

Tbf the glamorous driver is mina's finisher as mariah's is mayday. Mina's figure four glamorous driver is her super finisher in STARDOM when her opponent kicks out of the OG. It's like giulia's glorious driver then northern lights bomb. Problem is we haven't seen the figure four variant of her glamorous driver in AEW.

[@arkjag2991]

I love laughing at AEW.

[@milk_bath]

Why waste your limited time on earth like that? Go do something that you truly love.

[@arkjag2991]

​@@milk_bath But I truly love laughing at AEW.

[@keni95851]

​@milk_bath why waste your limited time on earth replying to comments you don't like? Other than being a pathetic attempt to look down on people who don't conform to your way of thinking. "Go dO sOmEtHiNg YoU TrULy LoVe"🙄

[@dsadams17]

​@@arkjag2991 That's loser behavior, bro. Go do something less sad.

[@HolyShtWrestling]

@@arkjag2991 Based

[@GoldenGodDennisReynolds]

Time for Dave to get the clippers and shave off what little remains.

[@elberno4243]

Thunder Rosa's new gimmick is being Sammy Guevara

[@mr.whisper3338]

If AEW ever goes out of business, it will be because of Tony Kahn's hubris as a booker. He made himself a legend in his own mind and never stopped to consider his booking may not be good. Even Vince McMahon listened to others on the booking committee and let them book angles. JR and Pat Patterson to name a couple.

[@AdrianBeegoatz]

THIS

[@dsadams17]

They didn't die in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, or 2024 when the incels were begging for them to die.

[@TMPS93]

As Bryan and Vinny would say if this were WCW or TNA: "On TV, for free, with NO build."

[@michaelnagle5482]

We’re getting better. The thumbnail isn’t negative but the entire video is “AEW Bad!”. Maybe next week you guys will find something to like and not be miserable.

[@jmthehologram]

Maybe you'll understand that everyone is entitled to an opinion and you're listening to the 2 guys who remained positive about aew longer than most. I know I tapped out on dynamite in early 2023 and collision once it became just like dynamite

[@iamdb1990]

I weirdly admire you, after 5 years of crap, you're still willing to try and enjoy something about it, most fans gave up years ago, others gave up in the past 12 months, but you and a few others (decreasing by the week) are still clinging on to whatever it is you enjoy about it, good for you, sincerely

[@six6thdisciple]

WWE HAS ACTIVE SEXUAL ASSAULT & FEDERAL SEX TRAFFICKING CASES BUT YALL STILL WATCH “RELIGIOUSLY”….OTHER PEOPLE WOULD STOP WATCHING

[@JohnRigby5011]

"Thanks Guys" Tony Khan

[@TheGrittyUrbanSaga]

😔

[@SeranaTheStudent]

I had said somewhere that the "timeless" Toni Storm retirement message was a work.

[@TestIng-h4z]

No one thinks that aew is doing great angles

[@UnsilencedOutspokenTikTok]

Dave is just all over the place

[@asadcheema2606]

Imagine Roman instead of returning at the Main event of Summerslam just returned on a random Smackdown with the Big Dawg look and that beard. 🤭🤭

[@justinjohnson8551]

toni is not on roman's level so that's not the best example but TK is an idiot.

[@dsadams17]

Imagine if the Rock showed up on stage for a pop and....does nothing.

[@asadcheema2606]

@@dsadams17 talking about a guy who revolutionised the industry and brings eyes on the product on the other hand Toni had a really good thing going with the old Hollywood gimmick and they put it on the shelf

[@MegaMijit]

im an aew mark, but no one watches rampage.

[@abudaaaa]

Mr. Dave, what’s the problem between you and the WWE they killed someone from your family or what?

[@janus78]

In a vacuum a lot of what they are saying makes sense, but truthfully its not true. First they do not know what the booking for Toni is yet so they really have no right to comment on what it might be before it actually happens, having an opinion on what its going to be until we see it is nonsense. Second the execution of Foley switching personalities wasn't perfect but it was a great idea and would not be bad to go back into no matter what you say. As a matter of fact the Timeless gimmick actually encourages her to go into different roles so it might be even more appropriate. Third WWE used to have John Cena in dark matches on Monday Night Raws all the time, so AEW filming everything is showing a match that would be important even if its on a cancelled show isn't the worst idea. I'm hoping its the main event again so they carry over woman's main events for both shows. Rampage being taped also helps them to gauge Toni's new persona before she goes on Dynamite or Collision on their more viewed programming, this is not really new in wrestling it's just because of AEW's format it comes off as different as WWE would have done the same thing and not aired it and than debuted on a bigger show. The ending of this reminded me when the Rock came back and came out and the show just ended, so that was also an experimentation for AEW as well.

[@joshwent]

"WWE would have done the same thing and not aired it ..." The end of that sentence makes all the difference in the world. When Punk came back it was widely reported they had him wrestling Dominic at Live Events before he ever put his boots on TV. I'm sure you can understand how that dynamic would have been tragically different if he was Wresling Joe Coffey main eventing NXT instead.

[@dougiekiing4650]

Dave and his best friend Tony 😂

[@anxofernandez3344]

I don't think Toni was even born when Nick Foley/ Cactus Jack had the amnesia angle, so she can't have seen it as a kid, she can't remember loving tt when she saw it live because there's no way she saw it. Toni isn't even 30 years old yet and that angle was like in 93 or 94.

[@milk_bath]

You know the internet exists yeah? And you can watch older tv shows on it, yeah?

[@Am0ment0fB]

Remember when Punk returned on Rampage to over one million viewers? Pepperidge Farms Remembers. Ha.

[@mrrobert9176]

It doesn’t matter that the match was “very good”. I bet it tanked the ratings

[@619AJ]

AEW finally gets a gimmick over and then decides to abandon it 😵‍💫 great going tk

[@heymishgalloway1867]

“Make Rampage/Collision important, these shows don't have must see matches!” AEW does so: “Why is *insert match* on Rampage/Collision?” This company truly cannot win. This is why TK needs to not listen and just book shows like he always does.

[@eds_take]

Rampage is a dead show....and Tony storm being one of your alleged "stars" having her debut match on it is sad lolll

[@CoffeeStain-Music]

This is not how you do it. You don't have one of the few stars you've had over the past year return on a show that most people have forgotten even exists. Unless there is some long-term plan to make those shows must-see, then its pointless to have her return on that show just for it to be a "nothing" show again the following weeks.

[@eds_take]

⁠rampage is literally being canceled lol

[@hamilstarr4292]

@@heymishgalloway1867 good point!

[@juniorkhomari1850]

Completely missed the point

[@WilliamsburgFresh]

Reversing finishers with finishers makes finishers not really feel like.. finishers?

[@doug2731]

whoop dee doo

[@DSFking]

2 Things... 1 I think you've all forgotten that Timeless Toni started because she had a mental breakdown. She's not actually an old Hollywood starlet. That storyline reached its conclusion and Toni has returned as her real self. She's no longer out of her mind. Sorry if you liked the gimmick but this is perfectly logical. 2 We need to stop this mentality of A, B and C shows. This is why Collision and Rampage struggle. It's not because they're inherently worse shows. It's because you perceive them to be less important. Why can't Storm's return match be on Rampage? Why can't they put big matches on Rampage? Why can't they give fans a reason to tune in to Rampage? They have great matches on there all the time. Especially for Lucha fans. Stop trying to separate shows from their brands. Collision and Rampage are AEW just like Dynamite is. I watch all 3. They're all cannon. You'll get great talent on any of these shows. The only knock on Rampage is that it's shorter and has less time for promos and story segments. It's mainly matches. Which is fine because I actually like wrestling. I don't mind watching a 1 hour episode of good wrestling. I don't even care if the outcomes are predictable. I've been watching wrestling for over 30 years, everything is predictable! I just want to see good performances and Rampage doesn't disappoint.

[@manmeetrana388]

Aew is bad but this is a bad take … Tony has no plan but Toni does .. give this time because of Toni and it may be good in-spite of Tony

[@MikeAntGio]

Yes.. return match in rampage and then they wonder why people aren’t seen as larger than life.

[@JavierGarcia-hd7xm]

Blast from the past… duh. You already know. I like it, Mariah’s worse nightmare.

[@jimhardy665]

Funny thing is, with TV rights meaning more than butts in seats and PPV dead (for WWF), if they pulled a Goldberg over Hogan-type deal in mid Jan on Raw, it would make 1000x more sense to pop a rating (if Netflix will even release these things) than it did in 1998 (although they had butts in seats. Of course, they had MORE butts in seats when they pulled the f'n Fingerpoke. Bryan should have titled that chapter, How to Kill a Stadium and City and Entire Promotion. It certainly killed WCW for me. I found out about the Arquette Abomination from a co-worker at the time. All I thought was, the NWA was right to disconnect themselves back in 1991-2. Not that it helped em but David Arquette or Russo will never be labeled NWA World Champion, at least (I'm an NWA purist, sue me. Bad enough when that nutjob Broadus wore it).

[@jimhardy665]

After all, they did do that on SD's debut on Fox when Lesnar buried Kofimania. Most realistic finish to such a matchup plus probably Vince was probably tired of fanboys bitching online about 'woke WWE' (it was a thing on the more incel forums and boards).

[@gi79304]

Everyone was glazing this “new gimmick” yet hated it in WWE. Should of brought her back as a Crazy 1920s timeless Toni

[@ryanbenson4610]

Rampage…

[@MarkGebhardt-h2s]

Aew is garbage 🗑

[@milk_bath]

Then why are you here? Do you like rolling around in garbage? I usually just bag it up and throw it away instead of rubbing my face in it, like you.

[@Ravenwrn]

Like your breathe?

[@keni95851]

​@@milk_bathIf you don't like his comments why are you here

[@keni95851]

​​@@Ravenwrnlike your spelling...

[@Ravenwrn]

@@keni95851 LOL! You had to Edit your comeback? Lame!

[@apjapki]

Everyone loves everyone who feuds with Mariah. Does anyone love Mariah?

[@mercedesgonzalez1658]

She is easy to hate.

[@rodericklittle9324]

@@mercedesgonzalez1658 MARIAH RUN IS A FLOP SO FAR

[@NatePuderbaugh]

If anything exemplifies how absolutely awful Tony is at this, booking Toni's first match on Rampage is it

[@AdrianBeegoatz]

There are just far too many examples to list… 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@justinjohnson8551]

And they didn't even say what's TK doing....who watches these clowns.

[@UnsilencedOutspokenTikTok]

Remember when swerve became champ his celebration was on collision..their top championship celebration on the C show...

[@AdrianBeegoatz]

Technically it’s the B show. It just happens to have C-show ratings…

[@Fitennis60]

Return to old crap gimmick and on Rampage😂 Thunder Rosa with signs to react to Storm returning, ouch wonder why this show is failing…

[@AsparagusVideo]

Dave is such a rambling fool.

[@luckyjosh7]

It's really sad to see Bryan has gone so deep into the anti-AEW grift like Cornette and Bischoff. Anything for a buck.

[@perryco34]

She retired for 5 minutes?

[@connerhuston2613]

I guess she mean't the "Timeless " gimmick retired.?

[@hbkhhhdx99]

AEW Abo Buys

[@JTKatz07]

From timeless to dime less thanks Tony

[@iamdb1990]

Bryan sees the light, why bother bringing her back for Rampage, Tony is not trying to get fans, Tony is trying to lose what little there is left

[@Funkmonkv1]

Tony & his idiotic booking.

[@Ravenwrn]

Everything is Weird to Bryan Alvarez. He is confused by Everything!

[@abudaaaa]

Second, why are you not saying the truth? Aew sucks. The worst company in the world. Tony should. Resign. Quit. Give the company to Shane McMahon. Then we see Shane. Go ahead to head. Against the company that his family built I think it will be better from this point. But. Like that. Or ask Vince McMenamin to come to help do something.

[@michael-orian5773]

😂😂😂

[@ArthurDent33]

You need to stop drinking

[@abudaaaa]

@ I need to stop drinking, yeah I think so because I’m the one who would defend a losing company? Aew

[@KingBedtime]

lol. Jesus, dude.

[@abudaaaa]

@ the truth is the truth honestly I don’t know what’s his problem with the WWE but enough with the stupid lie.

[@IAmHeartbreak_]

😂😂 Dave will always find a defense for AEW... no matter how ridiculous it is

[@mit9623]

I can't for the life of me understand how sharply into an abyss AEW's booking has fallen over the past year. This company is just an unrecognizable shell of its former self from a storyline/booking standpoint. Just sad.

[@joaquimaraujo96]

So why would she return as Timeless Toni Storm, didn't you watch the shows or the interviews that she did? She said that retired from pro wrestling, not the OG Toni Storm that debut on AEW, don't be dumb.

[@Am0ment0fB]

Instead of Timeless Toni Storm returning on Dynamite to fight on Rampage. Timeless Toni Storm should have returned to Dynamite as Clueless Tony Khan and take over booking for Aew. Ha.

[@joaquimaraujo96]

So you guys complained about the Rampage treatment, and when he puts people like Toni on Rampage you guys complain? Make it make sense lol

[@Am0ment0fB]

@joaquimaraujo96 why would I complain about that or anything Aew does? It's all just comedy to me. Including goofys like you. Ha.

[@joaquimaraujo96]

@@Am0ment0fB grown ass man talking like that? Yikes...

[@MidnightPodcastGaming]

Tony is on heavy drugs.

[@xavier3121]

AEW in the mud

[@joshuamessenger]

Mariah May might be the worst character in the history of wrestling.

[@dolandarkxgrandayy6953]

What an awful show

[@chrispetrelis5013]

So Shinsuke did not win a match but got a title shot, Chad Gable lost match after match but got a title shot, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens but since it is WWE it is all great. Of course Bryan hates the women's match. Bryan is the biggest clown in wrestling media. Such a smug ASS. THE WOMENS MATCH WAS VERY GOOD- MINA SHOWED OUT

[@Shmiguelly]

Shinsuke beat Andrade

[@dsadams17]

​@@Shmiguellyformer WWE Speed champion Andrade? What an accolade 😂😂😂😂

[@decepticonxhunter4850]

@@dsadams17 It still defeats the purpose of OP complaining that Shinsuke supposedly didn't beat anybody to get a shot at the U.S. title.

[@chrispetrelis5013]

@@Shmiguelly So one win after multiple defeats is my point. AEW does the same thing but they are criticized, WWE pulls the same stunt and crickets.

[@ramborhoa]

This video gets .5 stars!!