Toni Storm’s situation may be even more serious than expected — and AEW is already preparing for the worst as she could miss out on the rest of 2026.
After being pulled from the March 18, 2026 episode of Dynamite at the last minute, Storm’s status immediately raised concerns. Now, a new report from Fightful Select on March 20 suggests this isn’t just a short-term issue. It was noted that Toni Storm was originally planned to wrestle on March 18, but was not cleared.
Storm was advertised for a no holds barred match against Marina Shafir, but just before the show, a backstage segment showed her laid out in a pool of blood — leading to AEW announcing she wasn’t medically cleared.
However, it was added that AEW is now preparing for the possibility that she may not be cleared to wrestle through at least 2026. And the company isn’t waiting around. Plans are already in place for the ‘attacker’ storyline, with a defined creative direction moving forward.
Mina Shirakawa stepped in as Storm’s replacement and defeated Shafir, while the mystery around the backstage attack became the new focus. What looked like a storyline twist may now be AEW adjusting on the fly to a real situation.
So the direction is clear. Storm being pulled wasn’t just a last-minute change — it may have been the start of a longer absence, with AEW already building around it. And if this timeline holds, it’s a major shake-up for the women’s division heading into the rest of 2026.
Do you think AEW can keep momentum going without Toni Storm, or will her absence leave a major gap in the division? Let us know your thoughts and leave your feedback below.