“Timeless” Toni Storm and Mariah May’s storyline in AEW has been a trip marked by alliance, admiration from a pupil to their mentor, and ultimately, betrayal. This week on Dynamite, we saw a side of May that hadn’t been revealed before—a look into the manipulation, dominance, and aggression she harbored towards Storm.
May burst onto the AEW scene in November 2023 as an obsessed fan and admirer of Storm, captivated by her charisma, charm, wit, and in-ring prowess. While the two wrestlers’ interactions evolved to a deep sense of mutual respect, May began to support Storm in her matches and celebrate her victories from the sideline. As the storyline between the two progressed, May’s role matured from an admirer of Storm to an ally and a confidant. The fans witnessed their partnership as it grew organically and deepened their bond mended by their shared goals to keep Storm as the AEW Women’s World Champion. Whether it was backstage strategizing or just providing moral support for the champion, May became an important part of Storm’s journey as the women’s world champion.
However, questions arise: Was this all part of an elaborate scheme? Was Mariah’s true intent to gain the champion’s trust, lower her guard, and position herself more trustworthy than Storm’s loyal butler, Luther? With the recent turn of events, a shadow now casts over their once-solid relationship. After securing a guaranteed shot at Storm’s title at ALL IN in August by beating Willow Nightingale during the Owen Hart Tournament, she viciously attacked Storm leaving her bloody and confused. The brutal act left fans questioning her motives and opened up a new chapter of animosity and conflict in their story.
May seemed destined for adulation and support towards her idol but beneath the facade of fandom lurked a strategic mind, plotting her rise to prominence in the promotion—a storyline familiar in the books of wrestling stories. Wrestlers become meticulous with their plans of dominance and use the pretext of friendships and alliances to accomplish their goals. May’s motivations for betraying her “forever bosom buddy” exceed envy or a personal vendetta. Instead, her decision was a strategic maneuver to capitalize on an opportunity at the pinnacle of AEW’s women’s division.
Some fans might wonder, “How would have May known that Storm would sign her up for the tournament?” Why wouldn’t Storm want to help May with an opportunity to be champion? This was her pupil who had become so important to Storm’s title reign. She was less focused with May by her side, she wasn’t as strong-willed as she was before the growth of their relationship. If Storm had paid closer attention to the actions of May— such as the moment when May nearly threw in the towel during her title defense against Serena Deebs, or even the addition of Mina Shirakawa and the obvious chemistry between them—perhaps Storm would have seen this betrayal coming.
But from the perspective of the champion, maybe she didn’t want to see it coming because of the level of respect and admiration she had in return for May. She identified with Mariah, even allowing her to pay tribute by adopting her old persona, including Storm’s “rockstar” entrance music and ring attire before her wrestling matches on Dynamite and Collision. She saw a reflection of herself in Mariah May that made her proud of the wrestler she was becoming. But maybe she chose to ignore the ambitious and determined side of herself, the Toni Storm that is willing to do what it takes to succeed—a lesson May clearly excelled in.
This betrayal has not only shocked the fans but also redefined May’s character, showcasing her as a cunning antagonist willing to sacrifice friendship for glory. Some fans would remember that Storm did the same thing to her friends, The Outcasts, Saraya and Ruby Soho, when she prevented Soho from using spray paint on Kris Statlander, during their TBS championship match, resulting in Statlander retaining her title. The plot twist from this past week on Dynamite adds depth to their tale, transforming it from a simple mentor-mentee story into a compelling narrative of adversaries striving to outdo each other.
As the fallout from May’s betrayal continues to unfold, Storm will face a pivotal choice that will determine whether she retain her title at ALL IN or lose it to the person she trusted most. She will be tested; forcing her to disregard whatever respect and love she has towards May, if she wants to walk out of Wembley as champion. She will ultimately have to choose between her love as a champion and her love for Mariah May. Whatever choice she makes, the deep treachery has irreversibly fractured their relationship—such profound disloyalty can never be erased.
