WWE and AEW star, 29, announces ‘retirement from wrestling’ in shock statement

AEW prima Toni Storm has insisted she is quitting wrestling aged conscionable 29.

The erstwhile champion, who is besides known for her clip successful WWE wherever she appeared connected SmackDown, NXT and NXT UK betwixt 2017 and 2021, has announced her in-ring retirement, though fans aren’t convinced.

Toni is known for her lingua successful feature promos and for staying successful quality astatine each opportunity, and she referenced caller losses successful All Elite Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling and CMLL.

Apologising for ‘being specified a failure’, she told SB Nation: ‘I’m not utilized to being a loser. I’ve failed astatine everything.

‘I mislaid successful AEW, I mislaid successful Japan, I mislaid successful Mexico. This is the past you’ll perceive from maine again. Enjoy Mariah May arsenic your champion. You tin each bask that.’

Toni mislaid the AEW Women’s World Title to Mariah May astatine Wembley Stadium during AEW All In London successful August, and aft each consequent nonaccomplishment successful different promotions, has claimed to beryllium disappearing from the spotlight.

She claimed she hasn’t told AEW brag Tony Khan astir walking distant from wrestling, and added that the promotion would header without her.

‘AEW is conscionable good without me. Everything is going good for AEW. They don’t request Toni Storm,’ she said.

‘When I met Mariah May. I’d been connected the apical of the satellite for many, galore years. I delivered. Then Mariah came onto the country and everything went tits up.’

Referencing her catchphrase, she teased: ‘Chin down. Tits in. Don’t fuss watching for the shoe.’

Given Toni’s committedness to her character, fans aren’t convinced she is really quitting wrestling for good, with everyone assuming she’s simply utilized the interrogation to make her story.

‘Probably “retiring” the quality who has been a smash hit. Just anticipation the adjacent improvement of Toni Storm is conscionable arsenic large #aew,’ wrote @WMMANews connected X.

‘What if the Timeless quality is gone but she returns conscionable arsenic Toni Storm,’ pondered @TheRKPodcast, portion @EddieFenix added: ‘She’s quality retiring much than likely. Toni Storm is TIMELESS. Time for a caller quality for her.’

And @WrestlingCovers said: ‘Perfect mode to get radical talking. She’ll beryllium back. Maybe she’s done with the “Timeless” quality and this Toni Storm returns soon. 🤘🤘’

Born successful New Zealand and raised successful Australia, Toni moved to the UK aged 18 to commencement her wrestling journey, grooming with Dean Allmark and moving astir Europe for the likes of PROGRESS Wrestling, and aboriginal Stardom successful Japan.

She appeared successful the Mae Young Classic for WWE successful 2017 and 2018 (winning the latter), and past signed a woody with the company earlier leaving 3 years ago.

She joined AEW successful March 2022, and past twelvemonth introduced the ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm character, heavy inspired by Sunset Boulevard and All About Eve.

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