At AEW Collision tonight, fans witnessed a heartfelt reunion as Toni Storm expressed her gratitude with a kiss following the return of Mina Shirakawa. The moment highlighted the ongoing storyline centered on friendship and rivalry within the women’s division.
Known as The Timeless One, Toni Storm began the show by addressing her intense rivalry with Athena, setting the stage for their highly anticipated clash scheduled for next week’s Forbidden Door 2025 event. In the middle of her promo, Storm was unexpectedly attacked by The Fallen Goddess and her ally, Billie Starkz. Mina Shirakawa made a dramatic comeback to rescue Storm from the double assault, instantly shifting the momentum in the home team’s favor.
Shirakawa had been sidelined since last month due to a hand injury sustained during the Women’s Casino Gauntlet Match at AEW All In: Texas. AEW wove this real injury into the storyline by implicating Athena, establishing deeper stakes for the upcoming battles.
Following Shirakawa’s return, she tackled Billie Starkz, forcing Athena, known as The Forever Champion, to retreat. This led to an emotional scene where Storm and Shirakawa embraced in celebration. Storm then kissed Shirakawa’s cheeks, underscoring the strong bond between the two athletes.
Building Toward a High-Stakes Championship Showdown
Next week’s Forbidden Door event will feature Athena challenging Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship. Athena, considered one of the promotion’s most formidable champions after her lengthy reign and dominance over ROH, aims to prove her supremacy extends into AEW’s roster. Meanwhile, Storm is riding a wave of success, highlighted by her recent victory over Mercedes Moné, which handed Moné her first loss since joining AEW.
In addition to her AEW challenges, Athena faces Mina Shirakawa at ROH Death Before Dishonor later this month, intensifying the pressure on The Fallen Goddess. This layered rivalry creates a complex narrative where Athena is challenged on multiple fronts, testing her ability to maintain control as the reigning champion.
Fans are now eagerly awaiting to see if Athena can sustain her claim as champion, nearly 1,000 days into her reign, or if Toni Storm and Shirakawa’s teamwork will disrupt her dominance in AEW and ROH alike.
