Toni Storm

Toni Rossall (born 19 October 1995) is a New Zealand-born Australian professional wrestler. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Toni Storm. Storm previously wrestled in NXT's United Kingdom based sister brand NXT UK, where she is a former NXT UK Women's Champion. Storm originally became known in WWE when she competed in the 2017 and 2018 Mae Young Classic tournaments, making it to the semi-finals in 2017 and winning the tournament at WWE Evolution in 2018.

Toni Storm
Storm in May 2019
Birth nameToni Rossall
Born (1995-10-19) 19 October 1995
Auckland, New Zealand
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Toni Storm
Storm[1][2]
Billed height165 cm (5 ft 5 in)[1][3]
Billed weight65 kg (143 lb)[1]
Billed fromGold Coast, Queensland, Australia[4][5]
Trained byDean Allmark[6]
Debut9 October 2009[1][3]

Outside of WWE, Storm previously wrestled in the Japan based World Wonder Ring Stardom (Stardom), she is a former World of Stardom Champion and SWA World Champion, in the UK based Progress Wrestling, where she is a former Progress Women's Champion and the Germany based Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw), where she was a two-time wXw Women's Champion.

Early life

Toni Rossall[6] was born in Auckland, New Zealand on 19 October 1995,[7] but moved to Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia with her mother at the age of 4 when her parents separated.[8] At age 10, while living on the Gold Coast, she discovered WWE on television and developed an interest for professional wrestling.

Professional wrestling career

Early career

Rossall began training at Impact Pro Wrestling's Australian affiliate (not to be confused with the United States-based Impact Wrestling) and debuted for the company under the ring name Storm on 9 October 2009,[1][3] when she was 13 years old.[9] After five years of honing her skills in Australia, she decided she wanted to become a better wrestler; at the age of 18, she convinced her mother to let her move to England, where she moved into her grandmother's home in Liverpool.[6][8] While in England, she trained under Dean Allmark.[6] She started working internationally in countries such as Finland, France, Germany, and Spain.[6] Storm took part in a WWE tryout camp in Melbourne on the 2014 WWE Australian tour and the 2015 WWE UK tour.[10][11]

Progress Wrestling (2015–2018)

Storm made her debut for Progress Wrestling on 14 April 2015, being defeated by Elizabeth.[12]

In May 2017, Storm became the first ever Progress Women's Champion after defeating Jinny and Laura Di Matteo in a three-way match.[13] This match marked the first time that female wrestlers competed in the main event of a Progress event. Throughout the year, Storm went on to successfully defend the championship numerous times against challengers like Kay Lee Ray, Laura Di Matteo and Candice LeRae. She lost the title to Jinny at Chapter 69: Be Here Now.

World Wonder Ring Stardom (2016–2018)

In 2016, she began working for the Japanese World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion, where she won the SWA World Championship on 24 July.[14] On 2 October 2016, Stardom officially announced that Storm had signed with the promotion.[15] After winning the 2017 Cinderella Tournament on 30 April,[16] Storm also won the 2017 5★Star GP on 18 September, becoming the first wrestler to win the two tournaments in the same year.[17] On 24 September, Storm became the new World of Stardom Champion in an unplanned finish, when Mayu Iwatani was legitimately injured during a title defense against her, prompting the referee to stop the match and award Storm the title.[18][19] On 9 June 2018 Storm lost the World of Stardom Championship against Kagetsu.

Mae Young Classic (2017–2018)

On 16 June 2017, WWE announced Storm as one of the first four participants of the Mae Young Classic.[20] Storm entered the tournament on 13 July, defeating Ayesha Raymond in the first round.[21] The following day, Storm defeated Lacey Evans in the second round and Piper Niven in the quarterfinals, before being eliminated from the tournament in the semifinals by Kairi Sane.[22]

On 9 May 2018, Storm was advertised for the upcoming United Kingdom Championship Tournament events.[23] On 24 May, Dave Meltzer reported that Storm had signed a WWE contract. On 18 June at the United Kingdom Championship Tournament, Storm defeated Killer Kelly and Isla Dawn in a Triple threat match to become the #1 contender for the NXT Women's Championship.[24] The following day at the NXT U.K. Championship, Storm was defeated by the defending NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler.[25] On 28 October 2018, at WWE Evolution she defeated Io Shirai to win the 2018 Mae Young Classic.[26]

NXT UK (2018–2020)

On the 26 August episode of NXT UK (aired on 28 November), Storm lost to Rhea Ripley in a final tournament match to determine the inaugural NXT UK Women's Champion.[27] In a rematch on 12 January 2019 at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool, Storm defeated Rhea Ripley to capture the NXT UK Women's Championship[28] and reigned as champion until 31 August 2019 at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff, where Storm lost her NXT UK Women's Championship to Kay Lee Ray, ending her reign at 231 days.

On 24 November 2019 on the NXT TakeOver: WarGames post-show Q&A session with Triple H, Storm was announced to be a part of the NXT Women's Survivor Series team by team captain Rhea Ripley. At Survivor Series, Storm was eliminated after Natalya and Sasha Banks aligned and locked in a Bank Statement/Sharpshooter Combination. At NXT UK Takeover: Blackpool II, Storm competed unsuccessfully in a triple threat match for the NXT UK Women’s Championship against Kay Lee Ray and Piper Niven. Storm participated in the women's Royal Rumble match at the namesake pay-per-view and entered at #20 but was eliminated by Shayna Baszler. Storm wrestled her last match in the brand on the 27 February 2020 episode of NXT UK, against and lost to Kay Lee Ray in an "I Quit" Match. Storm will not challenge for the NXT UK Women's Championship as long as Kay Lee Ray is the champion.[29]

NXT (2020–present)

After a 8-month hiatus, on 4 October 2020 at NXT TakeOver 31, Toni returned to NXT following the NXT Women's Championship match between Io Shirai and Candice LeRae.[30] On 25 November 2020 episode of NXT, Toni attacked Ember Moon, thus turning heel for the first time in her WWE career. She then joined Candice LeRae's team with Dakota Kai, and Raquel González for NXT TakeOver: WarGames.[31]

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. "Toni Storm « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database". Cagematch.net. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  2. "Toni Storm". NZ Wrestling. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  3. "Toni Storm – Online World of Wrestling". Onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  4. "Toni Storm — Preston City Wrestling". Prestoncitywrestling.com. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  5. "Storm". Pacific Pro Wrestling. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  6. Hurd, Sean (4 September 2017). "Mae Young competitor Toni Storm is proud of her humble wrestling roots". ESPN. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  7. 5★Star GP2016参戦外国人選手. World Wonder Ring Stardom (in Japanese). 4 July 2014. Archived from the original on 26 July 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  8. 【スターダム】トニー・ストーム 得意技の名前の由来は？. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  9. A debut at 13, wrestling around the world and living her dream: Toni Storm is wrestling’s next big women’s star
  10. Dunn, David (6 August 2014). "WWE tryouts begin in Melbourne today". NZPWI. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  11. "Women Receive WWE Tryouts During UK Tour". Diva Dirt. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
  12. "2015 Progress matches fought by Toni Storm". cagematch.net.
  13. "The Week In British Wrestling: SSS16 weekend was a hit". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 1 June 2017.
  14. ＜スターダム＞イオＶ３ならず 小川社長は長期欠場勧告も示唆. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 25 July 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  15. 2016年10月2日 トニー・ストームがスターダム所属選手となる. World Wonder Ring Stardom (in Japanese). 2 October 2016. Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  16. ストームがシンデレラＴ初優勝！イオの赤いベルト挑戦表明. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  17. 【スターダム】トニー・ストームが春秋連覇「ワタシハサイキョー！」王座挑戦も決定. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 18 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  18. スターダム岩谷麻優、悪夢の左肘脱臼で無冠転落. Daily Sports Online (in Japanese). Kobe Shimbun. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  19. Meltzer, Dave (24 September 2017). "Daily Update: No Mercy odds, Mayu Iwatani injury, Jeff Hardy". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  20. "Toni Storm among first names announced for WWE Mae Young Classic". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  21. Williams, JJ (13 July 2017). "WWE Mae Young Classic taping spoilers: The tournament begins". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
  22. Williams, JJ (14 July 2017). "WWE Mae Young Classic taping spoilers: The finals are set". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  23. Casey Michael (9 May 2018). "Toni Storm Advertised For WWE UK Tournament Shows". Squared Circle Sirens. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  24. "Toni Storm def. Killer Kelly and Isla Dawn in a Triple Threat Match to earn an NXT Women's Title Match against Shayna Baszler on Night Two". WWE. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  25. Erskine, James (19 June 2018). "LIVE, ONGOING WWE UK CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT NIGHT TWO SPOILERS FROM LONDON". PWInsider. Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  26. http://www.prowrestlingsheet.com/toni-storm-wins-mae-young-classic/
  27. "The first NXT UK Women's Champion to be crowned at NXT UK tapings this weekend in Birmingham". WWE. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  28. https://wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/toni-storm-is-the-new-nxt-uk-womens-champion/
  29. "Kay Lee Ray def. Toni Storm in an "I Quit" Match for the NXT UK Women's Championship". WWE. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2018.<
  30. Moore, John (5 October 2020). "NXT Takeover 31 results – Moore's live review of Finn Balor vs. Kyle O'Reilly for the NXT Title, Io Shirai vs. Candice LeRae for the NXT Women's Title, Damian Priest vs. Johnny Gargano for the NXT North American Title, Santos Escobar vs. Isaiah Scott for the NXT Cruiserweight Title, Kushida vs. Velveteen Dream". prowrestling.net. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  31. Moore, John. "11/25 NXT TV results: Moore's review of the ladder match to determine the WarGames match advantage, Ember Moon vs. Candice LeRae, Kushida vs. Timothy Thatcher, KO Show with Leon Ruff, Rhea Ripley promo". Pro Wrestling dot net. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  32. Kreikenbohm, Philip (14 April 2012). "AAW Women's Championship". CageMatch. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  33. Kreikenbohm, Philip (4 December 2016). "British Empire Women's Championship". CageMatch. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  34. Kreikenbohm, Philip (26 April 2012). "PWAQ Women's Championship". CageMatch. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  35. Kreikenbohm, Philip (30 July 2011). "PWAQ Women's Underground Championship". CageMatch. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
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  39. Kreikenbohm, Philip (20 January 2018). "wXw Women's Championship". CageMatch. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  40. "wXw Femmes Fatales". Westside Xtreme Wrestling (in German). Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  41. Kreikenbohm, Philip (24 July 2016). "SWA World Championship". CageMatch. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  42. Kreikenbohm, Philip (24 September 2017). "World of Stardom Championship". CageMatch. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  43. 2017年12月25日 スターダムアワード2017表彰式＆美闘陽子引退記念パーティーが開かれました. World Wonder Ring Stardom (in Japanese). 26 December 2017. Archived from the original on 25 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  44. Kreikenbohm, Philip (28 October 2018). "Mae Young Classic (2018)". CageMatch. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
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