Toni Storm's absence forces AEW to rewrite women's Owen Hart tournament and All In plans

AEW star Toni Storm left the promotion in March 2026, prompting a major reshuffle of the women's division storyline. According to Dave Meltzer, the original plan was for Storm to win the Owen Hart Foundation tournament and challenge AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla at the All In event in Wembley.

With Storm unavailable, Willow Nightingale was positioned as the tournament’s focal point, but a shoulder injury in May forced her out and led to the vacancy of the TBS Championship. Mercedes Moné and Maya World were inserted as replacements, setting up a new final at the AEW × NJPW Forbidden Door show. Thekla has since carried the division, slated to defend her title against either Moné or World at All In.

Tony Khan confirmed that the year’s plans had to be restructured quickly after Storm’s unexpected hiatus, and Meltzer noted that the originally scheduled Thekla vs. Storm match at Wembley was no longer on the card.