Toni Storm is a professional wrestling sensation. At simply 26 years of age, the New Zealander has travelled the globe, notching up greater than a decade of success contained in the squared circle, however in an unique chat with M&F, the fan favourite reveals that her best possible is but to return.
In an open and trustworthy chat, Storm talks about her renewed ardour for health, why the previous WWE UK Girls’s Champion feels that she’s in her finest form ever, and who’s on her listing of dream opponents.
On this previous Wednesday evening’s episode of “AEW Dynamite” on TBS, Storm was cheated out of her place within the ultimate of the Owen Hart Cup Match as a result of Britt Baker getting an unlawful help from Jamie Hayter. The Owen Hart Cup ultimate takes place reside on the “AEW Double of Nothing” pay-per-view from Las Vegas on Sunday, Could 29. It was launched this yr in honor of the person that followers knew as “The King of Harts,” a wrestler that was revered for his charisma and wrestling prowess, each as a technical grasp and as a high-flyer.
Owen Hart was a ‘wrestlers’ wrestler’ and his matches are nonetheless studied to today by the long run stars of the mat. Whereas Storm’s likelihood to raise the cup had been stolen this time, reaching the semi-finals was no imply feat. “I might say that my favourite Owen Hart match was him versus Bret Hart at WrestleMania X,” says Storm. “For my part, Owen Hart is ‘wrestling completed appropriately,’ he was phenomenal, simply one of many best that our business has ever had.”
Being the best is a notion that Storm has chased feverishly since making her debut in Australia, in 2009. Since then, the thrilling performer has travelled the world, making a reputation for herself in promotions reminiscent of Japan’s Stardom, and naturally WWE the place she turned the UK Girls’s Champion in 2019, ten years after her debut. After residing in England to wrestle in WWE NXT UK, Storm was later drafted to WWE NXT stateside, the place she settled down in Florida, resulting in a name as much as WWE’s SmackDown model. Grapple followers will recall that Storm was competing on the highest stage of WWE earlier than she departed the corporate final yr, touring the US and sharing a hoop with the likes of Sasha Banks and Charlotte Aptitude, however after asking for her launch from WWE in December of 2021, Storm started to focus on her well being and wellbeing, and drew an extremely optimistic response throughout her shock AEW debut on an episode of Dynamite again in March.
“I’m feeling extra prepared than ever,” says Storm, who’s enthusiasm is infectious as she talks of her journey so far. “I’ve at all times skilled, I’ve at all times stayed constant, however it’s actually within the final yr that I’ve actually began to see myself growing as an athlete. For instance, once I was in NXT, you’ll be able to even see within the footage, I’m not within the best bodily situation that I ever was, however with shifting to America from the UK, big way of life modifications, Covid, life simply generally can actually be more durable at occasions than it’s in others, and through my time in NXT I didn’t really feel like I used to be good with my coaching and my diet, however actually within the final yr I’ve been kicking it into gear and taking it up a notch. I’m coaching essentially the most persistently than I’ve ever been, and I’m beginning to see some actually good outcomes.”
Toni Storm Is Making the Proper Decisions
The life of a professional wrestler could be very very similar to that of a world rockstar. These performers are in a unique city each evening and discover it laborious to sleep as a result of late exhibits and the adrenaline rush of the gang. For Storm, settling right into a stable routine and shunning the after-show events for some much-needed relaxation and restoration has been key to her wellbeing.
“I’ve made quite a lot of modifications to my life prior to now yr, particularly,” says Storm. “I tuned 26 in October final yr, and I’ve actually felt myself rising up. You realize, in your early 20s if you find yourself working, residing a fast-paced way of life, like anybody, you aren’t continuously making one of the best way of life selections. Typically there’s some unhealthy meals on the street, possibly some drinks after the exhibits, and that basically caught up with me as a result of I used to be simply continuously on the street for years with no routine, not getting sufficient sleep. All of these issues began to weigh heavy on me however now I don’t drink any alcohol. I’ve observed an immense distinction. My exercises and all the pieces has completely modified.”
Storm additionally shares that her husband, and fellow skilled wrestler, Juice Robison has been instrumental in supporting her motivation to coach, typically accompanying her to the gymnasium. “That’s a recreation changer,” says Storm. “He’s kinda my backup!”
On present days, our woman from down underneath says that relaxation and hydration are important for feeling good. “I’ve been stocking up on the little cans of sparking water and conserving a kind of in my hand as I am going.” The thrilling sports activities entertainer has additionally lowered her espresso consumption and feels much less jittery since doing so.
In a typical week, Storm undertakes three to 4 exercise periods with a private coach, break up between leg day, and 1 or 2 higher physique days relying on her schedule and targets. Earlier than Storm heads out for a taxing wrestling match, she’s going to undertake intense circuit coaching to work on her cardio, power, and stamina. Exterior of the gymnasium, Storm additionally likes to take lengthy walks along with her canine.
The Calm Earlier than the Storm
After her profitable AEW debut towards The Bunny on March 30, Toni Storm has been wowing critics along with her in-ring prowess, and whereas AEW’s occasion schedule is lighter than that of WWE’s, the blonde bombshell is busier than ever. Experiences recommend that the sweetness made greater than $10,000 within the first hour of her OnlyFans account going reside. “I’m continuously taking photoshoots, which suggests I continuously should be in form for that and for wrestling.”
There’s little question that Storm is eager for individuals to know that she’s received the mettle to turn into one of the best within the wrestling enterprise. “I’m busier than I ever have been.” says the grasp of the Storm Zero piledriver. “The opinion (of others) for a very long time was that possibly I didn’t prefer to
be working laborious or on the street, or that I’m simply too drained and I don’t have what it takes however I can guarantee you that couldn’t be farther from the reality.” Being part of the AEW roster has lit a fireplace in Storm to point out simply what she will be able to do. “I’m so excited, as a result of I don’t really feel like I’ve been capable of present individuals one of the best of me but,” shares Storm. “The perfect is but to return.” This extra focussed, pushed model of Toni Storm says that Serena Deeb and Kris Statlander prime her listing of future dream opponents.
Toni Storm Has No Time for Negativity
Coping with destructive voices is not any enjoyable for these which are within the public eye, however Toni Storm is studying to place the blinkers on in relation to dealing trolls. “It’s changing into increasingly more of an issue, and it may be actually laborious for individuals, it will probably drag individuals’s psychological state down dramatically, and that’s one thing that I’ve needed to work actually laborious to recover from,” says Storm. “I used to be a youngster developing on this enterprise and I’ve grown … and I’m noticing that quite a lot of feedback do get made about our our bodies.”
The wrestling celebrity says that it is very important see trolls for what they’re, and never allow them to get into your head. “Folks can say what they need about me and that’s none of my enterprise. You realize, the birds are nonetheless gonna sing the subsequent morning and I’m gonna rise up and go to the gymnasium and proceed to higher myself and keep within the zone. It may be actually laborious for a younger lady to undertake that robust mentality however I urge each younger lady to simply deal with their head, primary, and never hearken to anybody, not care about what strangers should say.”
