Toni Storm reflects on her whirlwind main roster call up in 2021.
Toni Storm was one of the main building blocks of the NXT brand and found some success outside of that brand as the winner of the 2018 Mae Young Classic Tournament.
In 2021, she was called up from NXT to the main roster, specifically winding up on the SmackDown brand, and what happened after that was a roller coaster ride.
Storm arrived on the brand just as WWE was rebuilding its regular touring schedule and then proceeded to not be heavily featured until the end of 2021 where she repaired in a quick rivalry with Charlotte Flair, resulting in a SmackDown Women's Championship match that aired on Christmas Eve.
As first reported by Sean Ross Sapp, Toni was granted her release from her WWE contract on Thursday, December 29. Just before then, she was featured on the Out of Character podcast with Ryan Satin, where she talked about her start and stop push on the main roster.
“I was cruising along in NXT, minding my own business, I got called for a few dark matches and I didn't think too much of it or get too excited. I just went along with it. Did a few dark matches, did my best, and next thing I know, I'm on SmackDown. It's been a crazy ride ever since. I'm a different person, a different being, a whole different thing,” said Toni, who also said that she found out she would be moving to SmackDown on the day of.
Speaking about the change from NXT to the main roster, Toni would say that it is entirely different and that she was looking forward to finding her A-Game on the main roster.
“The entirety. It's a whole new set of changes and a whole new learning curve. I have a newfound appreciation...obviously, I have an undying respect for this industry, it's what I've been doing my whole life, but now I have so much respect for what people do up here. It really is top-notch quality. I'm putting everything into bettering myself and showing I can hang here. Mentally, I'm in a whole different ballgame. I have to get my A-Game, not that I haven't been on my A-Game, but it's new, fresh, exciting.”
Speaking about her relationship with Vince McMahon, Storm said she hadn't yet had a chance to get to know him better but was looking forward to getting more opportunities to chat with the chairman.
“We've only had a few chats so far. We haven't had a chance to really get to know each other yet. I'm sure if I can keep doing a good job and slap the taste out of that girl's [Charlotte Flair] mouth, maybe there will be more chats.”
Toni Storm also spoke of the frustration of the start-and-stop push, noting that she tried to keep the faith as she was sitting in catering because, in wrestling, you never know when your moment can come around.
“It's the worst because you don't know. Obviously, wrestling is so unpredictable. Next week, you could be main eventing and winning a title and everything could be happening...or, nothing. You don't know. It's show business. When you're stuck in catering, it's not a good feeling, sitting there and waiting for your shot or your big break. 'When am I next? What's happening' then when stuff starts happening, I'm still like [deep breath].”
Ultimately, Toni is now gone from WWE but left her mark in the promotion during her handful of years with the company.
We will continue to monitor the stories surrounding her release and report more as it is made available.
If you use any of the above quotes, please make sure to credit Fightful for the transcription by linking back to this article.
