Historically, sapphic representation across the board in mainstream pro wrestling hasn’t been great or has been downright problematic. But instead of solely focusing on the problematic storylines that people endured before AEW (All Elite Wrestling) existed, I'm going to get into something that’ll warm queer wrestling fans’ hearts — yes, even those of us whose hearts are cold as ice and not so easily thawed.
For those who aren’t in the know and/or are newbies to the pro wrestling world, AEW is essentially the second-largest pro wrestling promotion in the world. The promotion was founded in 2019 as an alternative to WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). At AEW, wrestling is still a priority, they aren’t openly in bed with the Trump Administration, and they don’t have a sex trafficking scandal. Therefore, it’s safe and accurate to say that a gimmick like “Timeless” Toni Storm’s wouldn’t happen in WWE, certainly not in its current form.
(“Timeless”) Toni Storm is one of the most popular wrestlers in AEW, across both the men’s and women’s division. Her current gimmick takes heavy inspiration from the Golden Age of Hollywood, specifically starlets of that time period. There’s a level of camp that she exudes as a result, and it’s delightful to watch.
It isn’t an exaggeration to say she’s as popular as she is, either, and it may be surprising to some that an openly queer (she identifies as bisexual) wrestler would garner this level of popularity. But she does, and that’s an incredible thing for queer wrestling fans to see. We’ve seen plenty of straight (or presumably straight) wrestlers take on queer personas (or gimmicks) — and there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, though it’s special when a wrestler isn’t just queer in kayfabe (see definition here).
We often talk about queer representation in films and other media, but queer representation in pro wrestling is just as important and should be noted. Storm has made a huge impact on the women’s division, her popularity brings more eyes to the promotion, and being queer and proud of that as a popular figure is major, especially now. Sapphic storylines in wrestling haven’t always shined a proper light on queer experiences. Therefore, for AEW to give us sapphic storylines that are complicated, entertaining, and with fantastic matches to cap it off is important.
One of Storm's more notable storylines, one that people still praise, is her storyline with former AEW wrestler Mariah May (she’s now known as Blake Monroe in WWE). The storyline was heavily inspired by the films All About Eve (1950) as well as Sunset Boulevard (1950), and was long-form rather than short-form. It resulted in a love story beginning and ending, AEW World Title changes, and several matches between them to devour.
For those of us who have been watching AEW for a long time, the storyline reminded many folks of what's possible for women’s storylines. We even got to see May and Storm kiss onscreen more than once, as well as have other unapologetically queer moments. There’s no having to pick through subtext and decipher this or that (we have to do this way too much as it is), thankfully. It simply was queer, and that’s what it was until the storyline breathed its final breath.
As a long-time wrestling fan and self-proclaimed AEW sicko (it’s an actual term that’s even used by Tony Khan, who is the president of the promotion), I grew up seeing the polar opposite of their storyline. Normally sapphic implied storylines weren’t anything to celebrate or praise. The times were different before, obviously, but all of that is still unsavory to reflect back on.
Queer storylines between women in wrestling don’t have to be fluttery or without chaos, as there’s no shortage of chaos or violence in pro wrestling. But what they shouldn’t be is extremely, all-around homophobic. There’s no need for that, especially not when queer rights are constantly under attack, particularly in the US. It may seem so minor to those who aren’t fans, but to folks who are it continues to be a comfort to see good sapphic representation on television, as well as in pay-per-views.
Of course, people don’t have to love Storm because she’s certainly not a wrestler that will appeal to everyone. She’s bold, drops sexual innuendos a lot, dials up the camp meter to 100, and not everyone is going to go bananas over that. As long as people aren’t being homophobic about it, they’re allowed to say she’s not their favorite. However, to discount her impact or to wave away the importance of her as an out queer wrestler in AEW, as well as in general, would be a silly thing to do — especially as wrestling is still a niche thing to love.
Queer wrestling fans, myself included, are able to feel safe or at least find some comfort, as well as get a few chuckles in, when she’s onscreen. And right now a lot of folks could use one or both of those things for even a few hours of their life when watching AEW Dynamite, AEW Collision, PPVS, etc. At the end of the day, an out and proud bisexual wrestler achieving this height of popularity is a huge milestone. Therefore, “Timeless” Toni Storm will always be timeless, as she likes to say.
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