Toni Storm Was Originally Booked to Win 2026 Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Before March Attack

Plans for the 2026 Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament looked quite different before an unexpected turn of events reshuffled AEW’s booking. Toni Storm had been internally slated to win the tournament, with the victory serving as a springboard to a AEW Women’s Championship match against Thekla at AEW All In.

Those plans were derailed after Storm was attacked during a television taping in March. The incident forced the company to pivot away from the original layout, altering what had been a clearly defined path to one of AEW’s marquee pay-per-view events of the year.

All In has historically functioned as one of AEW’s biggest shows on the calendar, making a Women’s Title match at that stage a significant opportunity. Had the original trajectory held, Storm — one of the promotion’s most recognizable and creatively distinct performers — would have been positioned at the center of that card heading into the summer.

The Owen Hart Foundation Tournament carries added weight given its legacy branding, and using it as a qualifier for a title match at All In reflects how seriously AEW has treated the tournament’s role in the women’s division. With Storm’s original path now off the table, it remains to be seen how the company will reshape the bracket and determine who ultimately challenges Thekla — or whether the championship match itself evolves in a new direction. Storm’s status and return timeline will likely be a key factor in how AEW builds toward All In.