Mariah May wins AEW women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament, attacks Toni Storm
Mariah May had a newsworthy evening on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, both by winning the women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament and then by violently turning on her friend and future opponent Toni Storm afterward.
May defeated Willow Nightingale in the night’s main event to take home the trophy, ceremonial title belt and title shot against Storm at August’s All In at London’s Wembley Stadium. May picked up the win after countering a fireman’s carry into a pin attempt to get the victory.
The competitive match wasn’t without its controversy as a sweatshirt-clad Stokely Hathaway tried to attack Nightingale which led to rival Kris Statlander nearly knocking her out with a kick. However, Nightingale kicked out of a running knee strike to rally before falling in defeat.
Afterward, May celebrated with Storm and they ran up the stage together to pose with the Cup and title belt. Nearly immediately, May grabbed the title and nailed Storm, bloodying her up. She then whipped both Storm and Luther repeatedly before throwing Luther off the stage through a table.
She then took Storm’s infamous shoe and repeatedly hit her with it in the head, only increasing the blood pouring out of her head. She then shoved referee Aubrey Edwards down as she attempted to break it up before kissing Storm’s bloody head and posing to end the show.
The 25-year-old began her AEW run in January and nearly immediately began an angle with Storm who she said she idolized which eventually morphed into Storm’s current “Timeless” character.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.