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Toni Storm defeated Britt Baker, Hikaru Shida and Jamie Hayter in a four-way match at AEW All Out on Sunday to become the interim AEW women's world champion.
Originally, Thunder Rosa was slated to defend the AEW Women's World Championship against tag team partner Toni Storm at All Out, but less than two weeks before the show, she had to be removed from the match due to injury.
Rather than having Rosa relinquish the AEW women's title, the company followed the same formula as it did with then-AEW world champion CM Punk by determining an interim champ to face Rosa at a later date to determine the true champion.
Storm remained in contention for the interim title, while former AEW women's world champions, Baker and Shida, were added to the match, as was Hayter, who lost a title match against Rosa at Battle of the Belts last month.
Had Rosa vs. Storm happened at All Out, it would have been a rematch from Forbidden Door, which saw Rosa defeat Storm to retain in a hard-fought match.
Since Rosa and Storm gained great respect for each other at Forbidden Door, they began teaming together on occasion, naming their alliance ThunderStorm.
They defeated Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir on the July 6 episode of Dynamite and also scored a victory over Rose, Shafir and Emi Sakura in a six-woman tag team match alongside Shida on AEW Dark: Elevation.
ThunderStorm fell to Baker and Hayter on the Aug. 3 edition of Dynamite, ahead of the AEW Women's World Championship match between Rosa and Hayter at Battle of the Belts.
Since Rosa and Storm were in a feud of sorts with Baker and Hayter, it made sense for them to be included in the interim title mix.
Something similar can be said for Shida, who has been friendly with Rosa and Storm and has slowly been getting back up lately after seemingly dropping down the pecking order for several months.
Storm was considered a strong contender to beat Rosa, so it came as little surprise to see her prevail in the four-way replacement match.
By virtue of her win, Storm kept the possibility of a rematch with Rosa in the near future, and she will have the chance to establish herself as someone worthy of being the full-fledged women's world champion while Rosa is out.
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Former AEW women's champion Hikaru Shida took to Twitter on Monday night to address then-AEW Spanish commentator Willie Urbina mocking her in a racist manner during last week's episode of Dynamite.
Shida tweeted the following about the matter (Warning: Some language NSFW):
Urbina made fun of Shida's Japanese accent while providing commentary for Dynamite, resulting in his firing from the company prior to Sunday's Double or Nothing pay-per-view.
According to Sean Rueter of Cageside Seats, AEW President Tony Khan commented on the decision to fire Urbina, saying, "I didn't think there was any excuse. I was not happy. Afterwards, I heard what was said and having our commentators involved with what was said about her, who I also apologized to, I thought it was best for the company to make this decision."
The 32-year-old Shida has been the face of the AEW women's division for much of the company's existence, and her one-year reign as AEW women's champion just came to an end Sunday.
Shida faced Britt Baker in one of the biggest matches on the Double or Nothing card, and due in large part to interference from Rebel and Baker using the championship belt to her advantage, Shida dropped the title to her rival.
Despite the loss, Shida remains one of the top stars in the company, and she still stands as the longest-reigning champion in AEW history.
While Shida is best known for her in-ring work, she has come a long way in terms of cutting promos as well, and her English has gotten noticeably better since she made her AEW debut.
As Shida continues to hone her craft and improve in all areas, it seems like a near certainty that she will regain the AEW Women's Championship at some point in the future.
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The third annual All Elite Wrestling Double or Nothing pay-per-view is set for Sunday, and every title will be on the line as part of a lengthy card.
It will also mark the first All Elite Wrestling show with full fan capacity since the COVID-19 pandemic started last year, meaning Double or Nothing should provide those watching at home with an exciting atmosphere.
In addition to a host of title matches, the second-ever Stadium Stampede match will take place, and the stakes will be huge, with The Inner Circle having to disband if they are unable to defeat The Pinnacle.
Here is a full rundown of the Double or Nothing card, along with a closer look at some of the top matches that could steal the show.
Where: Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida
When: Sunday, May 30, at 8 p.m. ET (Pre-Show starts at 7 p.m. ET)
Watch: B/R Live and PPV
AEW Double or Nothing 2021 Match Card
Top Matches to Watch
Stadium Stampede
While AEW hasn't announced which match will serve as the main event of Double or Nothing, it seems likely that the Stadium Stampede between The Pinnacle and The Inner Circle will occupy that spot.
Last year's Stadium Stampede between The Inner Circle and The Elite headlined the 2020 PPV, and since it received positive views, the second edition of the match figures to be the headliner as well.
The Pinnacle and The Inner Circle have been embroiled in a heated feud recently, and things truly came to a head on the May 5 episode of Dynamite in the first-ever Blood and Guts match.
That contest was won by The Pinnacle when Sammy Guevara surrendered in order to prevent MJF from throwing Chris Jericho off the top of the cage. Despite that, MJF did it anyway, and The Demo God came away with an elbow injury.
MJF initially refused The Inner Circle's rematch request, but he changed his mind after they doused him and his team in champagne and embarrassed them.
While MJF did agree to have a rematch afterward, he insisted it be Stadium Stampede and carry the stipulation that The Inner Circle must break up forever in the event of a loss.
Last year's event was a fun match with comedic elements that took place inside the Jacksonville Jaguars' TIAA Bank Stadium and throughout the concourse.
This year's version will likely have to be slightly different since there will be fans in attendance, but it is the type of match that will allow AEW to get creative and perhaps provide viewers with something they have never seen before.
Hikaru Shida vs. Britt Baker
Fans have been clamoring for a Britt Baker AEW Women's Championship run for much of her time as a heel, and she may finally reach the top of the mountain at Double or Nothing.
In order to become AEW women's champion, she will have to defeat Hikaru Shida, who has held the title for over a year after winning it from Nyla Rose at last year's Double or Nothing.
Shida has been a dominant champ, but it is fair to say Baker has been the most interesting name in the division thanks to her character and promo work, as well as her willingness to go to great lengths to deliver in the ring.
It became abundantly clear in March that Baker was destined for big things when she faced Thunder Rosa in an Unsanctioned match on Dynamite.
Although she lost the match, she was the big winner in reality, as the wrestling world was buzzing about her performance and the visual of her face covered in blood.
Baker went on a winning streak after that match to become No. 1 contender, and it seems Shida's title reign is now on borrowed time.
Shida carried the women's division for long stretches and put on some great matches during her time as champion, but it is clear most fans are ready for Baker to get her opportunity.
The Young Bucks vs. Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston
Tag team wrestling has long been a major focus in AEW, so it comes as little surprise that one of the marquee matches at Double or Nothing will be for its world tag team titles.
The Young Bucks have held the belts for nearly seven months, but they will face perhaps their toughest test yet in the form of Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston.
It wasn't long ago that Moxley and The Young Bucks seemed to be on the same page, but Matt and Nick Jackson turned on him and fully aligned themselves with AEW world champion Kenny Omega after he was fresh off a rivalry with Moxley.
Kingston, who ran to Moxley's defense after the Exploding Barbed Wire deathmatch at Revolution on March 7, has entered into a full-on alliance with Mox, and they have been among the most entertaining things in AEW since they joined forces.
It will be an intriguing matchup since many consider the Bucks to be the best tag team in the world, while Moxley is perhaps the best singles wrestler in the business.
Mox and Kingston will also have to be cognizant of potential interference from Elite members such as Omega, The Good Brothers, Brandon Cutler, Michael Nakazawa and even Don Callis.
The Young Bucks vs. Moxley and Kingston may be the most unpredictable match on the card, and the in-ring action should reach a high level as well.
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