Tony Khan opened up about the origins of one of AEW‘s hottest storylines.
On the July 10th episode of Dynamite, Mariah May was crowned the winner of the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. After her win, AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm attempted to celebrate with her friend, but May launched into a brutal attack on Storm, betraying their longstanding alliance.
The angle has been widely praised by fans, and speaking in a new interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, AEW President Tony Khan opened up about the origins of the story between May and Timeless Toni Storm. He detailed a conversation with Owen Hart Cup winner Bryan Danielson.
“Bryan Danielson and I were flying home from Double or Nothing, and we were talking about wrestling and what stuck out to us, and Bryan asked, ‘Have you seen Mariah?’
I said I had, and that I was amazed at how, very quickly, she’d become one of the top stars in Stardom. We both agreed she was very polished and charismatic. That’s when I asked Bryan if he’d seen All About Eve and Sunset Boulevard.”
“This Is The Role Toni Storm Was Born To Play” – Tony Khan
While Danielson hadn’t seen either film, Khan took inspiration from the classic pictures to build Toni Storm’s character from the foundation that was already set.
“I went to Toni Storm and suggested these movies–All About Eve and Sunset Boulevard–because she had that larger-than-life persona like Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard and Bette Davis in All About Eve. That is ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm. She’s that starlet, with that presence–backstage, in the ring, out of the ring–of one of those rare old Hollywood stars. This is the role Toni was born to play, and she is absolutely incredible at it.”
Sunset Boulevard also provided inspiration for Luther’s role, helping to heighten the tension between Storm and May.
“It’s the perfect role as an emotional counterpoint. He’s always at her side and would do anything for her, and you can tell Luther never fully trusted Mariah.”
In a new interview, Tony Khan addressed what the future holds for Bryan Danielson in AEW.