Toni Storm Admits AEW’s Lengthy Pay-Per-Views Are “Draining”

AEW always tries to deliver the best show possible for each of their pay-per-views but they end up becoming way too long. Unsurprisingly, even Toni Storm has now criticized AEW for their lengthy pay-per-views and admits it’s draining.

While speaking on the Sandman podcast, Toni Storm criticized AEW for the long hours involved in their pay-per-view events. She explained that shows often start late and run for an extremely long time, sometimes keeping her in the building for over 12 hours before even stepping into the ring. On some nights, she doesn’t wrestle until 11 p.m. and then has to stay even later for media scrums that can run past 1 a.m.

“Everything is just… sometimes things are just a tad too long on the show. Too much talent, I’m afraid. I need one of my politicians. I would have to be there at one—it was 1:00, then they moved it to noon because a couple of people were late. I hate that. But then I don’t go on until 11:00 at night sometimes. It’s some long f***ing days, to be fair.

I’m in the building over 12 hours maybe, but by the time I get to the ring… oh yeah. I’m usually doing the scrum as well, which is on at like 1:00 in the f***ing morning, I think. Those days kill me. But then I mean, yeah, you just—‘Hey, your makeup’s on at 11, you’ll be good at midnight, honey.’ Yeah, those are long days.”

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Storm said the schedule is exhausting both physically and mentally. After waiting all day, she’s still expected to perform in a 25-minute match, which takes a heavy toll on her body. She admitted that the endless waiting and constant conversations throughout the day drain her energy, making the overall experience tough to handle even though she still loves wrestling.

“I know it’s long when I go to leave and I don’t remember how I got there that day. I can’t remember—different city, different buildings. I don’t know if I got the Uber. Just for your body, just for everything. And then you gotta go out there and do a 25-minute match, you know what I’m saying? There’s gotta be a better way.

That’s the thing that I can’t do anymore. All the f***ing talking is what exhausts me. Yeah, it’s a lot of conversation. That is a long day and a lot of talking, and it’s draining. Yeah, I love it, but it’s draining.”

Even Jim Ross previously admitted that AEW pay-per-views have too many matches. Fans may love the action-packed shows, but even the wrestlers are feeling worn out. It’s unclear if AEW will change its schedule to make things easier, but Toni Storm’s comments show that the long days are tough for everyone working behind the scenes.

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