Thunder Rosa was originally scheduled to defend her Women’s Championship against Toni Storm at All Out next Sunday night. That match, however, has been nixed.
Rosa announced on Wednesday’s Dynamite episode that she had to withdraw from the match due to an injury, but that she will retain the Women’s Championship. When she is fully recovered, she will face the Interim Women’s World Champion in an attempt to unify the titles.
Storm vs. Britt Baker vs. Jamie Hayter vs. Hikaru Shida has been scheduled in a fatal four-way match at All Out to determine the Interim Champion.
Dave Meltzer stated on Wrestling Observer Radio that Rosa would have lost the title at AEW All Out if she hadn’t been injured, implying Storm would have become the champion.
“The division lost a lot of ground when Britt Baker lost the Championship, and that’s what happened. The interest level went down. I don’t know if that means they’re getting it back on Britt Baker, but they were going to make a change. Rosa was not… if Rosa was on the show, she was going to lose. As far as what happened and everything, they said an injury. In theory, that means that whenever that injury is over, she would face whoever would win.”
Bryan Alvarez stated that it would make sense for Storm to become the Interim Champion if Rosa was planning to lose at All Out; however, Meltzer pointed out that Storm does not move numbers.
Meltzer continued by discussing how the promotion has big plans for the division with All Elite Women, and he speculated that AEW President Tony Khan might put the title back on Baker because she is the biggest women’s star. Meltzer continued by discussing how the promotion has big plans for the division with All Elite Women.
Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com commented on a rumor that has been circulating regarding Rosa, “There is a story making the rounds that Rosa has been suspended by the company and is not injured. In checking with multiple sources, we are told there is zero truth to that story and her injury required a change in AEW plans for the PPV.”
